Description
This Banana Pecan Caramel Layer Cake is the ultimate dessert indulgence with moist banana cake layers, toasted pecans, and rich caramel buttercream frosting. Perfect for holidays or birthdays, this Southern-inspired layer cake recipe combines nostalgic banana flavor with decadent caramel and nutty crunch. A stunning homemade dessert for gatherings and celebrations.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
3 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
½ cup heavy cream (for caramel)
1 cup powdered sugar (for buttercream)
1 cup brown sugar (for caramel)
½ cup unsalted butter (for caramel)
Pinch of salt (for balance)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
2. Mash ripe bananas and chop pecans. Set them aside for later use.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
6. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in chopped pecans.
7. Divide the batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
9. To make the caramel sauce, heat butter and brown sugar in a saucepan until bubbling. Slowly stir in cream until smooth. Let cool.
10. For the frosting, beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in cooled caramel and a pinch of salt.
11. Assemble the cake by layering cake rounds with caramel buttercream and drizzle. Repeat for all layers.
12. Frost the outside of the cake and finish with extra caramel and pecans on top.
Notes
The riper the bananas, the better the flavor.
You can make the cake layers a day ahead and store in the fridge.
Don’t skip toasting the pecans—it enhances the flavor beautifully.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 85mg