What’s the difference between banana cake and banana bread? I hear you saying, who cares – they’re both delicious, moist, and flavorful. We agree, but this is a genuine question out there, so we’re answering it.
Is there a difference between the shape of one and the shape of the other? Well, if what you’re about to chow down on was baked in a sheet pan and is topped with some creamy icing, it’s probably a banana cake. We usually see banana bread baked in a loaf tin, but pound cake is also baked in a loaf tin, and it’s still a cake. So shape isn’t conclusive evidence of one or the other.
There isn’t a massive difference in the textures of banana bread and banana cake. Because of the inclusion of bananas, they are both moist and soft. Banana bread is usually denser than banana cake, although the difference is subtle. The heaviness of banana bread is one of its charms. It makes it a filling treat that you don’t have to over-do to enjoy.
While both banana bread and banana cake are sweet and tasty, the banana cake is a little sweeter. Banana cake is meant to be more of a dessert, which is why it’s made so sweet, while banana bread tastes more banana-intensive, with only a hint of sweetness.
Most of the ingredients for banana bread and banana cake are the same, except the flour. We usually use soft wheat flour for banana cake to get that light texture. This also means that banana cake has a little less gluten than banana bread which consists of regular flour. The other difference is that banana cake includes yeast as its raising agent, while banana bread uses baking powder because it doesn’t need to rise quite as much.
To make banana bread, we cream together shortening and sugar until fluffy. We add eggs one at a time and beat them until they’re thoroughly mixed. Then we add the bananas and vanilla extract. Finally, we sift the dry ingredients into the mix. We’ll bake our banana bread in a greased loaf pan for 30 to 35 minutes. The main goal here is to keep the mixture fluffy.
To make banana cake, we add our sifted dry ingredients to shortening. We then add our bananas and buttermilk. We add our eggs and mix our batter thoroughly, with a little more buttermilk if necessary. We’ll beat our mixture a little longer before lightly flouring it. We bake it in greased cake pans for 35 to 40 minutes. The main goal here is to keep the mixture moisture and light.
So is there a difference in the way you serve your banana bread and your banana cake?
Banana cake is made incredibly decadent when we add icing or other fruity toppings. Serve your cake (slightly warm) topped with sliced bananas and drizzled with maple or chocolate syrup. Add a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy this after dinner or as you sit in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa or a glass of wine.
Banana bread is a yummy on-the-go treat for everyone. Tuck it into the kids’ lunchbox or for your packed lunch for a mid-day snack. When you get home from a long day of work, a slice of banana bread with a cup of tea will solve all your problems – for a few moments anyway.
So it seems that banana cake is made like a traditional butter cake with only the addition of moist, flavorful bananas. At the same time, banana bread is denser and firmer and especially great for slicing.
Are you hungry? We make banana bread mix that is good for your body and soul. Check out GoNanas today!
A layer cake is one thing, but when it comes to a loaf, the difference is so subjective, it can come down to: When you’re eating it, regardless of the time of day, do you feel like you’re consuming a nutritious breakfast or an indulgent dessert? Professional, semi-professional, and home bakers alike ponder this question.
This banana cake is a bit more restrained since there’s no frosting—but you won’t miss it thanks to the cinnamon-flecked crumb topping, which also makes it totally appropriate for breakfast. Get the Banana Crumb Cake recipe.
Chunky, all-natural peanut butter and honey add more depth to this banana bread, resulting in a flavor trio that always works. Get our Peanut Butter-Honey Banana Bread recipe.
And finally, our nod to an official (cup-size) cake that stars this lovely creamy, tropical fruit. There aren’t as many recipes for banana cakes as there are for banana breads, but add some cake flour instead of all-purpose flour, and whip up some icing, and any banana bread will transform into a cake. This recipe doesn’t even call for more sugar than any of our other banana bread recipes (except for those healthy muffins). Less, in some cases. But we fix that with the frosting, and the caramelized bananas on top. Get our Banana Cupcakes recipe.
The sour cream adds a slight tang to the almost cake-y texture of this version. Get our Sour Cream Banana Bread recipe.
Most of the ingredients for banana bread and banana cake are the same, except the flour. We usually use soft wheat flour for banana cake to get that light texture. This also means that banana cake has a little less gluten than banana bread which consists of regular flour. The other difference is that banana cake includes yeast as its raising agent, while banana bread uses baking powder because it doesn’t need to rise quite as much.
To make banana cake, we add our sifted dry ingredients to shortening. We then add our bananas and buttermilk. We add our eggs and mix our batter thoroughly, with a little more buttermilk if necessary. We’ll beat our mixture a little longer before lightly flouring it. We bake it in greased cake pans for 35 to 40 minutes. The main goal here is to keep the mixture moisture and light.
What’s the difference between banana cake and banana bread? I hear you saying, who cares – they’re both delicious, moist, and flavorful. We agree, but this is a genuine question out there, so we’re answering it.
Are you hungry? We make banana bread mix that is good for your body and soul. Check out GoNanas today!
While both banana bread and banana cake are sweet and tasty, the banana cake is a little sweeter. Banana cake is meant to be more of a dessert, which is why it’s made so sweet, while banana bread tastes more banana-intensive, with only a hint of sweetness.
What is Bread Anyway? Banana Cake vs Banana Bread Compared – Two for One
FAQ
Is banana bread better than regular bread?
Why is it called banana bread and not banana cake?
What is banana loaf made of?
Are banana bread and banana cake the same?
Yes! While banana bread and banana cake are very similar in recipe, they are indeed different. They vary in a few key areas: namely, shape, sugar content, and density. Banana bread is typically loaf-shaped, dense, and less sweet. Banana cake is often baked in a sheet pan or bundt pan, sweeter in flavor, and lighter and more “cakey” in texture.
Which bread has the lowest gluten content?
Breads made from other gluten-free cereals, such as buckwheat, oats, corn, rice. Any of these will produce a totally gluten-free bread.
What is banana bread?
Banana Bread is one of the most popular recipes in the United States. It is more often searched for than bread, sourdough bread, and even chocolate chip cookies! It is also a recipe that I have made over a hundred times and perfected over many years.
What does banana bread taste like?
Banana bread typically exudes a pronounced banana flavor, thanks to the abundance of mashed bananas. It often incorporates spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, imparting a warm and aromatic profile. Banana cake, while still featuring banana as a primary flavor, tends to be sweeter and richer.