Banana bread with pancake mix… if you think it’s crazy, then jump on board the crazy train and whip this up. It’s a combination of banana bread and banana cake, with a simple glaze on top.
Pancake mix is not just for pancakes anymore!
Since there was some chatter about everyone being low on flour and sugar, I grabbed a bag of pancake mix, and have some fun recipes to share with you using it.
This one will have you thinking how on earth is it made out of pancake mix, it doesn’t taste like a pancake. That’s the magic of this recipe.
I love that it’s a large cake but easily baked in a 12″ cast iron skillet. As you may know, it’s one of my favorite times in my kitchen.
If you like making sweets in your skillet like I do, give these Cream Scones a try as well as my No Pie Crust Apple Pie and if you like cherry pie…. this is a fun Cherry Cheesecake Skillet Cookie Pie.
Give me all the glaze…
so simple to make and really puts this or any cake over the top! Just powdered sugar and warm water, then pour it over the top, spread it smooth with a spatula if you’d like, top with nuts like I did.
What other items can be added to this recipe?
You can add chopped nuts to this recipe, up to 1 cup of nuts. Walnuts go great in banana bread, another option is to add some chocolate chips, add up to a cup of sweet chocolate yumminess to this banana bread. Any flavor chip would be good, cinnamon chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips. They all go with banana very well.
What can I use if I don’t have a 12″ cast iron skillet for this banana bread?
You can bake this in 2- 8″ round cake pans, a 9×13 pan, about 24 cupcakes. Adjust the time accordingly.
Oh yes, tender cake. Moist and delicious and I LOVE that the cake stays warm for a while in the skillet, making it irresistible and perfect for having a second piece!
It wasn’t hard to figure out why everyone wanted another slice!
If you’re looking for a frosting recipe to top this cake with, how about my peanut butter frosting or chocolate malt frosting both great choices with this banana cake.
- 3 medium bananas
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch cinnamon
- 3 cups pancake mix (I use Krusteaz brand)
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Prepare a 12" cast iron skillet with a baking spray or shortening and a tablespoon of flour or pancake mix.
- Place bananas in a mixing bowl, mash with a fork or potato masher until fairly smooth.
- To that bowl add in eggs, oil, sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon mix until all combined well.
- Stir in flour, and make sure it well mixed.
- Place the batter into the prepared skillet.
- Bake for 28-30 minutes. Test with a toothpick, it's done when a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool for 5 minutes.
- Mix glaze: Mix the powdered sugar with warm water.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cake, spread the glaze over the cake with a spatula and top with chopped nuts.
If you like this or any other recipe at 
Lidia says
This cake looks amazing, I’m going to make it tomorrow, I’m so glad I saw this, I’m out of flour and have plenty of pancake mix on hand!
Hanyi says
Hi, if I want a more fluffy content of this banana cake, can I add some dry active yeast for it to rise?
Diane says
This recipe uses pancake mix, which has baking powder in it to help it rise substantially, adding yeast to this recipe is not advised. This cake is nice and light, try it first as written before attempting to adjust it. In my opinion yeast cakes/breads are heavier than this cake.
Martha M Ousley says
I’m out of white sugar. Can I substitute lt brown sugar?
Diane says
You can use brown sugar, the texture may be a little more dense.
Martha M Ousley says
In the oven right now. Didn’t have granulated sugar so I am using Lt brown sugar 🤞
Janis Kinmore says
Baked this exactly as written. My husband and grandson loved it. It’s soooo easy and a change from banana pancakes. Thanks for the recipe ❣️This will definitely be on our breakfast rotation and I’m planning on using this as a base to bake some other variations.