Easy to put together, this Banana Sheet Cake will be the perfect treat for Mother’s Day. Topped with a delicious chocolate ganache, the cake is moist and really flavorful!
What do you guys think about sheet cakes? They aren’t as popular as the round cakes but if you ask me to feed a crowd of 20 people, I would always make a sheet cake. First of all, they are so easy to make and then it’s so easy to slice and serve them. Whether it’s a birthday party or potluck or any get together, sheet cakes are the way to go.
I keep sharing these banana muffin recipes on my blog all the time. So this time when I had ripe bananas at home, I thought to change things a bit and make this sheet cake in stead. Also Mother’s Day is just around the corner and this would be the perfect treat for your mom. This banana sheet cake is super easy to throw together and it’s topped with chocolate ganache making it an ideal dessert for Mother’s Day. Plus chocolate makes everything better. Right?
To make this cake you first mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately and then add dry to the wet. As always remember to not over-mix the batter. I have used butter in this recipe because I prefer butter in my cakes, it gives so much flavor. If you want, you can use any flavorless oil. In case you want to make this eggless, simply skip the egg and add 1/4 cup extra greek yogurt and it should be okay.
I always add a little butter to my chocolate ganache because it gives the ganache that shiny look. You may or may not use it!
Method
In a bowl whisk together all purpose flour, salt, cinnamon powder, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, beat butter and sugar till creamy. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
Add eggs, one at a time and mix till well combined.
Now add the mashed bananas and mix. For 1 cup mashed bananas you would need 3 large bananas or 4 medium bananas.
Then add the flour mix in parts. Add it in 3 parts.
Add greek yogurt and milk alternatively with the flour.
Mix till everything is combined but do not overmix.
Pour the batter into the prepared 13 x 9 inch pan.
Bake at 350 F degrees for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Take the cake out of the oven and after 5 minutes flip on to the wire rack. Peel the parchment paper and let it cool completely.
Meanwhile make the ganache by heating the cream, chocolate chips, instant coffee and butter on a double-boiler. You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave.
Once the chocolate has melted, whisk till the ganache is all smooth.
Now pour the ganache on top of the cooled banana cake.
Top the banana sheet cake with chopped pecans. Slice and serve!
* You can make the cake a day in advance. Let it cool down and then wrap the cake tightly using a cling sheet. You can then keep it at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight. Next morning, prepare the ganache, pour it over the cake and serve.
Banana Sheet Cake
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
Wet ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk I used 2%
- 1 cup mashed banana from 3-4 bananas
Chocolate Ganache
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans, for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
- Line a 13x9 inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a bowl whisk together all purpose flour, salt, cinnamon powder, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
- Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, beat butter and sugar till creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix. Add eggs, one at a time and mix till well combined.
- Now add the mashed bananas and mix till combined.
- Then add the flour mix in parts. Add it in 3 parts. Add greek yogurt and milk alternatively with the flour.
- Mix till everything is combined but do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared 13 x 9 inch pan.
- Bake at 350 F degrees for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Take the cake out of the oven and after 5 minutes flip on to the wire rack. Peel the parchment paper and let it cool completely.
Nutrition
Banana Sheet Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Banana cake is such a fave in our family! We just LOVE all things bananas and I can imagine how this is going to taste with that delicious chocolate ganache…Oh.my.YUM! I bet it’s amazing!
Manali, I love this banana sheet cake! and the chocolate ganache is to die for!
I love sheet cakes! I would totally go bananas for this banana chocolate combo!
I love banana cakes! This look awesome, top layer – yummy. The photos make me want to crab a piece or three right from the plate.
This cake looks perfect for Mother’s day! Can’t go wrong with bananas and chocolate 😉
I happen to love sheet cakes but I don’t make them that often because I find them seriously dangerous! I don’t know what it is about them but I can’t have just one slice… I find myself going back for slice after slice after slice!! #HangryGirlProblems. 😉 This sheet cake looks fabulous, Manali! Love anything with bananas! I have a feeling this sheet cake would last about .5 seconds with me around! Cheers, friend!
What a fun idea to make a banana sheet cake, Manali! I agree that round cakes look nicer, but sheet cakes are so much easier. This reminds me of when Laura and I got married. We had the nice, pretty round wedding cake on the table, but the waitstaff served pieces of cake from a huge sheet cake that they had in the kitchen. Nice and easy! 🙂
Sheet cakes are definitely my go-to when feeding a crowd too! I have a feeling this GORGEOUS banana cake would go down super-well with my family. I can’t get enough of that beautiful chocolate ganache!!
I am a HUGE fan of sheet cake. It’s easier, feeds a crowd, tastes just as good, and no frou-frou decorating. This one looks amazing!!
Sheet cakes sadly seem to be the black sheep of the cake family, don’t they?! Round cakes get all the credit but I think sheet cakes are doing all the hard work. After all, they’re the ones feeding the crowds at birthday parties! Round cakes just seem too tiny when you’ve got a decent-sized crowd to feed – well, unless everyone is satisfied with a piece about 1 millimetre thick. This banana cake looks incredibly delicious, Manali!