Super Easy Cake Mix Banana Bread Recipe
I’m always looking for ways to transform overripe bananas into something irresistible and this recipe is one of my favorite solutions. Not only does it use up those bananas sitting on your counter, but it also delivers a Cake Mix Banana Bread that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Table of Contents
As a recipe developer and the author of a cookbook focused on turning boxed cake mixes into extraordinary desserts, I’ve spent years perfecting recipes just like this easy Cake Mix Banana Bread.
Cake mixes are an incredible shortcut ingredient, offering consistency and ease without sacrificing flavor. By combining them with ripe bananas, you create a moist and flavorful bread with minimal effort. Plus, the addition of a homemade cinnamon swirl takes it to the next level, giving it that “wow” factor that makes people think you spent hours baking.
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What goes into this Recipe
- Vanilla Cake Mix: The foundation for this easy banana bread recipe. A box of cake mix creates a perfectly tender loaf every time.
- Ripe Bananas: The key to the best banana bread is using overripe bananas – the darker and spottier, the better! They provide natural sweetness and intense banana flavor. Here are a few more of my favorite Ripe Banana Recipes.
- Brown Sugar: Used in the cinnamon swirl, brown sugar adds a great caramel flavor and helps create that irresistible gooey texture. Make sure it’s well-packed for the best results.
- Cinnamon: The warm spice in the swirl transforms this from a regular quick bread into a delicious treat. That’s the great thing about this recipe – that surprise ribbon of cinnamon running through each slice!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make Banana Bread with a Cake Mix
- In a large mixing bowl, mash your overripe bananas until they’re smooth and free of large chunks. For best results, use a potato masher or fork. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste to the mashed bananas and mix until well combined.
- Add the box of cake mix to your wet ingredients and stir until the batter is thoroughly mixed.
- In a small bowl, prepare your cinnamon swirl by combining the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix well until evenly combined and set aside.
- Prepare your 9×5 inch loaf pan by coating it thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray. For easier slicing later, you can also line the pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. Pour half of your banana bread batter into the prepared pan, then sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Add the remaining batter to the loaf pan, then top with the rest of your cinnamon sugar mixture. Using a butter knife or skewer, create swirls throughout the batter by gently moving the knife in a figure-eight pattern. Be careful not to overmix – you want distinct swirls of cinnamon sugar throughout your finished bread.
- Bake in your preheated 350°F oven for 60-65 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out with a few moist crumbs, but no raw batter. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips for making Cake Mix Banana Bread
- Use very ripe bananas. The best banana bread starts with overripe bananas that have lots of brown spots on the peel. These bananas are sweeter and have a more intense flavor than yellow bananas. You can store extra ripe bananas in your freezer in a ziploc bag until you’re ready to bake.
- Measure your mashed bananas accurately. Too much banana can make your bread dense and gummy, while too little will result in dry banana bread. The easiest way to measure is to mash your bananas first, then measure the exact amount needed for the recipe.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Mix just until the cake mix is incorporated into the wet ingredients. Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense loaf. This is one great thing about using cake mix – it’s harder to overmix compared to traditional flour-based recipes.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
Store: This moist banana bread can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 4 days. For a delicious treat, warm individual slices briefly in the microwave before serving.
Freeze: Your cake mix banana bread freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. For best results, let the bread cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. You can freeze the entire loaf or individual slices – the next time you want a slice, just thaw it at room temperature for about an hour.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! While vanilla cake mix is our go-to, you can experiment with yellow cake mix, spice cake mix, or even chocolate cake mix for a different twist. Betty Crocker and other box mixes work great – just make sure to use a standard size box (around 13.25 ounces).
If you need to ripen bananas quickly, place them on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until the skins turn black. Let them cool completely before using. Another great way is to place them in a paper bag with an apple and fold it closed – they’ll ripen faster due to the natural gases released.
Yes! This recipe works beautifully in a muffin tin. Divide the batter and cinnamon swirl mixture between 12 lined muffin cups and reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes. This is a perfect way to create individual servings for lunch boxes or bake sales. You can use this Vanilla Muffin recipe as a guide.
Absolutely! You can fold in dark or white chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even shredded coconut to the batter before baking {you could also try this chocolate chip banana crumb cake}. Just be careful not to add more than a 1/2 cup total of mix-ins, as this can affect the bread’s texture and baking time.
Do you love Ripe Banana recipes? Try these…
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Cake Mix Banana Bread
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl
- ⅓ cup brown sugar {packed}
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Banana Bread
- 1 ¼ cups ripe bananas {mashed-about 3 brown bananas}
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste {or vanilla extract}
- 1 box vanilla cake mix {13.25 ounces}
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
Cinnamon Swirl
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and ground cinnamon for the swirl. Set aside.
Banana Bread
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla. Add the cake mix and stir until incorporated.
Assembly and Baking
- Lightly spray a 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan, then sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar over the batter. Top with the remaining batter and then sprinkle with the leftover cinnamon swirl mixture. Use a knife {or skewer} to gently swirl the cinnamon sugar through the batter.
- Bake for 60-65 minutes, being sure to not over bake the loaves. The key is to have a toothpick inserted in the center come out with only a few crumbs {but not any raw batter} and not clean. If you wait until the toothpick is clean then the loaf will be over baked. After 10 minutes, remove the bread from the pan and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
seems a little much for a loaf pan. thinking a Bundt pan??
It worked in a 5×9 loaf for me but a bundt pan would also work.