If you love chocolate cake and can’t resist banana bread, then this Moist Chocolate Banana Cake is the ultimate hybrid dessert your kitchen needs. It’s ultra-rich, intensely chocolaty, super moist thanks to ripe bananas, and finished with a smooth, luxurious chocolate ganache that elevates it to show-stopper status. Whether you’re baking for a celebration, weekend treat, or cozy family dessert, this recipe never disappoints.
In this blog post, you’ll learn how to make the perfect chocolate banana cake with easy-to-follow steps, helpful baking tips, and storage instructions—all optimized for rich flavor, perfect texture, and SEO best practices. Let’s bake!
Why You’ll Love This Moist Chocolate Banana Cake
- Super moist texture from mashed ripe bananas and oil
- Deep chocolate flavor with cocoa powder and hot water infusion
- One-bowl mixing method for dry and wet ingredients
- Optional ganache frosting for an extra layer of indulgence
- Perfect for loaf pans or layer cakes
- Stays moist for days and freezes well
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chocolate Banana Cake:
- 400g (2 cups) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 300g (2 1/3 cups) all-purpose flour
- 100g (1 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 400g (about 4 medium) ripe bananas
- 200g (4 large) eggs
- 200g (about 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp) vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 400g (1 2/3 cups) hot simmering water
Optional Ganache Frosting:
- 400g (2 1/3 cups) dark chocolate (58% cocoa or similar)
- 400g (1 2/3 cups) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp honey (optional)
- Toasted walnuts (optional, for garnish)
Recommended Equipment
- 2 loaf pans (8.5″ x 4.5″) or one large cake pan
- Mixing bowls
- Fine mesh sieve (for sifting dry ingredients)
- Whisk
- Fork or potato masher (for bananas)
- Spatula
- Hand mixer or stand mixer (optional but helpful)
- Cooling rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Pans and Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 365ºF (185ºC). Grease your pans lightly with butter or cooking spray.
Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda together to avoid lumps and ensure a light texture. Set aside.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, sifted flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda until well combined.
Step 3: Mash the Bananas
In a separate bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or masher until they resemble a thick oatmeal-like texture. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your cake will be.
Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients
Add the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk until everything is smooth and well incorporated.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture using a spatula. The batter will be thick—this is normal.
Step 6: Add Simmering Water
Carefully pour the hot simmering water into the batter in batches. Start with about 1/3 of the water, mix thoroughly, then add the rest. Stir gently until the batter becomes smooth and fluid.
Tip: Hot water helps bloom the cocoa powder, intensifying the chocolate flavor.
Step 7: Bake the Cake
Divide the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans. Tap the pans gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Due to the banana content, a slightly damp toothpick is okay—just make sure it’s not raw batter.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10–15 minutes, then run a spatula or small knife around the edges. Carefully remove the cakes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Optional Chocolate Ganache Frosting
If you want to take your cake to the next level, this rich ganache is the perfect topping.
How to Make Ganache:
- Melt the chocolate gently using a double boiler or microwave in short bursts.
- Slowly add slightly warm heavy cream to the melted chocolate in 4–5 batches, mixing with a spatula until fully smooth.
- Stir in the honey if using.
Let the ganache cool to room temperature until it thickens slightly and becomes spreadable. Frost the top of each cake loaf and garnish with toasted walnuts if desired.
Tip: Don’t refrigerate frosted cake if you want a soft ganache texture. Wait to frost until just before serving for best results.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerator: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze unfrosted loaves wrapped in foil and plastic for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp.
- Make Ahead: The ganache can be made 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use overripe bananas for the best moisture and sweetness.
- Don’t overmix once you add the flour—this keeps the cake tender.
- Measure by weight when possible for precision.
- Simmering water should not be boiling. Too hot and it may affect the batter texture.
- Don’t rush the cooling—removing the cake too soon may cause it to break apart.
Variations You Can Try
- Layer Cake Version: Double the recipe and use round cake pans. Layer with ganache or cream cheese frosting.
- Chocolate Chips: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the batter for extra decadence.
- Banana Walnut Cake: Add chopped walnuts directly into the batter.
- Vegan Version: Use flax eggs, dairy-free yogurt, and plant-based cream and chocolate for ganache.
Serving Ideas
Serve this chocolate banana cake:
- With a scoop of vanilla or banana ice cream
- Drizzled with warm ganache and berries
- As an afternoon tea cake with coffee or milk
- Sliced and packed into lunchboxes for a sweet surprise
Nutrition (Per Slice – with Ganache)
- Calories: 570 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Sugar: 36g
- Sodium: 463mg
- Fiber: 6g
- Iron: 5mg
Final Thoughts
This Moist Chocolate Banana Cake is everything a great dessert should be: easy to make, incredibly rich, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whether you make it with or without the ganache, the texture stays soft and tender for days, and the banana-chocolate combo is simply unbeatable.
Perfect for beginner bakers and chocolate lovers alike, this cake is bound to become your new go-to for celebrations and comfort cravings.
Tried this recipe? Let us know in the comments or tag us on Instagram @AlissaRecipes with your baking success! Happy baking!