Did you know you only need 4 ingredients to make the most moist and flavorful banana bread ever? This Banana Bread with Cake Mix takes just minutes to prep and is absolutely delicious!
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If you're anything like me, you make a lot of banana bread. I'm forever buying too many bananas and then watching as they turn brown on my countertop.
Of course, homemade banana bread is the simple solution to utilizing that fruit before it goes bad, but what if you're short on ingredients or time? I have the perfect solution... Banana bread that's made with cake mix!
With this easy recipe, you can cut out quite a few ingredients and some time and end up with a quick bread that's packed with sweet banana flavor. Nobody will know you used a shortcut!
Oh, and if you have pancake mix instead of cake mix, you can make my banana bread with pancake mix instead!
🍰 Can you use cake mix for banana bread?
Yes, you can! Cake mix has several banana bread ingredients built into it, so if you have a box of cake mix, you only need 3 other ingredients to make the quick bread.
When you use a box of cake mix, you can eliminate the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, and salt that you'd use in a from scratch banana bread recipe. That means you have fewer ingredients to purchase or to get out of your pantry!
Most people will never know you used a box of mix to make the banana bread, though if you use Funfetti, they may detect some of that classic Funfetti flavor.
The banana bread may also be a tad bit sweeter than you're used to. Though I don't add any additional sugar to my recipe, there is plenty of sugar in the cake mix and, of course, in the bananas.
❤️Why you'll love this recipe
You'll love this cake mix banana bread because it's both easy and delicious!
You simply need to mix together 4 simple ingredients in a mixing bowl (you don't even need an electric mixer!), pour them into a loaf pan, and bake. And your banana bread is ready to be sliced and enjoyed.
🗒 Ingredients
As I've mentioned, the ingredients for this banana bread are super simple and basic. And there are just four of them! Here's everything you need (be sure to view recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe directions):
- Box cake mix: I've made this banana bread with both yellow cake mix and Funfetti cake mix and both are delicious. You could also try chocolate cake mix for chocolate banana bread.
- Mashed banana
- Vegetable oil: I use canola oil
- Large eggs
🍌 How to make banana bread with cake mix
Making this banana bread with cake mix couldn't be any easier! You'll minimal dishes and it takes just 5 minutes to put together.
The hardest part is probably mashing the banana. You'll need about 3 large ripe bananas to get 1 ½ cups of mashed banana.
I use a potato masher to mash it.
Put the cake mix in a large mixing bowl.
I used yellow cake mix here, but I've also made this banana bread with Funfetti (Rainbow Chip) cake mix and it's extra pretty with a little more vanilla flavor. I generally use Betty Crocker, but any brand will do!
The cake mix is the only dry ingredient you need... It has the flour ,sugar, baking powder, and salt incorporated into it.
Now you'll stir the wet ingredients into it: the mashed banana, eggs, and vegetable oil.
Mix until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
Pour into a 9x5 loaf pan that's been lightly brushed with oil or butter (or nonstick cooking spray).
And bake at 350 degrees for 44-48 minutes, until the edges are turning golden and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Let the banana bread cool in the pan for a few minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack and letting it cool completely before slicing with a serrated knife.
Letting it cool completely will make for easier slicing. Though you can always heat the slices in a toaster oven or microwave since everyone knows warm banana bread is the best.
This banana bread is heavenly! It's incredibly moist and absolutely packed with sweet banana flavor.
I guess it's kind of like a cross between cake and banana bread in both consistency and flavor. Banana cake if you will.
I love those slightly crispy golden edges!
⏲️ How to store
When banana bread with cake mix has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container (sliced or whole) at room temperature. It should keep fresh for about 4 days when stored properly.
You can also wrap the banana bread tightly in plastic wrap and store it in your fridge if you want it to last longer (7-10 days), but keep in mind that it may dry out a bit in the fridge.
🎉 Add-in options
I made this banana bread as basic as possible and it's absolutely delicious! But there are also lots of different ways you can jazz it up in the form of add-ins that you'll mix into the batter (who doesn't love chocolate chip banana bread??). Here are some of my favorites:
- Chocolate chips or chocolate chunks or white chocolate chips
- Vanilla extract for an extra vanilla kick
- Nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds
- Cinnamon or other spices, like nutmeg or ginger
- Dried fruit, like raisins or cranberries
- Shredded coconut
- Peanut butter or other nut butter swirls
- Blueberries or other fresh or frozen fruit
- Cream cheese or other flavored cream cheese swirls
You can also feel free to frost the cake mix banana bread either with a simple vanilla glaze, a cream cheese frosting, or a store-bought frosting.
Or you can add banana slices on top of the batter before baking for a super pretty caramelized banana look.
🧁 Cake flavor options
You just need a box of your favorite cake mix for this recipe, plus 3 other ingredients. But what type of cake mix you use is totally up to you and will change the flavor of the cake mix banana bread a bit. Here are some different options:
- Yellow cake mix
- Funfetti cake mix
- White cake mix
- Strawberry cake mix
- Chocolate cake mix
- Spice cake mix
- Lemon cake mix
- Butter pecan cake mix
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch cake mix
🥣 More recipes with box mixes
I love taking delicious recipes and making them even easier with boxed mixes, whether it's cake mix, pancake mix, brownie mix, or muffin mix. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use mixes:
- Cake Mix Pancakes
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix Cookie Bars
- Pancake Mix Crepes
- Pancake Mix Cookies
- Pancake Mix Banana Bread
- Pancake Mix Donuts
- Pancake Mix Muffins
- Muffin Mix Pancakes
- Muffin Mix Cookies
- Brownie Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix Muffins
Never let those overripe bananas go in the trash again. Your whole family will love this delicious treat as dessert or a snack. But it also makes a pretty incredible breakfast, too. Just saying!
I hope this easy banana bread recipe becomes a staple in your house!
📖 Recipe
Banana Bread with Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box cake mix (I recommend yellow or Funfetti, but you can use any flavor)
- 1 ½ cup mashed banana (from about 3 large ripe bananas)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil or butter a 9x5" metal loaf pan.
- Put cake mix in a large bowl and stir in mashed banana, oil, and eggs until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 44-48 minutes, until edges are turning golden and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice and enjoy.
Al Swilling says
My neighbor recently made this recipe, and gave me a piece of it to try. It was delicious, and the results is a much more attractive finished product than my "from scratch" recipe. This recipe yields a loaf that is lighter in color than the scratch recipe, with all the flavor. I always add chopped walnuts or pecans to the recipe, because my mom always made banana-nut bread, and I like the added flavor that the nuts give. Now it's my turn to make this recipe.
There is one thing that I would add to the instructions:
If you're using a glass loaf pan (Corning or Anchor Hocking), for best results, decrease the oven temperature to 325, and increase baking time to about 60 minutes, checking with a toothpick every few minutes after the 44-48 minutes recommended in this recipe. I'm speaking from experience baking the scratch banana bread recipe, but the same will hold true using this recipe. The baking time has to do with using glassware instead of a metal loaf pan.
Thank you for posting this recipe.
Barb says
Easy and quick. I use mini loaf pans to share a treat with neighbors or friends.
Trudy says
I used this recipe, but substituted peaches for bananas and added 1tsp cinnamon. Turned out great
Marisela says
Followed the recipe exactly as written using Betty Crocker French vanilla cake mix. My husband did not wait for the loaf to be overturned onto a plate and had the first slice while it was hot!!!
Barrie Taylor says
I made this with a sugar free cake mix, added pecans, some apple pie spice and extra vanilla! Delicious!
Teri B says
FYI - Devil's food cake mix also works really well.
Richard nelson says
IDK maybe my bananas were extra moist, I bake for 45 minuets and bread was real wet, ended up baking another20 minuets to get toothpick to come out clean...
Mary says
Started making this and found out I only had one cup mashed bananas, so I added 1/2 cup mashed canned cinnamon apples. I also weighed the cake mix since my boxed mix had more than 15.25 ounces. Halfway though I read the hint that said, if you are using a glass pan decrease heat to 325. All in all I baked this at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes than decreased the temp to 325 until it was done.
Teresa says
when adding cream cheese to the recipe, do you just add the cream cheese to the bananas? and should I use 2 8oz. pkgs?
Sues says
Hi Teresa! I would only use one 8 oz. package. I'd beat it to get it nice and creamy and then add it to the batter. Or you could beat it with some powdered sugar and then add 1/2 the batter to the pan, dollop the cream cheese mixture over, add the rest of the batter and then swirl it around with a knife. This would make a nice swirled look!
Tara says
This was super moist and easy to make. I used 4 bananas,Betty Crocker butter yellow cake mix, and I used butter instead of oil. It was demolished within 2 days I believe . I want to try it again with some different mixes, but the butter mix is a winner for me. I also added cinnamon and ginger.
Neko723 says
I kinda assumed this was just adding banana to how some box mixes are made and ending up using a cup of water and an extra egg. it was overly moist and dense, but using butter pecan made such a perfect banana bread taste. only thing better would have been some crushed nuts. I made both muffins and a loaf pan and honestly the loaf was better. maybe the muffins needed longer to cook. they are still good. I'm hoping the next try with the correct level of ingredients will be better. this is a great thing to have on hand when you regularly buy bananas and don't always eat them all fast enough. I may end up saving three a week just to make this 😀
Lydia says
I used great value brand yellow
cake mix.I had read a review on different brands of cake mix.This was near the top.I used 3 eggs and followed the recipe.I have been making banana bread 60 years and can tell you everyone loves it.However, this is the best one I have ever made.It is tender and soft.Great flavor,I let my bananas get good and black.I really liked this easy,no mess recipe.
Mimi says
used a strawberry cake mix, and since I don't use oil in my cakes, and didn't want to use my usual go to applesauce, I just added another whole mashed banana until I had 2 cups. worked out great! Granddaughters loved it!
Terry says
in Canada our Betty Crocker cake mixes are only 375 grams ($$%metric system) so i always add a cup of flour. Turns out great every time.
Sues says
Thank you for sharing, Terry! This is super helpful for readers not in the U.S.!
Karla Henry says
I used butter cake mix, eggs, butter, cinnamon, fresh cranberries and chopped pecans. YUM!
Cheryl says
has anyone tried making muffins if not wish me luck.
Sheryl says
Hubbybwas begging for Banana bread and I wanted it to be cake like. I used yellow cake ,extra vanilla, and walnuts.
Two thumbs up everyone devoured their piece and wanted more.
Head to make a store run and bought another yellow cake mix to make again. Thank you so much for the quick and easy recipe.
Patsy says
My first time making banana bread of any kind, turned out amazing and beautiful, thank you so much,
Judy says
This is a great recipe! Just made it for the first time and it was perfect. I followed your recipe and then added a half cup of chopped toasted pecans. For the person who asked how to keep the nuts from sinking to the bottom, toss them in just a little flour and then gently fold them into the batter before filling the loaf pan. In case anyone wants to know, I used a Duncan Hines Butter Golden cake mix.
I often add banana to a Spice cake mix when I have a leftover banana to use up (makes a great moist cake), but I like the recipe here to have more of a banana bread. I also like that this recipe makes only one loaf. It's perfect to use if you have only a couple bananas. Thanks for this recipe it will be my go to now for banana bread 🙂