Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Published June 13, 2017. Updated July 31, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Banana Cake that is total utter bliss in every bite! There’s much delicious decadence and irresistible flavor here. And the homemade salted caramel sauce gives it that over-the-top gourmet touch that will leave everyone craving more.

Banana cake on a cake stand. Cake is layered with cream cheese, caramel sauce, walnuts, banana slices and chocolate shavings.

Dreamy Banana Cake

This cake has most delicious blend of flavors and textures. Two layers of moist banana cake are topped with a luscious caramel frosting, a sweet and salty caramel sauce, crunchy walnuts and sweet banana slices. The perfect cake for any occasion!

That salted caramel and banana combination were just meant to be. It creates sweet and rich dessert perfection.

Is it almost your birthday? Or let’s go with half birthday or even quarterly birthday because you need to try this epically delicious Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting and there’s no better excuse than for a birthday!

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Salted Caramel Sauce is a Must

Salted caramel has long been one of my favorite treat of mine and what makes it so special really is the salt.

Last December I had the opportunity to attend Morton Salt’s Next Door Chef event in New Orleans along with several other guests. It was such a fun dinner experience where they converted someones home into an actual pop-up restaurant for a day.

Acclaimed chef Nina Compton coached a home cook and then this cook prepared an incredible meal for us in which different types of Morton salt were used.

A whole banana cake on a marble and wooden cake stand.

At the event we tried a number of inspiring dishes where we could taste how different types of salt transformed each dish, from appetizer and drinks, to side dish, to the main dish and then onto dessert.

Of course, my favorite part of the meal was the Coconut Caramel Budino with Grilled Mangos and Morton Kosher Salt which was served for dessert. I just love the way the salt really highlighted that dessert and it does just the same here!

The dinner was so inspiring! I couldn’t say a negative thing about anything I tried. And part of the reason it was all so good was that it was properly seasoned with salt.

Salt makes a world of difference in everything we cook and bake. It can drastically change the end result. Can you imagine a world of food without salt??

Close up image of sliced banana cake sitting on marble cake stand.

Try the Recipes from the Event!

You can try out each of the recipes from the event yourself!

I’ve shared more pictures from the event of most of the dishes just below the recipe so be sure to scroll down and check them out. That steak though! Follow the link to Morton to learn more about the event and to check out each recipe.

Slice of banana cake on a matte brown plate.

More Banana Recipes You’ll Love

 

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting
4.89 from 9 votes

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Such and incredibly delicious banana cake that everyone will love! Two layers of moist banana cake are topped with a luscious caramel frosting, a sweet and salty caramel sauce, crunchy walnuts and sweet banana slices. The perfect cake for any occasion!
Servings: 16
Prep40 minutes
Cook30 minutes
Cool time2 hours
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • Banana Cake recipe see notes

Caramel sauce

  • 1 cup (210g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 tsp Morton Fine Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
  • 2/3 cup (160ml) heavy cream
  • 2 pinches Morton Coarse Sea Salt, for topping

Frosting

  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
  • 3 cups (390g) (360g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce (from above)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, for garnish (optional)
  • 2 bananas, diced, for topping (optional)
  • Semi-sweet chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Prepare banana cake as directed and let cool completely. Meanwhile prepare the caramel sauce.
  • For the caramel sauce: have all caramel ingredients ready. In a medium saucepan combine sugar, water and sea salt. 
  • Set over medium-high heat and whisk constantly until it begins to boil, then allow mixture to boil until it turns to a rich amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally. 
  • Immediately whisk in butter then remove from heat and whisk in cream (be careful, it will steam! A long handled whisk is recommend) and stir until smooth. 
  • Allow to cool several minutes then pour into a glass bowl or jar and chill caramel until completely cooled.
  • For the frosting: whip butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of the cooled caramel sauce, sea salt and vanilla.
  • Mix until well combined and slightly fluffy. Chill until it becomes a more firm consistency if needed.
  • To assemble cake: spread about half of the frosting over first layer of cake then drizzle and spread a fair spoonful of the caramel sauce over the frosting. 
  • Top with the second layer of cake then add remaining frosting. Just before serving top with the bananas* and nuts, then drizzle over remaining caramel sauce, sprinkle with shaved chocolate and coarse sea salt.

Notes

  • Follow link HERE for the recipe for the banana cake. Only make the cake portion.
  • *To slow browning of the bananas if needed, you can soak them in a lemon water solution for about 1 minute. Just add 1 Tbsp lemon juice to about 1 cup of water then dry slightly on paper towels.

Incredible chef Nina Compton and myself.
Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Our fabulous dinner menu.

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Jerk Boiled Oysters. Delicious flavor btw, and I don’t even like oysters.

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Blue Crab Little Gem Nicoise Salad. So, SO good!

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Grilled Corn with Chili Butter and Lime Salt. That lime salt though!

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Honey Soy Grilled Skirt Steak. Perfectly tender and full of flavor.

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Ahh and the Coconut Caramel Budino. Totally smitten.

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Categorized:

Leave a Comment

Rate this recipe




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

65 Comments

  • Gillian Dunleavy

    Where is the salted caramel sauce recipe? Can’t find it on this page

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Sorry that didn’t show up it’s there on the top half of the recipe box, maybe reloading the page would be helpful.

  • Lily

    Hi I’m 16 and working for a small business coffee shop, I make cakes to sell there and I find ideas on Pinterest. I saw your post for the banana cake with caramel frosting and nuts on top and knew I had to make it. The cake turned out amazing, it’s moist and can hold its shape without breaking, the frosting is delicious as well. People loved the cake so much it’s now a staple at the shop, I have also started making mini versions. I just want to thank you for this recipe and this wonderful creation.

  • Glen

    Frosting step 6 says add salt, but salt isn’t listed as an ingredient. So, how much salt?

  • Amy

    The cake itself was pale in color, dents like a brick, and gummy even though it was cooked the appropriate amount of time and internal temperature at 210°. I used 1:1 gluten free flour from Pamela’s, otherwise followed the recipe. Unfortunately the recipient couldn’t eat gluten so I had to take a chance. The caramel sauce was also watery and leaked out of the cake, and it was completely cooled overnight before adding.

  • Recina

    Very moist cake. Frosting was delicious and enough to spread between layers and on top
    Of the cake. The salted Carmel is the most delicious thing ever!! Could eat it on everything. Added just a small sprinkle of coarse sea salt on top of each serving/

  • Dr. Maria Schantz

    The BEST Banana Cake I’ve ever tasted, thus far!!! I was first introduced a few yrs ago, by my daughter to your most luscious Banana Cake w/ the Caramel sauce, Nuts, fresh Bananas Toppings, i.e., the whole 9 yards!!! Wow, what a most worthwhile decadent treat!!! Following that momentous celebration, I’ve made it myself , a couple of yrs ago, to host a party for a special guest. It was a HUGE hit!!! THANKS so very much for this most delicious cake recipe!!! <3