Slow Cooker Banana Cake

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Did you know you can make the most amazing banana cake in your slow cooker? If not, you must try this recipe. Slow cooker banana cake comes out moist, sweet, and delicious. The cake is topped with a simple cream cheese frosting and then you can add banana slices and walnuts on top if you like. This dessert baked right in your slow cooker using overripe bananas and pantry ingredients will be your new favorite recipe. If you’re looking for an easy cake recipe guaranteed to come out moist and perfect, try this Crockpot cake recipe soon!

A slice of slow cooker banana cake topped with frosting and banana slices is being lifted from the baking dish with a spatula.

Got some ripe or overripe bananas sitting on the counter? Use them in this delicious crockpot banana cake that’s also flavored with applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla.

Love bananas? Also try these banana Nutella muffins, Starbucks copycat banana bread, or a banana bread crumb cake.

A frosted Crockpot banana cake topped with banana slices and walnut pieces is displayed in a white dish, placed on a striped cloth next to bananas.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: Slow cooker banana bread is so simple to prepare. After combining the batter ingredients, you need to slow cook the mixture and then top with a sweet frosting and add banana slices and/or chopped nuts on top.
Tastes so good: If you love banana bread, you’re definitely going to enjoy the flavors in this crock pot banana bread cake.
A versatile cake: Serve it for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Or anytime you are in the mood for something sweet! It doesn’t have to be a special occasion to enjoy this taste cake.
Made with pantry staples: You don’t need anything exotic or complicated to create this delicious banana cake.

A slice of Crock pot banana cake with cream cheese frosting topped with banana slices and walnuts, served on a white plate with a fork holding a bite-sized piece.

Crockpot Banana Cake Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Boxed yellow cake mix: You can use white cake mix instead if you want. You don’t need baking powder or baking soda because they’re already in the cake mix.
Bananas: Ripe bananas or over-ripe bananas work best. Use a ripe banana if you’re adding slices on top as a decoration (you can cut ripe ones into cleaner pieces than over-ripe ones).
Applesauce: For moisture and a fruity flavor.
Vanilla extract: Add a few extra drops if liked.
Ground cinnamon: Adds a warm and earthy flavor to the banana cake.
Cream cheese: For the frosting. Bring it to room temperature first, so it’s easier to blend.
Heavy whipping cream: Also for the frosting.

Ingredients for a baking recipe laid out on a counter, including butter, flour, eggs, vanilla extract, walnuts, mashed bananas, and other baking essentials with a slow cooker in the background ready to make a delightful slow cooker banana cake recipe.

How to Make Slow Cooker Banana Bread

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the cake batter: Combine the cake mix, butter, bananas, applesauce, water, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and eggs in a large bowl to make the batter.
Cook the cake: Add the cake batter to a 6-quart size slow cooker, then cover and cook on high for 2½ hours.
Let it cool down: Let the delicious banana bread cake cool completely.
Make the cream cheese frosting: Beat the cream cheese with the butter, and then mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream until smooth and creamy.
The finishing touches: Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and add banana slices and walnuts too if you like. Slice and serve the moist banana bread cake.

A plate with a slice of slow cooker banana cake topped with banana slices and walnuts, with two bananas and more cake slices in the background. A striped cloth and fork are placed nearby.

Substitutions and Variations

Different toppings: Coconut flakes or crushed Nilla wafers make tasty toppings. You can use pecans instead of walnuts on top.
Include some add-ins: Sliced strawberries or blueberries are good in this recipe. Or you could add chocolate chips to banana cake batter.
A different frosting: You can frost the cake with thawed Cool Whip instead of making the frosting.
Another extract: Swap the vanilla extract for coconut extract or banana extract.

A sliced baked Crockpot banana cake topped with frosting, banana slices, and walnuts in a white dish. Nearby are a striped towel, forks on plates, a bowl of walnuts, and two banana.

Serving Suggestions

On the side: Pair this banana bread cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or one of these homemade ice creams.
More sweet treats: How about some vanilla cookies or coffee cake cookies? Fruit salad is another option.
And to drink: A cup of coffee, tea or even hot chocolate is great with this tender banana bread cake.

A slice of slow cooker banana cake with cream cheese frosting, garnished with banana slices and walnuts, partially eaten with a fork, on a stack of white plates.

How to Store Crockpot Banana Nut Cake

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 5 days. You do need to keep it chilled because of the dairy in the frosting. If it’s unfrosted, you can keep it in a container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it without the frosting. Wrap it in plastic wrap and then in foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight and frost before serving.

A hand lifts a slice of slow cooker banana cake with frosting and banana slices from a white ceramic dish. The remaining cake is partly visible in the dish.

Top Tips

Don’t over-mix the batter: Mix it until just combined. Over-mixing can result in a dense-textured cake.
Ignore the recipe on the box: Don’t follow the instructions on the cake mix box. You’re just using the cake mix and adding different ingredients.
Keep the crockpot closed: Don’t lift the lid while the batter is cooking! This lets the heat out, extends the cooking time and might deflate the cake a bit.
Speed up the cooling process: You can keep the ceramic insert in the refrigerator if it fits in there.
Check it’s done: A toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake should come out clean or almost clean. Slow cookers can vary, so make sure it’s cooked through before cooling.

A slow cooker banana cake slice topped with cream and banana slices, garnished with chopped nuts on a white plate next to a striped cloth and a banana.

Banana Bread Cake FAQs

How ripe should the bananas be?

Choose ones with plenty of brown patches on the skin. Over-ripe bananas are sweeter and easier to mash than ripe or under-ripe bananas.

Can you make bananas ripen faster?

Add a ripe apple to the bananas in a brown bag. The apple will release ethylene, a gas that speeds up the ripening process.

Do you have to use a slow cooker liner in the crockpot?

You don’t have to, but you might find the banana bread cake easier to remove if you do. (I use these!) If you don’t use a liner, ensure you grease the crock pot well before adding the batter.

A piece of slow cooker banana cake topped with whipped cream and banana slices, garnished with walnuts, is placed on a stack of white plates with a fork. A crockpot and whole banana are in the background.

Slow Cooker Banana Nut Cake Recipe

A mixing bowl with baking ingredients including cracked eggs, mashed bananas, flour, and cinnamon sits on a white surface. Nearby are a striped kitchen towel, a bunch of bananas, and a slow cooker ready for making the perfect slow cooker banana cake.

If you like making banana bread, you might like to try something new – this delicious slow cooker banana cake! It’s so moist and sweet. The tangy cream cheese frosting on top contrasts so well and then you can decorate the top with banana slices and chopped nuts.

Other Recipes to Try

A slow cooker filled with moist, flavorful banana cake is topped with banana slices and walnuts. The text above reads "Slow Cooker Banana Cake: Moist & Flavorful."

A slice of slow cooker banana cake topped with frosting and fresh banana slices being served. The text above reads "Slow Cooker Banana Cake."

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.