Make your afternoons special with Banana Nut Bread Bundt Cake, a delicious twist on classic banana bread and perfect for dessert.
If you’re a fan of classic banana bread but want to make it a little more special, a Banana Nut Bread Bundt Cake is the perfect upgrade! This recipe transforms humble, ripe bananas into an incredibly moist, tender cake, filled with crunchy nuts and baked to golden perfection in a beautiful Bundt pan. It’s perfect for brunch, dessert, or a cozy afternoon treat.
Recipes like this always bring me back to my childhood. My mom always had a magical way of making the simplest ingredients taste heavenly. Does anyone else feel this way? She was so graceful in the kitchen and in no time flat, whipped up something delicious. This recipe is one of the reasons why I wanted to go to culinary school and into the pastry and baking field. The results were so delicious and comforting, and made people so happy. From that point forward, I wanted to make all my recipes taste this good!
Why You’ll Love This Banana Nut Bread Bundt Cake
- Incredibly Moist: Thanks to ripe bananas and a little oil, this bundt cake banana bread is ultra-soft and tender.
- Beautiful Presentation: A Bundt cake automatically looks elegant without needing fancy decorating skills.
- Perfect Texture: The chopped nuts add just the right amount of crunch against the moist, buttery crumb.
- Crowd Favorite: Whether you’re hosting brunch, celebrating a birthday, or just treating yourself, this cake is a guaranteed hit.
When to Serve this Banana Cake Recipe
Breakfast or brunch – especially when served with coffee or tea.
Afternoon snack – a moist slice makes a satisfying pick-me-up.
Dessert – topped with cream cheese frosting or whipped cream, it’s a delicious dessert for after dinner.
Celebrations – it’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing option for birthdays, potlucks, or family gatherings.
And we all know you have a couple of over-ripe bananas sitting on your countertop. So what are you waiting for? Not only is this banana bundt cake recipe easy, but it’s so DELICIOUS, you’ll find yourself making excuses to have a slice after every meal (and sometimes in between!) You can top it with powdered sugar, a little whipped cream, or even some fresh berries to keep it interesting! Pair it with a tall glass of milk and dig in! Hope you enjoy this recipe just as much as I did, and it brings you right back to your childhood.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
- All-purpose flour — flour provides structure.
- Baking soda — Helps the cake rise.
- Salt — Balances the sweetness.
- Cinnamon (optional) — Adds warm spice.
- Lemon Juice – Combining lemon juice with the bananas brightens the overall flavor of the cake, balancing the deep sweetness of ripe bananas with a subtle tang. This prevents the cake from tasting too heavy or overly sweet.
- Oil — For a tender texture.
- Granulated sugar – White sugar sweetens and helps with structure
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Ripe bananas — use three large bananas or four small ones. This recipe is my favorite way to use up those brown bananas!
- Chopped walnuts or pecans — Adds crunch and nuttiness
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Bundt Pan Banana Bread
1. Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10- or 12-cup Bundt pan thoroughly, making sure to get into all the grooves.
2. Combine the bananas with the lemon juice
Combining lemon juice with the bananas brightens the overall flavor of the cake, balancing the deep sweetness of ripe bananas with a subtle tang. Let them sit together for 10 minutes.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using) to get rid of any lumps.
4. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, add eggs, oil, and milk and mix until just combined. Fold in bananas and vanilla until combined.
5. Combine
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix! Fold in the chopped nuts.
6. Bake
Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool and Unmold
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
How to Prepare a Bundt Cake So That The Cake Doesn’t Stick
Preparing a bundt cake pan properly is critical — nothing is sadder than baking a gorgeous cake and having half of it stuck inside the pan! Here’s the best, foolproof way to prep your Bundt pan so your cake releases cleanly every time:
1. Grease Every Crevice Generously
- Use softened butter (not melted) or a baking spray with flour (like Baker’s Joy or Pam for Baking).
- If using butter:
- Grab a pastry brush or a paper towel and thoroughly spread a thin, even layer of butter over every nook, cranny, and ridge of the pan.
- Tip: Be especially careful around the center tube — it’s easy to miss!
2. Dust with Flour (If You Used Butter)
- After greasing, sprinkle a few tablespoons of flour into the pan.
- Tilt and tap the pan while rotating it, allowing the flour to coat the entire surface.
- Turn the pan upside down over your sink and tap out the excess flour.
3. Double-Check for Bare Spots
- Inspect the pan — if you see any uncoated spots, reapply butter and dust with a little more flour.
- Mix equal parts flour, vegetable oil, and shortening (e.g., 1 tablespoon each) into a paste.
- Brush this paste into every part of the pan.
- It works like magic!
Bonus Tips:
- Grease right before filling. Don’t grease the pan hours in advance or the butter/oil can slide down and pool at the bottom.
- Let the cake cool for 10–15 minutes before unmolding. Too hot, and it might break. Too cool, and it might stick.
- Add some sweetness! Add a cup of chocolate chips for a little extra sweetness!
- Got leftovers? Make sure the banana bread bundt cake is fully cooled to prevent condensation, which can lead to sogginess or mold. Store at room temperature in an airtight container or cake dome. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat. For more longer storage, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Wrap slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and place in a freezer bag or container.
Additional Recipes to Try
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out these other favorites:
Cranberry Orange Rum Cake – perfectly festive for the holidays. It is a delicious option for brunch or a decadent dessert!
The Best Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins – They take just minutes to mix together and make the perfect breakfast or sweet treat!
Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins – these muffins are moist and bursting with blueberries! Topped with sugar for a muffin that tastes like they’re fresh from the bakery!
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PrintThe Best Banana Nut Bread Bundt Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mintes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups ripened bananas (about 3 medium sized)
1 tbl lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Combine bananas and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside for 15-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 F
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and whisk to get rid of any lumps.
In a separate bowl, add eggs, vanilla, oil and milk and mix until just combined.
Fold in bananas until combined. Stir in nuts.
Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan, smooth out into an even layer. Place in the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a cake tester (or toothpick) inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Dust with powdered sugar or top with a little whipped cream and berries.
10 Comments
Yum, might be the dessert for Easter brunch. I love banana cakes and I love this is a bundt cake.
Your banana cake looks so delicious. Perfect snack while watching TV with soft drinks or fresh juices, I’m excited to try it. Thank you.
This looks like a simple and classy Easter (or Good Friday!) dish. Pinning it now!
I love bananas and this would be perfect now that summer is coming in. We always extra bananas that go soft quicker. Would be perfect for a cake. Gonna try soon.
Mmmm, I LOVE a good bundt cake! They always look so elegant on a cake stand… and without much fuss! This one looks perfectly moist and delicious!
Omg, I’m loving this!! Totally loving your blog!! Beautiful photography!
Hi! I just made this recipe and noticed the milk just said 1 1/2…no unit of measurement. What should it be? I guessed cups and the batter looked right! It’s in the oven baking now, so fingers crossed! ????
Yes cups!!
Can buttermilk be substituted for regular milk? Just curious.
Yes!