It’s hard to go wrong combining peanut butter, banana and chocolate, but how about all three in a delicious and very easy layer cake? One reader described it as like eating peanut M&Ms in cake form. It makes a perfect birthday or celebration cake. Can’t decide whether you like banana, peanut butter or chocolate cakes best? This is the ultimate cake for lovers of all three!
I decided to work on a recipe like this peanut butter and banana cake after I had something similar in a café in Nottingham, England called Homemade (worth a visit!).
I’m a big fan of any kind of peanut butter, chocolate and banana cake recipe as you’ll see from other recipes on the blog: banana sheet cake with peanut butter fudge frosting, 5-minute chocolate banana nice-cream (the healthy option), banana and chocolate peanut butter swirl cake
So I came up with a unique layer cake recipe that’s quite similar to one of their most popular cakes for you… this delicious peanut butter, banana and chocolate chip cake. It’s been one of the most popular cakes on the blog for several years now, so it’s time you tried it too!
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Why you’re going to love it
Although I’m not sure you can go too wrong with this marriage-made-in-heaven trio of flavours, I didn’t want to end up with a regular banana bread packaged up in a different way.
I wanted something with the texture of a proper two-tiered cake. And while I’m not usually one to blow my own trumpet, I have to say that I think I nailed it!
You bite into this delicious but easy layer cake and think “Ooh, a peanut butter cake.” “No wait, it’s a banana cake.” “Or is it a chocolate cake?”
So this cake could be a banana peanut butter cake with chocolate, a peanut butter cake with banana and chocolate, or whatever you want to call it.
The truth is, all three of the flavours come through fairly intensely in each bite. One reader described it like eating peanut butter M&Ms… but in cake form! I can get on board with that and I think you will too.
The cake has a nice firm structure, like all good sandwich cakes should, but it’s nice and moist.
Then there’s the icing on the cake … erm, that’d be the frosting! More peanut butter and more chocolate – nothing to complain about there.
This cake is on the sweeter side, but I’ve reduced the sugar in the cake batter since posting my original version. If you’d like to reduce it even more, go ahead! Readers have done the experimenting for me. Start with 25% and see how you go.
About the cake ingredients
As well as the usual plain/all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and eggs, you’ll need:
Brown sugar: I use brown sugar in this cake to intensify the yummy caramel-y flavour.
Greek yogurt: It might surprise you to see this in the list of ingredients, but this is a ‘hidden secret’ sort of cake ingredient that adds moisture, nutrition and flavour.
Ripe bananas: This recipe is perfect for using up old bananas. You’ll need three well-mashed bananas for this recipe. Yum.
Peanut butter: I like to use crunchy, but either crunchy or smooth works.
Peanuts: To scatter over the top. I like to use salted for a ‘salted caramel’ kind of effect.
For the frosting
You just need 6 simple pantry baking ingredients for the frosting: peanut butter, soft butter, vanilla, milk, icing sugar and cocoa powder. Whatever you have in the pantry is fine!
How to make it
I used to be a bit afraid of making layer cakes. I thought they would be a lot more difficult than they actually are.
But if you’re a bit nervous too, there’s really no need to worry. This pb banana chocolate cake is SO easy to make. No careful folding or precise piping of frosting.
Basically, you’re just 5 steps away from peanut butter-y, banan-y, chocolate-y heaven:
Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients and set aside.
Step 2: Cream butter and sugar and whisk in the eggs.
Step 3: Beat in the other ‘wet’ ingredients, so in other words the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter.
Step 4: Stir in the flour mixture and the chocolate chips, pour into 2 baking tins and bake.
Step 5: After cooling completely, make the frosting and spread over the top. Sprinkle with peanuts to serve!
More things to know (FAQs)
When I first made this cake I was a little surprised to find that it still tasted just as good 4 days after I’d baked it. Just as moist and tasty. As for how long it might last after that – I’m afraid I’ve no idea because it’s never lasted any longer!
Store it in an airtight container in a cool place. If the weather is on the warmer side you might like to put it in the fridge. Cover it loosely with some aluminium foil and store in an airtight container.
If you’d like to freeze the 2 cake layers and then defrost them and make the icing later, simply let cool completely, wrap well in several layers of plastic wrap and aluminium foil and freeze for up to 6 months.
If you’d like to freeze some or all of the already-frosted cake, that’s fine too. Just pop it into the freezer uncovered for around 4 hours or until frozen. Then take it out and wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap followed by aluminium foil. Pop it into a freezer bag or large sealed container for extra protection if you like and freeze for up to 6 months.
I think this cake works perfectly by itself, but if you’re so inclined add a scoop of ice cream, cream or even custard. Why not?
It’s a pretty versatile cake that works well just for an afternoon tea or picnic, but also as a birthday cake for peanut butter, banana and chocolate lovers!
Generally speaking, you can substitute gluten free flour for plain in a ratio of 1:1 as long as it contains a binding agent such as xanthan gum. If it doesn’t contain xanthan gum add 1/4 teaspoon for every cup of flour. So use around 2/3 of a teaspoon in this cake.
I’ve never tried making this with wholemeal or another ‘healthy’ flour, but I’m confident it would work. I’d start by replacing half the flour. If the mixture seems too thick (doesn’t drop easily off a big spoon) just drizzle in a little bit of milk until you have the right consistency.
Give it a try and let me know how you get on!
After feedback from readers I reduced the sugar in the first version of this recipe by 1/2 a cup. However some readers have reported reducing it to as little as just 1/2 a cup and have reported good results. Try it and see. Start by reducing it by around 25%. The frosting is quite sweet and remember there are chocolate chips in there too so it’s ‘safe’ to experiment with reducing the sugar!
If you’d like to try one of my ‘healthier’ cakes some time as well, may I suggest this 30-minute healthy chocolate cake, these incredible blueberry muffins, or this pumpkin and pear loaf cake?
More cakes to impress with
- No one can believe this ooey, gooey 30-minute chocolate cake is healthy! You can serve it plain or turn it into a birthday cake. I once turned it into a digger or ‘construction cake’ like these ones for my son’s birthday and it was wonderful!
- When I want an easy crowd pleasing cake for guests I nearly always choose this Italian apple cake or this 6-ingredient Swedish chocolate cake.
- If you’re looking for another layer cake, it’s just got to be this Perfect chocolate orange cake. It always steals the show!
- If you have friends or family coming over for morning or afternoon tea and cake, may I suggest either this lemon mascarpone cake or this sticky blueberry lemon curd cake? Both absolutely delicious!
Or have a browse of all my cakes here.
Enjoy! 🙂
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Banana And Peanut Butter Cake With Chocolate Chips
Equipment (affiliate links)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
For the cake
- 2 1/2 cups plain flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 16 tablespoons, 225 grams), softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- salted or unsalted peanuts crushed or whole – for decorating (optional)
For the frosting
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soft butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 cups icing sugar US: powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175C / 350 F. Lightly grease 2 x 8-inch round cake tins with butter.
- Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl, then set aside.2 1/2 cups plain flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until light and fluffy, then whisk in the eggs one at a time.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, 2 large eggs
- Beat in the yoghurt, bananas and peanut butter, then stir in the flour little by little with a wooden spoon until totally mixed in. Finally, fold the chocolate chips through the batter.1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 3 ripe bananas, 1/3 cup peanut butter, 1 cup chocolate chips
- Divide the batter between the two greased tins, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and a skewer poked into the centre comes out without raw batter on it. Let cool for a while, then turn out onto a wire rack to completely cool.
For the frosting
- Whisk together the peanut butter, butter and vanilla, then whisk in the milk little by little.1/2 cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soft butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 tablespoons milk
- Fold in about half the icing sugar and cocoa, then whisk until well combined. Whisk in the rest until the frosting is smooth and spreadable*.1 1/2 cups icing sugar, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- When the cakes are completely cool, spread half of the frosting on the top of one, then place the other cake on top. Spread the rest of the frosting over the top of the cake, then decorate with peanuts (if using). Will keep in an airtight container for at least 4 days (possibly longer – never lasted that long!)
Amy says
I’m excited to try this soon! Do you use natural peanut butter or sweetened? Would you alter the sugar volume if using one or the other? ThBks !
Helen says
Hello Amy! I’m so happy you’re going to try this. It’s an old favourite for sure! These days I tend to add less sugar to my cakes. This is definitely on the sweeter side, so I’d make it with unsweetened peanut butter. You could also get away with adding a bit less sugar to the cake on the whole if you like. Enjoy!
Julia says
Very very good. I switched up a few things because I didn’t have them and still got a amazing result!!!
I didn’t have greek yogurt, so I skipped it, still had moisture! and Put in about half the brown sugar because didn’t have enough left, still a good result.
I did put in double of the baking powder (3 teaspoons) because I always feel my cakes don’t rise enough when I use the amount on most recipes… but that is just me.
AMAZING RECIPE, my family absolutely loved it!
Was wondering if anyone tried changing the regular flour to oatmeal flour to make a healthier version?
Helen says
Hello Julia, and thank you so much for the great feedback. So happy you liked this cake so much, and it’s really helpful to hear your changes. It sounds like the sugar can easily be reduced in this, which I much prefer these days anyway 😉 I’m not sure about the oat flour. Maybe you could try half wholemeal flour and half oat and see how that goes? I think it would work, actually. Do let me know if you ever try it! 🙂 P.S. You may like this chocolate orange cake too?
Louise Finch says
Omg!!!!!!
This recipe is amazing!! I’ll be making it again for sure. I didn’t have quite enough light brown sugar so used 1 cup light brown and the rest dark brown sugar. I also swapped the butter in the cake for flora buttery. The result was a really light, amazingly delicious cake. And the icing…. oh my…. just like eating peanut m and ms.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe (although it may be a little dangerous for our waistlines!!)
Helen says
Thanks, Louise! This is one of my all-time favourite cakes too! No worries with the sugar – in fact this is a pretty sweet cake so you could probably get away with reducing it a bit. So happy you enjoyed it as much as I do! 🙂
P.S. You might also like my 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake – it’s a legend although I say it myself 😉
Melissa says
A delicious combination of some of my favourite things! Easy and quick to bake and super tasty. With just the right balance of each flavour. The icing tips it into being super sweet so I needed to eat the cake with a big strong mug of tea! I think it would also work well in a bread tin (Or 2 – u could freeze one) without the icing for an everyday treat and in a cake tin with the icing for more of a birthday or weekend treat. Thank you!
Melissa says
Me again! I rated it 5 stars but it came up as 4 and I can’t seem to amend that, sorry.
Helen says
Hi Melissa! No worries – thanks so much for letting me know. I can amend it at my end! 😉
Helen says
Hi Melissa! This is one of my favourite flavour combos too which is why I really wanted to try and come up with a cake like this. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! You’re right though that it’s quite sweet with the icing. This is definitely one of my sweeter cakes. In case you’re interested you’ll find that most of my newer recipes are made with much less sugar. My Italian apple cake is a particular favourite of mine and isn’t too sweet!
P.S. Also thanks for the suggestion to try baking in a loaf tin without the icing – love it!
Vic says
I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar since I only had vanilla yogurt (sweet) and I only use really ripe bananas for recipes like this. 1 1/2 cups of sugar is just too much, especially if topped with frosting. Anyway, the cake was absolutely delicious; super moist and flavourful. My family loved it. Also super easy to make (spur of the moment decision on my part to bake today). Thank you for the recipe. Really came in handy!
Helen says
Hi Vicky! I’m so happy you enjoyed this cake so much! It’s still one of my favourites. I posted this recipe a very long time ago and it’s interesting you say you got away with adding less sugar because these days I ALWAYS reduce the amount of sugar in my cakes. Try some of my more recent cake recipes and you’ll see that they are far less sweet (my vanilla cupcakes are pretty good although I say it myself!)
Anyway, thanks so much for your review – I really appreciate it!
tricia says
one question about baking time. Is it 20 or 40 minutes? This recipe has two different baking times noted.
Thanks!!
Helen says
Hi Tricia! Oh, so sorry! I’m so glad you brought that to my attention – I’ll change it in the recipe. It’s 40 minutes. Actually it should say 35 to 40 minutes depending on your oven. Just keep an eye on it from about 30 minutes. The cakes are done when they begin to pull away from the sides of the pans and a skewer poked into the middle comes out without any raw batter on it.
I hope you enjoy the cake – one of my eternal favourites! Good luck!