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    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    Mocha Banana Cake

    January 16, 2020 by Amee 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Recently I had an entire bunch of overripe bananas on my counter. My kids always *say* they want bananas, and then somehow I had 7 overripe bananas that were soon to go to waste. I made my (The Best Ever) Banana Bread, of course, but what to do with the rest? I started experimenting, and what I ended up with was this Mocha Banana Cake!

    Mocha Banana Cake
    I bake with bananas more in the winter than any other time of year. They're so flavorful and, with the exception of citrus, there aren't many winter fruits to be found. At least none with any flavor (that means those strawberries that are white on the inside don't count)!  This Mocha Banana Cake is four layers of banana cake frosted with an espresso cream cheese frosting, with cocoa nibs and grated chocolate between the layers. Talk about flavor! <3

    Cream cheese frosting is typically paired with a banana cake, but I wanted to put a twist on the usual flavor profile. I decided on an espresso cream cheese frosting. I added espresso flavor to the frosting with espresso powder. I've found it difficult to find espresso powder--especially one that isn't already hard as a rock--at my local grocery store. I use King Arthur Flour's brand (link [here]), as it's very fine and made specifically for baked goods.

    Mocha Banana Cake

    Since I had added espresso, I couldn't help myself. I needed chocolate in there somewhere! When I was assembling the cake, I added cocoa nibs and grated chocolate between the layers. I really like the added chocolate flavor notes and subtle crunch from the cocoa nibs! They can be tricky to find, and I've never seen them in a grocery store. I've scored them before at HomeGoods, but you can't count on them being there consistently. If you can't find them, you can buy some online [here].

    Mocha Banana Cake

    This recipe is for a 6-inch, four-layer cake. It's baked in two 6" pans, then you split the cakes so you have four layers total. If you're looking to get some 6" pans for yourself, these are the ones that I use [here].

    Mocha Banana Cake

    Note that there's a fairly large range on the bake time for the cake. Keep an eye on those babies starting at the 30-minute mark. The recipe calls for three bananas, but the size of your bananas will greatly impact the amount of moisture in the cake!

    After frosting, I chose to garnish the cake with cocoa nibs, grated chocolate, freeze-dried bananas, and chocolate-covered espresso beans. In the event that you have trouble finding them in your local grocery store, you can find freeze-dried bananas [here] and chocolate-covered espresso beans [here]. Just note that if you put the bananas on the cake too far in advance, they will lose their crunch.

    Mocha Banana Cake

    It's always good to have another recipe on-hand to use up those questionable-looking bananas on your kitchen counter! I'm sure I'll have more recipes to share! We always either have no bananas (the kids ate them already??) or too many bananas (the kids didn't eat any??). Is that just at my house, or yours, too?

    Other posts you may like:

    Caramel Banana Cream Pie

    Mocha Tart

    Mocha Sweet Rolls

    (The Best Ever) Banana Bread

    Butterscotch Banana Muffins

    Banana cake recipe adapted from Tessa Huff (The Cake Blog; link here).

    Mocha Banana Cake

    Amee
    This Mocha Banana Cake is four layers of banana cake filled with espresso cream cheese frosting, cocoa nibs, and grated chocolate!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Cakes
    Servings 1 6" 4-layer cake
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you bake!

    Ingredients
      

    Banana Cake:

    • 3 bananas
    • 1½ cups flour
    • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup sour cream (or plain greek yogurt)

    Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
    • 16 oz cream cheese, softened (full fat)
    • 1 tablespoon espresso powder (see note)
    • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

    Filling/Garnish:

    • cocoa nibs (see note)
    • 1 oz chocolate, grated (I used 60% cacao.)
    • chocolate-covered espresso beans (see note)
    • freeze-dried bananas (see note)

    Instructions
     

    For Cake:

    • Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease two 6" cake pans (see note) and set aside.
    • Mash bananas and set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt). Set aside.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Add eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Mix to combine.
    • With the mixer running on low speed, add half the dry ingredients, followed by the sour cream, then the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated, then fold in mashed bananas.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Bake time will vary a bit based on the size of your bananas...just make sure to check the cakes often starting at the 30-minute mark.)
    • Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

    For Frosting:

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combined butter and cream cheese. Beat until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Add espresso powder and mix to combine. Then add powdered sugar and mix until combined.

    For Assembly:

    • Split the two cakes, so that you have four layers total. Frost the cake, adding cocoa nibs and grated chocolate between the layers. After frosted, top with cocoa nibs, grated chocolate, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and freeze-dried bananas.
      Enjoy!

    Notes

    Note on espresso powder: I've found it difficult to find espresso powder--especially one that isn't already hard as a rock--at my local grocery store. I use King Arthur Flour's brand (link [here]), as it's very fine and made specifically for baked goods.
    Note on cocoa nibs: Cacao nibs can be tricky to find. I've scored them before at HomeGoods <3 , but you can't count on them being there consistently. I've never seen them in a grocery store. If you can't find them, you can find them online [here].
    Note on cake pans: This recipe is for a 6" four-layer cake. If you're looking to get some 6" pans for yourself, these are the ones that I use [here]. 
    Note on freeze-dried bananas: If you can't find them in the grocery store, you can find them [here]. Also note that if you garnish the cake in advance, the bananas will lose their crunch. I suggest placing the bananas on top just before serving.
    Note on chocolate-covered espresso beans: This is another hit-or-miss item at the grocery store. I bought mine online [here].
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear all about it! Leave a review below, then snap a pic and tag me on Instagram!
    This post contains affiliate links.-

    More Cakes and Cupcakes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill

      March 14, 2022 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love these flavors! Never thought to put mocha with banana, but when I saw it I had to have it!

      Reply
      • Amee

        March 15, 2022 at 7:54 am

        Haha, I knew I was on to something when I dreamed this one up! Thanks so much, Jill!

        Reply
    2. Danni

      June 28, 2022 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      We loved it!

      Reply
      • Amee

        June 29, 2022 at 9:46 am

        Aw, so glad, Danni! Thanks so much for your review!

        Reply

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