A Sweet and Nutty Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Hazelnut Buttercream and Toasted Praline Hazelnuts makes for a Simple yet Irresistible Treat!

The sweet scent of ripe bananas and hazelnut cream wafting through any home can be incredibly warm and inviting through the brisk winter months. A slice of this cake could be everything you need to keep you feeling cozy around the kitchen or snuggled under a plush throw over the couch. With a tall glass of cold milk, this becomes everything I need to get me through the winter blues. Â

Unlike the last cake made with a unique buttercream design, we can go much simpler and more quickly whipping out a gorgeous, rustic, naked layered cake. No special tools or advanced skills needed to create this gem which ultimately means, less fuss and more charm!Â
This recipe calls for a few common ingredients which may already be stocked in your pantry such as chocolate hazelnut cream (I used Nutella), raw hazelnuts and fresh but ripe bananas. These three are an enduringly irresistible combination! Â

Let’s not forget the texture of the sweet nutty crunch of the praline hazelnuts capped over the cake. Once again, no special technique or cake topper to give that WOW factor. This time, we’re keeping it very simple. Just remember, when cutting a slice, sprinkle a few praline hazelnuts to not miss out on this cake’s true potential and depth of not only flavor, but texture!  Â



Hazelnut Cream Banana Cake
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 2 layered 8-inch cake 1x
Description
A Sweet and Nutty Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Hazelnut Buttercream and Toasted Praline Hazelnuts which makes for a Simple yet Irresistible Treat!
Ingredients
BANANA CAKE
1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups (267 grams) granulated sugar
2 large eggs (100 grams)
2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
1 cup (240 grams) sour cream
1 1/2 cups (341 grams) overripe bananas, peeled and mashed (about 3 large bananas)
2 teaspoons (8 grams) pure vanilla extract
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BROWN SUGAR HAZELNUT BUTTERCREAM
1 cup (220 grams) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
1/4 cup (60 grams) milk, warmed to 110°F (43°C)
3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
3 tablespoons (48 grams) chocolate hazelnut spread
1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
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PRALINE HAZELNUTS
2 cups (226 grams) chopped hazelnuts
1/2 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon (3 grams) egg whiteÂ
Demerara sugar, optional
Instructions
BANANA CAKE
Heat oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare 2 8-inch round baking pans with baking spray with flour or grease bottom and sides with butter and lightly flour to coat; set aside.Â
In a large bowl attached to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and continue to beat until mixture is uniform.Â
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture into the butter mixture alternately with sour cream beating on low to medium speed until just combined. Fold in mashed banana and vanilla.Â
Divide batter evenly among the prepared baking pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.Â
Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and let cool completely before frosting with buttercream.Â
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BROWN SUGAR HAZELNUT BUTTERCREAM
In a small saucepan over medium-heat high, bring brown sugar and butter to a light boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Stir in warmed milk.Â
In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed, beat brown sugar mixture, powdered sugar, chocolate-hazelnut spread and salt until light in color and uniform texture, about 2 minutes.Â
Spread over cooled cakes. Â
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 PRALINE HAZELNUTS
Heat oven to 200°F (93°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat; set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together hazelnuts, sugar and egg white. Carefully pour spread hazelnuts onto prepared baking pan. Â
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow hazelnuts to cool completely before sprinkling over the top of the cake. Sprinkle demerara sugar over the top of the cake for an added touch of sweetness.
Notes
Original recipe calls for frozen bananas and to thaw, reserve and caramelize banana juices. Due to not having frozen bananas beforehand, I opted for the overriped bananas I currently had.
- Cuisine: American
Recipe adapted from p. 15 of Bake From Scratch Vol. 2
This cake is sooo delicious!! And it looks amazing! Always a big hit! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
So glad to hear! Thanks, Chelsea! 🙂
Such an easy and beautiful cake to make!
★★★★★
Thanks Kellie! And I loved how easy it was to make as well. No hassle!
Hazelnut and bananas are two of my favorite things! LOVE this recipe!!
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Mine too! They pair perfectly together! Thanks, Jennifer!
Banana, chocolate, hazelnuts…there just isn’t a more perfect flavor combo – love this!
★★★★★
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks, Kimberly!