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Starting Friday on the sweet side with this Coconut Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting.
You guys. This cake. I LOVE it.
I know I say this so often, but this cake is so good, words really cannot describe its deliciousness. If you like banana, coconut, and chocolate, you absolutely have to make this cake. Like no questions, you have to make it.
Not sure what’s going on this month, but I am in serious cake making mode. In the last two weeks, I have made so many cakes it’s insane. I have one for you today and two more to follow (assuming I can get the recipes right…it’s taking a bit of effort) all before Easter. So, plenty of cake coming your way.
It’s so weird how I go through certain food phases, but I am for sure in a cake phase. I figure it’s not a bad thing, I mean, everyone likes cake, right?
Yes, everyone likes cake…don’t try to tell me otherwise.
As you can probably guess by the mass amount of banana and chocolate recipes here on HBH, I pretty much adore the combo. Adding in sweet coconut to the mix just makes me adore it even more. So naturally this cake had to happen.
The real secret to this banana cake is the roasted bananas. Yes, roasted bananas. If you haven’t tried roasting your bananas yet, today is the day, because it is a game changer. My next banana recipe is going to be banana bread with roasted bananas, and I already know it’s going to be the best ever…
Anyway, this cake is loaded with banana flavor and I think that’s why I love it so much. Most banana cake recipes call for three or less bananas, and to me, that just did not seem like enough for a tall three layer cake. My recipe uses six whole bananas and while I know that might seem like a lot, trust me, it’s the right amount. Roasting the bananas makes them extra soft and sweet. In turn you get bananas that mash-up so well and provide you with the most moist and perfectly sweet cake ever.
Again, so good.
Since Easter and spring time inspired this cake, I also decided to stir in some sweet coconut for a nice tropical touch. For whatever reason, Easter makes think tropical, probably because growing up we would head to Florida at Easter.
Ahh, those were the days.
While the cake is the obvious star here, the frosting is very important as well. A lot of banana cakes are paired with a cream cheese frosting similar to that of a carrot cake. But you guys, you know me, if I’m making a banana dessert, it’s going to include chocolate. It’s just the way I have to do it.
Enter the chocolate frosting. It’s light, airy, very chocolatey, flavored with plenty of vanilla, and finished with a spoonful of coconut cream for even more flavor and the perfect whipped texture. It’s quite possibly becoming my new go-to frosting recipe. That’s how much I love it.
And when slathered all over this sweet coconut banana cake? Well…there’s nothing better.
So moist, so flavorful, and just so mouth-watering good.
I happened to make this cake while my brother, Brendan was in town, and I was so happy I did. Like me, Brendan loves bananas, chocolate, and coconut anything. This cake was right up his alley and I was pretty excited when he walked into my house the other day to say that it might just be the best cake he’s ever had.
YESSSS. Bren has been around the world and eaten some of this best food there is to eat, so this is a big compliment.
Meaning, if Brendan says it’s good, then you have to trust that this is a recipe worthy of your time.
Meaning, you should make it this weekend, as a test drive, and then make it again over Easter weekend, if you celebrate. And if you don’t celebrate? Just make it anyway, because it’s fun, and spring is near, and you need a little banana, coconut, chocolate sweetness in your life. Enough said.
Coconut Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Servings: 24 servings
Calories Per Serving: 444 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 ripe bananas, peel on
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
Chocolate Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup canned coconut cream
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter/spray with cooking spray.2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the whole bananas on the baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the bananas are blackened on the outside. Remove from the oven and let cool. Once cool enough to handle, remove the peel, and mash the bananas. 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand-held mixer) beat together the oil, yogurt, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat in the bananas, mixing until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and mix until just combined. Stir in the shredded coconut. 4. Pour the batter among the 3 cake pans and bake 30-35 minutes, until the tops are just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool five minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan and turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack. Cover and let the cakes cool completely before assembling.5. To make the frosting, add the cream cheese and butter to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Beat another 2-4 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy. Beat in the coconut cream until combined. 6. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread with frosting. Repeat with the remaining 2 cake layers. Frost the cake sides. Serve or store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Bring to room temp. before serving.
The best slice of cake. The best.
This looks so delicious! To make 2 layers from a 6 inch cake pan would I half the recipe?
Thanks!
Hey Charya,
Yes, I think if you cut the recipe in half that should work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Hi! Can I use this exact recipe to make cupcakes? Thank you!
Hey Erika,
Sure, I bet that would work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love the recipe! xx
This cake is extremely delicious!!!
Hey Emily,
Happy Monday!!💐 Thank you so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was a winner! xx
This looks AMAZING. I have a quirky question. Do you think this can be frozen, or maybe just the cake part, then frost later? My husband’s birthday is happening when we’re camping, and I would love to be able to pull this out as a surprise, with the frosting in the cooler, and the pre-made and frozen cakes, thawing in a bundle of towels. Sounds feasible, right? TIA for any tips. His birthday is after just one night of camping, if that makes a difference. LOVE YOUR SITE and INSTA videos, thank you, I have fallen in love with cooking again, and my whole family loves it!!
Hey Amy,
Thanks so much for your kind message! Totally, I would just freeze the cake and then make the frosting fresh for when you are ready to serve! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I was craving cake and made this on a whim because I had browning bananas. I only made 1/3 of the recipe to make it one layer and it was DELICIOUS. Sooooo good. I shared some with my coworkers and everyone raved!
Hi Anna,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks for sharing your feedback and making this recipe, I am so glad it was a hit! Happy 4th of July!??
Just made this. Absolutely delightful! I’m not too keen on using advised amounts (I measure garlic and choc chips with my heart), so I used an entire can of coconut cream (4oog I believe) and a bit more coconut in the cake base. Cheers, Tieghan; I’ll never shut up about this.
Hey Veronica,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! Have the best weekend:) xxT
Could this cake be made in a Bundt pan? Thank you! ?
Hi Bethany,
If you want to double the recipe sure, otherwise I don’t think there would be enough batter for the bundt pan. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it!! xTieghan
Van I replace the coconut? As I am allergic, recipe looks amazing!!!
Hey Demi,
You can just omit the coconut, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
this was great. definitely going to make again, I think next time I will flip the bananas so they are blackened on both sides, I will also use finely shredded coconut, mine was on the large side and you can feel the pieces in the cake. I didn’t have coconut milk but I used cream and coconut essence and it worked out. Thanks for another delicious and easy recipe Tieghan
Hi Fiona,
Awesome!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it. Have the best week:) xT
Salted or unsalted butter? Also what could I substitute the canola oil with? Thank you
Hi Andrea,
I always like to use salted butter, I find it adds more flavor. Any neutral oil for the canola oil will work. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan
Could I use milled whole wheat flour instead of all purpose? If so, do I need to sift it first? I’m trying to stay away from the white flours. It looks really delicious and I’m eager to give it a try.
Hey Mary,
I have never tried this with milled whole wheat flour, but you could certainly give it a try! Also, GF flour works well here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Egg replacement?
Hey Aditi,
So sorry I have not tested this recipe without egg, you could certainly try a flax or chia egg. Let me know how the recipe turns out! xTieghan
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I made it this past weekend and it was a hit! I wasn’t too sure about the chocolate frosting, I thought it was too sweet when I was making it, but I was so wrong it blended so well with the bananas and coconut, it melts in your mouth. Definitely will be making again in the future and maybe throw some nuts in there.
Hey Lily,
Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
Hey would I be able to cut this recipe in half? This recipe would make a little bit too much and I don’t have a big family. It seemed simple enough but I was hesitant about the eggs since the recipe calls for an uneven amount.
Hey Aria,
Yes you can cut this in half, just round the egg portion up. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could self rising flour be used here instead of all purpose?