Anna Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Frosting

by Erin

This Anna Banana cake is like a fluffier banana bread topped with a decadent peanut butter chocolate fudge frosting. Simple enough for everyday, but also delicious enough for special occasions.

Anna Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Frosting
This content contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to recipe

Today would have been my mother’s 74th birthday, so I made her a birthday cake.

Her name was Anna and she hated being called Anna Banana as a child. Kids would tease her, calling her that name as they did so. Even when I was a child myself I remember her hating the name. So why on earth would I dedicate a cake called Anna Banana to her on her birthday?

Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Sometime in her late adult years she reclaimed it, owning it as her nickname. It seems like a small thing, but it was important to her. She would talk about it with a big smile, expressive story telling, and laughed with her whole body – much like with any story she would tell.

I hope I never forget the sound of her laugh.

Anna Banana Cake on a wood cake stand

My mom also loved chocolate.

In the past I made her a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting decorated with chocolate sprinkles. She clearly hoarded the chocolate loving genes cause both my brother and I gravitate towards fruity desserts over chocolate. So for her would-be birthday I met her halfway, making a banana cake with chocolate frosting.

Slice of Banana Cake

Of course it is also Saturday which as you know means #PBchocSat during college football season. While I was prepared to miss a week of #PBchocSat, I ended up adding some peanut butter into the frosting as well. Because it’s delicious and I think she would have liked it.

Especially served on top of the wood slice cake stand my brother made for me years ago.

Slice of Anna Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Today I am also getting my first tattoo – you guessed it, in honor of my mother. It will be her cursive A that she signed on her paintings followed by the year I was born 85 (my brother also plans to get one with his birth year 79). I originally intended to have it on my wrist but realized as much as I would like seeing it there I don’t want everyone else to ask about it all the time. So I am going for my ribs where I can still see it but no one else can. Nothing like going for the most painful spot the first time around. I’m already going to cry today so what’s a little more?

We love you mom and miss you terribly.

Mom's Birthday Anna Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Three years ago: Snickerdoodles

Six years ago: No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Cookie Butter Pie

Seven years ago: Roasted Poultry Stock

Eight years ago: Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup (2013)

Nine years ago: Peanut Butter Marshmallows

Eleven years ago: Buckeye Candies

Anna Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Frosting

ANNA BANAN CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE FROSTING

Print
Yield: 8-10 servings Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

BANANA CAKE

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large overripe bananas, mashed (about 1-1/2 cups), mashed
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)

PEANUT BUTTER-FUDGE FROSTING

  • 4 oz. semisweet chocolate
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar (more if needed)

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add both sugars and beat on high for 2 minutes or until creamed together. Add the eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Beat in vanilla and bananas until combined.
  • Add half the flour mixture to the batter, followed by the sour cream, then the remaining flour, mixing until just incorporated.
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared pan evenly and bake for 30-40 minutes (until the cake springs back when gently pressed in the center or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).
  • Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, make the frosting. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate, cocoa, milk, butter, and peanut butter until just melted and smooth. Allow to cool completely, about 5 minutes.
  • Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until reaching your desired consistency. Frost the cake and decorate as desired.
Did You Make This Recipe?
I want to see! Tag me on Instagram at @TheSpiffyCookie and hashtag it #TheSpiffyCookie.

Source: Adapted from Food.com (originally from The CKFM Bonnie Stern Cookbook).

Did you make this recipe? I want to see! Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

You may also like

2 comments

Dad November 21, 2021 - 9:58 am

Anna would have loved that cake. It was neat how she turned the Anna Banana moniker around and made it into a fun thing.

Reply
Inger November 20, 2021 - 6:50 pm

What a lovely tribute to your mother!

Reply

Leave a Comment

* By using this form you consent to the storing of your message attached to the e-mail address you've used. (Data will not be shared with any 3rd-parties)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Read More