Browned Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache
This Browned Butter Banana Cake is slathered with a rich chocolate ganache for a sweet, decadent treat that makes the perfect pair with tea or coffee!
Spring break has already come and gone, in the blink of an eye. I spent mine at home in San Diego, with a brief stint in San Francisco.
San Francisco is amazing. I’ve been a few times, but I hadn’t spent time actually in the city exploring in a while, and oh man. It’s incredible! The food is just ridiculous. I could’ve spent hours in the ferry building, trying things from each of the amazing stores. I, of course, visited a ton of bakeries on my visit.
First stop was a place called Craftsman & Wolves. It’s gorgeous, so unique and interesting inside. I was meeting with another food blogger (Nicole over at Bowl Licking) and we tried some amazing stuff, including a cheddar and bacon muffin stuffed with an egg called the Rebel Within, a passionfruit sesame croissant which was ridiculous, and my favorite, a Carrot Cocoa Muffin, which I am determined to recreate since it’s not readily available to me. If you’re from the area or visiting: highly recommended!
Next was the famous Tartine. Lemme just say: lives up to the reputation. We got a pain a chocolat, a plain croissant, a lemon bar and a ham and cheese croissant. My favorite was the ham and cheese croissant, though it definitely had an edge up because it was fresh out the oven. Best croissant I’ve ever had in the US, easily.
Finally, we went to this incredible bean to bar chocolate store called Dandelion. Besides just that the chocolate tastes incredible, in the store you can watch each of the processes of making the chocolate. They literally turn it from the cocoa bean to the chocolate bar right there in front of you! And the chocolate is absolutely delicious, all made with cocoa beans from small farms around the world. Of course, we had to get one of their incredible pastries. We chose the chocolate caramel pecan tart. It had a dark chocolate shortbread crust, filled with a mix of caramel, pecans, and dark big chocolate chunks. It was SO GOOD. Seriously. One of the best chocolate desserts I’ve ever had.
We had some other incredible meals, but those were definitely the stand outs! It was a wonderful food filled week :)
Before San Francisco though, I was baking a ton at home! This browned butter banana cake is a standout. It was devoured more quickly than I care to admit. And that was after my dad and I refused to give out very much because we wanted it all for ourselves! It tastes homemade in the best way possible.
It’s ultra-moist from the bananas, with amazing flavor from both the brown butter and the banana. It’s rich and perfectly complemented by the deep, dark, silky chocolate ganache. The rainbow sprinkles add a fun touch! Ditch the banana bread next time you have overripe bananas and try this. It’s wonderful.
Enjoy!!
Want more banana recipes?
- Banana Bread Oatmeal
- Chocolate-Dipped Banana Macaroons
- Wholesome Banana Blueberry Muffins
- Frozen Caramel Banana Bars
Browned Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Browned Butter Banana Cake is slathered with a rich chocolate ganache for a sweet, decadent treat that makes the perfect pair with tea or coffee!
Ingredients
For the cake
- ½ cup butter, browned
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 3 very ripe mashed bananas, about 1 cup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 1½ cups (6.4 oz) all-purpose flour
- 2¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
For the ganache
- 1 cup chopped dark chocolate
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350F. Coat the sides and base of an 8 inch springform pan. Dust with flour.
- In a large bowl, combine browned butter, sugar, bananas, eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium high for 2 minutes. Add buttermilk and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add into the banana mixture. Beat until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Place into oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge if needed and remove the sides of the springform pan. Once cool enough, remove the springform bottom and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
For the ganache
- In the microwave, combine the chopped chocolate and heavy cream. Microwave for 45 seconds. Stir. Microwave in 10 seconds increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Let cool slightly (about 5 minutes) and pour over the cooled cake.
I just posted a banana bread with buttermilk myself today! Yours looks wonderful and I love that you made it into a cake and the brown butter, the sprinkles and the chocolate!
Browned butter banana cake sounds so delicious, especially with the the chocolate ganache!
Oh, banana cake, how I love it! And the chocolate ganache – great addition!!
Bakerita! I have a fantastic recipe I would love for you to try out! It is the infamous Crack Pie from Momofuku’s Milk Bar in New York! It is the loveliest thing I’ve ever tasted! Please let me know what you think! Miss & Love you to pieces! xxxxxx
I’ll definitely try it out Shan! :) Miss you too, xoxoxo. Hope you and Asia are doing well, send her my love!
Love everything about this cake — the browned butter, the buttermilk, the ganaches, the SPRINKLES — it’s official. I have a crush on it. :)
I truly think this is one of my favorite creations coming out of our kitchen. I am glad you are back at school and I can start to lose some of the weightI gained during your spring break. I love you.
I’ve never made anything with browned butter. This cake looks fantastic! I love that you mixed it up from the standard banana loaf. This might just have to be my first brown butter making experience.
This. looks. so. good. I love the sprinkles on top too!
This cake is so pretty! I love the chocolate ganache and of course the sprinkles : )
Um, Rachel, this is gorgeous, and most definitely what I will make next time I have overripe bananas. Love the rainbow sprinkles. Also, wish I’d read this before I went to San Francisco! Admittedly I was only there for about 24 hours on a stopover on the way home to New Zealand, but still! All those cakes and pastries!
Oh myyyyyyy. I’m breathless looking at this cake. I need it now.
Andie
Swoon…
Rachel! this looks so amazing and your photos are gorgeous! I just did banana cupcake with a whiskey chocolate ganache right before St. Paddy’s Day but this cake looks so sticky and moist… I can’t even handle it right now.
Looks great girl! Love the sound of that chocolate ganache. And browned butter? Heck yes!
Tartine is AMAZING! The line is always so long but it’s so worth it.
On and this banana cake? Can you please pass me a slice? I really need it with my lunch!
Everything from this recipe had me drooling… from the brown butter, to chocolate ganache and finally sprinkles!! Oh my :D
I love ganache, I love brown butter, I love bananas. Therefore, I know for a fact that I will love this cake. Looks delicious and way fun!
ok, as soon as I have ripe bananas, I am making this! LOVE!
This sounds so good! I love the way it looks with just the chocolate ganache and sprinkles on top. So cute! :)
This looks simply divine. I’m will admit I’m a browned butter addict so this has my name all over it =)!
Delish!
I’ll have to try this.
I most definitely have to try this! x
Hi Rachel! This cake looks awesome I can’t wait to try it! I just wanted to ask if I could add chocolate chips too? Would it alter anything? And how much chocolate chips can I put in!
Thanks for the recipe!!
You could definitely add chocolate chips!! I wouldn’t add more than 2 cups.
Thank you so much!!!
Amazing recipe, my mother loved it
So glad it was a hit!!