How to Bake Banana Cake: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas (the more spotted, the better!)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter (or vegetable oil)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk (any type)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Equipment

• 9×5 inch loaf pan (or 8-inch round cake pan)
• Large mixing bowl
• Medium mixing bowl
• Fork or potato masher
• Whisk or electric mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rubber spatula
• Cooking spray or butter for greasing

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Kitchen (5 minutes)

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C)
2. Grease your pan with butter or cooking spray
3. Lightly flour the pan by adding a tablespoon of flour, tilting to coat all surfaces, then tapping out excess
4. Gather all ingredients and measure them out

Step 2: Mash the Bananas (3 minutes)

1. Peel the bananas and place them in your large mixing bowl
2. Mash thoroughly with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth (a few small lumps are fine)
3. Tip: Very ripe bananas with brown spots are sweeter and mash easier

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients (5 minutes)

1. Add melted butter to the mashed bananas and stir
2. Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each
3. Pour in vanilla extract and milk, then stir until combined
4. Let mixture cool for 2-3 minutes if butter was very hot