Heavenly Banana Caramel Dream Cake Recipe That Melts Hearts

Sweet banana caramel dream cake promises a decadent journey through rich, velvety layers of comfort and indulgence.

Soft, moist textures blend harmoniously with deep caramel undertones that whisper memories of cherished family gatherings.

Delicate banana notes weave through each sumptuous bite, creating an irresistible symphony of flavors.

Creamy and luxurious, this dessert reinvents ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Sophisticated yet approachable, the cake balances complex caramel sophistication with familiar banana warmth.

Subtle hints of warmth and nostalgia dance across your palate with every forkful.

Bakers seeking a show-stopping dessert will find pure magic in these carefully crafted layers.

Everything You Need for Banana Caramel Dream Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Essential for structure and soft texture of the cake, high-quality flour ensures better results.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light, fluffy consistency.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter, Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provides rich sweetness and tender crumb, room temperature butter blends smoothly.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds moisture, fresh eggs work best.
• Ripe Bananas: Main flavor component, very soft and spotty bananas offer maximum sweetness.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates tender, rich cake texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor complexity and complements banana sweetness.

• Brown Sugar, Heavy Cream, Unsalted Butter, Vanilla Extract, Salt: Creates luscious caramel filling with deep, rich flavor.
• Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar: Produces smooth, tangy frosting with perfect sweetness.
• Caramel Sauce: Provides extra drizzle and decorative touch.
• Whole Pecans: Adds crunch and decorative garnish with nutty flavor.

How to Bake the Dreamiest Banana Caramel Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Equipment

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans thoroughly.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Step 3: Create Cake Batter Base

• Butter
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar

Until mixture becomes light and fluffy.

Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

• Eggs (one at a time)
• Mashed ripe bananas
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract

Mix until smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Combine Batter

Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.

Step 6: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely.

Step 7: Prepare Caramel Filling

• Brown sugar
• Heavy cream
• Butter

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat.

• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Let cool to room temperature.

Step 8: Create Cream Cheese Frosting

• Softened butter
• Cream cheese

Until smooth and creamy.

• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Step 9: Assemble Cake Layers

• One-third of cream cheese frosting
• Caramel filling

Repeat with remaining layers.

Step 10: Finish and Decorate

Frost entire cake exterior. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top for extra crunch.

Tips for Heavenly Banana Cake Layers and Frosting

• Banana Selection Perfection: Choose ripe, spotted bananas with dark brown or black speckles for maximum sweetness and deeper banana flavor.
• Mixing Mastery: Avoid overmixing cake batter to prevent a tough, dense texture; stop mixing as soon as dry ingredients are just incorporated.
• Caramel Consistency Control: Monitor caramel filling closely while simmering to prevent burning and ensure a smooth, silky texture.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cake layers to cool completely before assembling to prevent frosting from melting and ensure structural stability.
• Decoration Finesse: Drizzle caramel sauce in a zigzag pattern and strategically place pecans for a professional, appetizing presentation that enhances visual appeal.

How to Save and Reheat Banana Dream Cake Properly

• Refrigerate: Store cake covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent caramel from softening.
• Room Temperature: Allow cake to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to soften frosting and enhance flavor profile.
• Freezing: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before enjoying.

Great Companions for a Banana Caramel Dessert

• Pair with Creamy Caramel Latte: The rich, sweet notes of a caramel latte complement the cake's banana and caramel flavors, creating a decadent dessert experience that enhances the cake's warm, comforting taste.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Cool, smooth vanilla ice cream provides a refreshing contrast to the cake's dense texture, cutting through the sweetness while highlighting the cake's caramel and banana undertones.
• Serve with Toasted Pecan Whiskey Cocktail: A smooth whiskey cocktail garnished with toasted pecans mirrors the cake's nutty elements, adding depth and warmth that elevates the dessert's complex flavor profile.
• Accompany with Spiced Chai Tea: The aromatic spices in chai tea beautifully balance the cake's sweetness, creating a harmonious blend of warm, comforting flavors that dance on the palate.

Fun Twists on Banana Caramel Cake Combos

• Nutty Banana Bliss: Add chopped walnuts to the cake batter and sprinkle toasted almonds between layers for extra crunch and nutty flavor.
• Chocolate Banana Caramel Fusion: Incorporate cocoa powder into the cake batter and add dark chocolate chips to create a rich, decadent version of the original recipe.
• Tropical Banana Caramel Escape: Mix shredded coconut into the cake batter and replace pecans with macadamia nuts for a Hawaiian-inspired tropical experience.
• Rum-Infused Banana Caramel Dream: Add a splash of dark rum to the caramel filling and sprinkle rum-soaked raisins between cake layers for an adult-friendly version of the cake.

What Sets Heavenly Banana Caramel Dream Cake Apart

• Indulge in Decadent Layers: This cake offers a luxurious combination of soft banana-infused cake, rich caramel filling, and creamy frosting that creates an irresistible multi-dimensional flavor experience.
• Celebrate Texture Perfection: The moist banana cake provides a tender crumb, while the smooth caramel filling and silky cream cheese frosting deliver a delightful contrast of textures that dance on your palate.
• Master Impressive Techniques: Though seemingly complex, this recipe allows home bakers to create a professional-looking dessert with simple steps, making it an excellent opportunity to elevate baking skills and impress friends and family with minimal effort.
• Versatile Celebration Centerpiece: Perfect for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, or weekend gatherings, this cake transforms an ordinary moment into a memorable sweet celebration that everyone will adore.

Heavenly Banana Caramel Dream Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Banana caramel dream cake brings silky layers of tropical sweetness merged with rich, golden caramel notes. Creamy textures and indulgent flavors invite you to savor each luxurious bite of this irresistible dessert masterpiece.

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Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients:

• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Caramel Filling Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of salt

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Drizzle and Garnish:

• ½ cup caramel sauce
• Whole pecans for garnish

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven and prepare cake pans by thoroughly coating with butter and flour to ensure easy cake removal.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform flour mixture with baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until the mixture becomes light, airy, and significantly increased in volume.
4. Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
5. Mash ripe bananas and fold them into the mixture along with sour cream and vanilla extract, creating a smooth, cohesive batter.
6. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently to maintain the batter’s airiness and prevent overmixing.
7. Evenly distribute the batter among the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
8. Bake in the preheated oven, rotating pans midway to ensure uniform baking, until a inserted toothpick emerges clean.
9. Allow cake layers to cool completely on wire racks, which prevents moisture accumulation and maintains cake structure.
10. Prepare caramel filling by combining brown sugar, heavy cream, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
11. Bring the caramel mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer briefly to develop rich, complex flavors.
12. Remove caramel from heat, then introduce vanilla and salt, stirring to create a smooth, glossy filling.
13. Allow caramel to cool to room temperature, which helps it thicken and become spreadable.
14. Create frosting by whipping butter and cream cheese until smooth and fully incorporated.
15. Gradually integrate powdered sugar and vanilla into the frosting, beating until achieving a light, creamy consistency.
16. Assemble the cake by placing the first layer on a serving plate and spreading a portion of frosting.
17. Drizzle caramel filling over the frosting, ensuring even distribution.
18. Repeat layering process with remaining cake layers, building a stable and delicious structure.
19. Completely cover the exterior of the cake with remaining frosting, creating a smooth, even finish.
20. Embellish the cake by drizzling additional caramel sauce and garnishing with chopped pecans for texture and visual appeal.

Notes

• Crafted with layers of ripe bananas and silky caramel, this decadent cake transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert experience.
• Perfectly balanced sweetness comes from slowly caramelized brown sugar and creamy vanilla undertones that melt together in each luxurious bite.
• Kitchen-tested techniques ensure a moist, tender crumb that complements the rich, buttery caramel filling.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 480
• Sugar: 55 g
• Sodium: 240 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 64 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg