Cake Mix Banana Bread: A Quick and Easy Twist on a Classic

Banana bread is a timeless comfort food, beloved for its rich, moist texture and the way it fills the house with an inviting aroma as it bakes. But what if you could make this classic treat even quicker and easier? Enter cake mix banana bread—a simple yet delicious twist that makes the baking process effortless. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a loaf that tastes just as good as the traditional version, without the extra hassle of measuring flour, sugar, and leaveners. Let’s dive into the recipe and explore everything you need to know to perfect this crowd-pleaser!

Recipe Card: Cake Mix Banana Bread

Recipe Name: Cake Mix Banana Bread

Description: This easy banana bread recipe uses cake mix for a quick, foolproof shortcut, yielding a moist and flavorful loaf that everyone will love.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: Approximately 250 calories per slice

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow or vanilla cake mix (about 15.25 oz)
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup oil (vegetable, coconut, or melted butter)
• Optional: Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, walnuts, or cinnamon for extra flavor.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal later.
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas until they reach a smooth consistency. Add the eggs and oil, stirring until fully combined.
3. Gradually mix in the cake mix, stirring until there are no lumps. If desired, fold in any additional ingredients like chocolate chips or walnuts.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
5. Allow to bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
6. Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes:

• For an extra boost of banana flavor, you can add a teaspoon of banana extract.
• If you want to make this recipe healthier, swap out the oil for applesauce or Greek yogurt.

Nutrition Information (per slice):

• Calories: 250
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fat: 10g
• Protein: 3g
• Fiber: 2g

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Quick and easy: This is a no-fail banana bread recipe that takes less than 10 minutes to prep.
2. Minimal ingredients: With only a few ingredients, you can make a simple banana bread recipe using a cake mix.
3. Customizable: Add nuts, chocolate chips, or cinnamon for a twist.
4. Great for beginners: You don’t need advanced baking skills to make this moist banana bread using a cake mix—perfect for busy days or novice bakers!

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Making this cake mix banana bread requires just a handful of ingredients, many of which you likely already have at home. Here’s a closer look at the key components:

1. Cake Mix

The beauty of this recipe is that it uses a cake mix as the base. This shortcut eliminates the need to measure flour, sugar, and leavening agents. While yellow or vanilla cake mix is most commonly used, you can experiment with other flavors like spice cake mix or even chocolate cake mix for a unique twist.

2. Bananas

Ripe bananas are essential for achieving that signature sweetness and moist texture. The more overripe they are, the better. If you only have fresh bananas, you can speed up ripening by placing them in a brown paper bag for a day or two.

3. Eggs

Eggs help bind the ingredients together and give the bread its structure. If you’re vegan or avoiding eggs, you can substitute with flaxseed eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water for each egg) or a store-bought egg replacement.

4. Oil (or Butter)

Oil adds moisture and richness to the banana bread, ensuring a soft and tender texture. Feel free to use any neutral oil, like vegetable or coconut oil, or substitute with melted butter for a richer flavor. For a lighter option, try using unsweetened applesauce or Greek yogurt.

Optional Add-Ins:

• Chocolate chips: Add 1/2 cup for a more indulgent treat.
• Walnuts or pecans: For extra crunch, fold in 1/2 cup of chopped nuts.
• Cinnamon or nutmeg: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg to complement the banana flavor.

How to Make Cake Mix Banana Bread (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven Before you start mixing, set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes removal after baking easy.

Step 2: Mash the Bananas In a large mixing bowl, mash your ripe bananas using a fork or potato masher. The more ripe your bananas are, the sweeter and moister your bread will turn out. Aim for about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas.

Step 3: Mix in Wet Ingredients To the mashed bananas, add your eggs and oil. Stir the mixture until everything is well combined. This forms the base of your batter.

Step 4: Incorporate the Cake Mix Gradually add the cake mix to the banana mixture, stirring as you go. The batter will be thick, which is perfectly normal! If you’re adding any mix-ins like nuts or chocolate chips, fold them in at this point.

Step 5: Pour and Bake Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool and Serve Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Once completely cooled, slice and enjoy!

Expert Tips for Success

1. Use ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the better the flavor. Brown spots are your best friend when making banana bread.
2. Don’t overmix: Once you’ve added the cake mix, stir just until combined to avoid tough, dry bread.
3. Check doneness early: Ovens vary, so start checking your bread around the 45-minute mark to prevent overbaking.
4. Customize with add-ins: Have fun with the recipe by adding your favorite ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, or spices.

Variations and Customizations

The beauty of this banana bread hack with cake mix is its versatility. You can easily tweak the recipe to suit your preferences or dietary needs:

• Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free cake mix to make a gluten-free version of this recipe.
• Vegan: Substitute the eggs with flaxseed eggs and use a dairy-free cake mix for a vegan-friendly loaf.
• Chocolate lover’s twist: Swap the yellow cake mix for chocolate cake mix and add some chocolate chips for a loaf of rich, decadent banana bread.
• Healthy twist: Substitute half of the oil with unsweetened applesauce or Greek yogurt for a lighter version.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

If you have leftovers (though it’s so good you might not!), here’s how to store them:

• Room temperature: Store the banana bread in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
• Refrigerator: To extend its shelf life, you can refrigerate the bread for up to a week.
• Freezing: Slice the banana bread and freeze individual slices in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let it thaw at room temperature, or quickly heat it in the microwave for a delightful snack.

To reheat, simply microwave a slice for about 10-15 seconds, or warm it in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes.

Serving Suggestions

This quick banana bread with cake mix is perfect on its own, but here are a few serving ideas to make it even more delicious:

• With butter or cream cheese: Spread on a thin layer for extra richness.
• As French toast: Use thick slices of banana bread to make a decadent French toast breakfast.
• With ice cream: Pair a warm slice of banana bread with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a comforting dessert.

Cake Mix Banana Bread

Recipe by EmilyCourse: AmericanCuisine: Dessert / SnackDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

slices

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

50

minutes

Calories per slice

250

kcal

Carbohydrates

35

g

Fat

10

g

Protein

3

g

Fiber

2

g

Total time

1

hour 

This easy banana bread recipe uses cake mix for a quick, foolproof shortcut, yielding a moist and flavorful loaf that everyone will love.

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow or vanilla cake mix (about 15.25 oz)

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 2 large eggs

• 1/3 cup oil (vegetable, coconut, or melted butter)

• Optional: Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, walnuts, or cinnamon for extra flavor.

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal later.
• In a large bowl, mash the bananas until they reach a smooth consistency. Add the eggs and oil, stirring until fully combined.
• Gradually mix in the cake mix, stirring until there are no lumps. If desired, fold in any additional ingredients like chocolate chips or walnuts.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
• Allow to bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
• Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Video

Notes

• For an extra boost of banana flavor, you can add a teaspoon of banana extract.
  If you want to make this recipe healthier, swap out the oil for applesauce or Greek yogurt.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)