Banana Chocolate Chip Layer Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

ByAudra
41 Comments
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birthdaycake

You guys are in it for the pictures and recipe right? I mean I’m sure some people read what I write, but I don’t blame you for skimming my actual post and just checking out the goods- I’m guilty of it sometimes too. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m exhausted from a little nugget who got up at 4 AM today and I’m a bit brain dead- for that reason I’m going to keep this brief. :)

birthdaycake1

Getting better at layer cakes and cake decorating has been a major goal for this year. I already conquered a Rose Cake, and next on my list was a cake with even layers, that was smooth and symmetrical. I’m not going to win any cake decorating awards any time soon, but I was pretty darn proud of this baby!

Every year on my birthday I get asked if I’m making my own birthday cake and I usually don’t. Last year I was too preoccupied with our Europe trip and in the years before I typically had a party or event planned and a cake at home didn’t seem worth it.

This year though I’m laying low- I mean what else do you with a 5 week old baby? My Mom is coming later tonight which will be great and Andy took off work so we can wander the city as a family of three. I’m pretty darn excited for that!

birthdaycake2

I decided to make my birthday cake with one of my favorite flavor combos of all time, banana, peanut butter and chocolate. This banana cake is moist and delicious, full of mini chocolate chips and layered with creamy peanut butter frosting. I cut into it a day early for these pics, but definitely attempted to stuff the slice back in and frost around it- (what we do for food blogging!) I had enough batter for a few cupcakes as well so got to taste a little sample and man oh man is it good. Maybe just maybe I am getting kinda good at layer cakes!!

Banana Chocolate Chip Layer Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Banana Chocolate Chip Layer Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Yield: 1 - 8 inch layer cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 4 medium-sized ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips plus more for garnish

For the frosting:

  • 2 sticks of butter softened, 1 cup
  • 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

For the cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round pans*
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter, white sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in the bananas and vanilla.
  4. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the batter- starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined. (Don't overmix.) Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and place on a damp tea towel to cool.

For the frosting:

  1. Cream together the butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar a half cup at a time and then the vanilla. Gradually add the milk, beating after each splash until frosting is smooth and creamy.

To assemble:

  1. For a 4 layer cake, level each layer with a long serrated knife. Fill and frost the cake as desired, always placing the cut sides down for easier spreading!

Notes

*Though the recipe states the cake yields an 8 inch layer cake I actually used 2- 6 inch pans (and sliced each one length wise) and had enough extra batter for 4 cupcakes :) Cake recipe adapted from: All Recipes

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Audra

41 Comments

  8. 4 bananas? Large small it’s easier if you list it in weight or sometime type of measureable amount

    Reply

  10. Looks amazing! How many pans did you use? It looks like there are 4 layers. Did you modify the baking time at all?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jenny! Sorry- I totally dropped the ball on explaining that…new mom brain!! I used 2 6 inch pans and sliced each layer to make 4. I also had extra batter for 4 cupcakes. You could do the same with 8 inch pans!

      Reply

      1. No worries – thanks for responding! I hope you had a wonderful birthday! :)

        Reply

  13. I think you did a marvellous job with this cake. The chocolate chips on the top along with the piping made it look so elegant. I actually had to take a second look to realize that the chocolate chips were actually chocolate chips and not little flowers. I can hardly wait to try this recipe. I imagine that it is so most with the bananas and buttermilk for ingredients. You seem like an amazing young woman, what a wonderful wife and mother you are balancing your time as need be. I wish you a wonderful birthday!!!!
    All the best,
    Lisa

    Reply

  19. Your layer cake is GORGEOUS!! One of my life goals is to be really good at layer cake-ing…guess I MUST make this one next weekend for practice. :P

    Reply

  21. Happy birthday, mama! Great that your mom is coming and that you’ll have some time to wander around with your two men. Sounds like a great way to ring in a new year.

    The cake looks fantastic – might substitute almond for peanut butter for us. Your layers look amazing!

    Reply

  22. I always love the thought of making a stunning layer cake but when I get around to actually icing it I wonder why I did it in the first place and why I’m torturing myself but we never reach where we want to get without practicing and practicing. Your cake looks delicious, I love all the flavours. Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  23. That looks like one delicious birthday cake! Hope you had a great one!

    Reply

  24. Made this today and it was perfect!! So delicious!!!! Exactly what I was looking for :)

    Reply

  25. I made this cake this past weekend for my dad’s birthday. Divine. Thank you so, so much for this incredibly recipe!

    Reply

  26. If I make this cake on Friday, for a Saturday evening birthday party – will it be ok in the fridge (already cooked and frosted)? Please advise as to what you think! Don’t want to ruin this delicious recipe!

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle- Sorry if this response is coming too late- I think that would be fine though if you haven’t done it already! :)

      Reply

  27. This recipe looks amazing!!! But please could you tell me the conversions of the cups in to ounces or grams?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  31. Every year,my son tries to stump me with a cake flavor for his birthday. This year, banana chocolate chip with peanut butter frosting. I stopped looking when I saw your pictures. To make it more interesting, we are in a temp house while our house is being built. I did bring the mixer with me. The cake pans left here are 9×1.5 so there are 3 layers. There is no frosting spatula so I used the back edge of the cheapo bread knife. And yes, it is on a Christmas plate, again, came with the house. I found the pearl ball things at Wal-Mart and thought they would look good, my son added the smile (he is 19). The cake looked great in the pans, but i should have lined them with parchment, the cake is pieced together under that oh so yummy frosting. And I did have about an inch of cream cheese left in the tub so I added that to the frosting.
    i’m trying to add a picture, but that’s not working so, use your imagination.
    looking forward to a piece of yummy cake tomorrow!

    Reply

    1. Well, that was yummy!
      The cake was good but, omg, that frosting….already have 4 requests for a dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.
      thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

  32. Hi there, I love your blog! I’m wanting to make this delicious looking cake for my wedding cake. Do you know if it would be possible to make it ahead of time and freeze the layers? I have frozen other kinds of cakes before – chocolate, vanilla, etc. but I wonder how a cake with banana in it would be.

    Reply

    1. I just saw all these comments from a year ago and I am so sorry! I know your wedding has probably passed but YES you can freeze the layers of this cake!

      Reply

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