Cake mix banana bread is a soft, tender and moist classic banana bread made with cake mix and 3 other simple ingredients. This banana bread with cake mix recipe is quick and easy to mix up in one bowl in about 5 minutes.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I usually keep a bunch of bananas on my counter just for baking. There is something so cozy and inviting about banana bread (or any variation for that matter). I especially love my Brown Butter Banana Bread, Nutella Banana Bread, Banana Mug Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies, Banana Bars and Banana Mini Muffins recipes. This cake mix banana bread is no exception. If you’re a fan of wonderfully moist and incredibly easy banana bread, this recipe is for you.
- You love baking shortcuts: Grab your favorite box cake mix and 3 other ingredients and bake up a beautiful and classic golden brown banana cake mix bread loaf.
- Easy to make, bake and eat: This cake mix banana bread is super simple to make in one bowl, a whisk and loaf pan. The result is a beautiful and wonderfully cozy homemade banana bread made with just a few ingredients.
Ingredients
This easy banana cake bread requires only a handful of simple ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge.
Gather yellow cake mix, eggs, applesauce or oil and ripe bananas.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make this moist and tender banana cake bread if you need them.
- Box Yellow Cake Mix: This is the preferred dry cake mix. However, a similar cake mix such as spice, butter or even chocolate cake mix can also work in this banana bread recipe. When I’m at the grocery store I always pick up a box or two of Betty Crocker or Dunken Hines to have on hand.
- Mashed Banana: Make sure the bananas are fully ripened with some brown spots.
- Applesauce: Feel free to use your preferred brand of applesauce or even cinnamon applesauce. The recipe also works well with a neutral baking oil in place of the applesauce.
- Eggs: This recipe hasn’t been tested without eggs.
Variations
- 3 Ingredient Banana Bread: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the listed ingredients and still want to make this quick and easy banana bread. Mix one box of cake mix with 2 eggs and 1 ½ cups of mashed banana. Follow the recipe of the recipe as written. Alternatively, mix one box of cake mix with ½ cups applesauce with 1 ½ cups mashed banana. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
- Spiced Cake Mix: Swap the yellow cake mix with spice cake mix. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
- Chocolate Cake Mix : Swap the yellow cake mix with chocolate cake mix. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
- Flavor Boosters: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or other ground spices such as ginger. Make banana nut bread by adding 1 cup chopped nuts into the cake mix right after mixing all the other ingredients together. Add up to 1 cup chocolate chips for chocolate chip banana bread with cake mix.
How To Make
Learn how to make cake mix banana bread takes a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (170 C). Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on two sides. In a large mixing bowl mash about 3 - 4 medium bananas to measure 1 ½ cups mashed banana. Pour into the mixing bowl.
- Whisk the eggs and applesauce into the mashed banana until smooth and until well combined. Whisk the dry cake mix into the wet ingredients until just combined. If you want to add any extra flavor ingredients sich as nuts or chocolate chips, do so now.
- Evenly pour the banana bread cake mix batter into the prepared pan. Bake the banana cake mix bread for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out with a few moist (not wet or gummy) crumbs.
4. Cool the banana cake bread in the loaf pan for 10 minutes. Use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan. Fully cool the cake mix bread for at least an hour at room temperature, slice and enjoy.
How To Store, Freeze and Thaw
- Store: Place leftover banana bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 3 days. Then transfer the bread to the fridge for up to another 2 - 3 days.
- Freeze: Slice and individually wrap each slice of banana bread in wax or parchment paper and transfer each wrapped slice into a ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: The easiest and best way to thaw the box mix banana bread is to let it slowly thaw at room temperature. Then pop a slice or two into the toaster or into the microwave for that “fresh from the oven” taste.
M’s Expert Tips
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly which requires less mixing, resulting in moist and perfectly mixed banana bread.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Make sure to mix the cake mix into the wet until just combined.
- Play around with the flavors. Use your preferred cake mix flavor, add your favorite ground spices, nuts or chocolate chips. The best banana bread is the one with all the flavors you love.
- Fully cool the cake mix banana loaf. This banana bread needs at least an hour to fully cool. If you slice into the banana bread from cake mix too soon, the bread will be mushy.
FAQs
Prepare the banana cake mix bread recipe as written. Bake the banana bread in (2) 8 x 4 loaf pans for 35 - 45 minutes. Make the recipe as a cake mix banana bundt cake by greasing a 10 cup bundt pan and baking for about 45 - 55 minutes. Turn this recipe into banana cake mix muffins by lining a 12 ct. muffin pan with cupcake liners. Cup cakes will bake for about 18 - 22 minutes.
Cooling banana bread for at least 1 - 2 hours allows the structure of the bread to fully set. Your patience will be rewarded with perfectly slices of banana bread.
Use an 8 x 2 inch square pan or a 9 x 2 inch round cake pan. Keep in mind that the pans are not as deep as a 9 x 5. Therefore, the baking times for the banana bread will not be as long.
Other Cake Mix Recipes to Try
If you try this Cake Mix Banana Bread recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! -M
Cake Mix Banana Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9X5 loaf pan
- 1 parchment paper
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
- 1½ cups mashed bananas about 4 medium bananas
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup (120 ml) applesauce
- 1 15.25 oz. yellow cake mix
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (170 C). Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on two sides.
- In a large mixing bowl mash about 3 - 4 medium bananas to measure 1 ½ cups mashed banana. Pour into the mixing bowl.1½ cups mashed bananas
- Whisk the eggs and applesauce into the mashed banana until smooth and until well combined. Whisk the dry cake mix into the wet ingredients until just combined. If you want to add any extra flavor ingredients sich as nuts or chocolate chips, do so now.2 large eggs, room temperature, ½ cup (120 ml) applesauce , 1 15.25 oz. yellow cake mix
- Evenly pour the banana bread cake mix batter into the prepared pan. Bake the banana cake mix bread for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out with a few moist (not wet or gummy) crumbs.
- Cool the banana cake bread in the loaf pan for 10 minutes. Use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan. Fully cool the cake mix bread for at least an hour at room temperature, slice and enjoy.
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