banana coffee cake

last updated on October 30, 2026

I could not be more excited about this banana coffee cake. It’s got all the best parts of banana bread but with a yummy crumb topping, plus is topped with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and brûléed bananas! It is basically a dream.

The inspiration for this banana coffee cake came from a restaurant I went to recently. Some of my family was in town a few weeks ago and we got brunch at North Italia. I love North Italia, but this was my first time trying their brunch! We decided to get the banana coffee cake to share and it was incredible. I knew I needed to make it myself! So here we are and I am stoked about the result.

ingredients needed for banana coffee cake

how to make the coffee cake crumb topping

This crumb topping is what really makes this a coffee cake! Without it you would just have banana bread, which is great, just not as fun! Luckily, the crumb topping is super easy to make. Combine all the ingredients for the crumb topping in a bowl, making sure your butter is softened. Use a hand mixer or your fingers to combine everything together. Don’t over mix, so just combine until everything comes together! You want it to stick together, but slightly crumble when you rub it between your fingers. If it isn’t crumbling, just add a bit more flour until it does!

how to brûlée bananas

If you have a butane or creme brûlée torch, making brûléed bananas is a breeze. If you don’t have a torch, it is still totally doable! Right before serving the coffee cake, slice a banana in half, length-wise. Sprinkle each half with a thin layer of sugar. If you have a torch, torch the sugar until it is just melted. If you don’t have a torch, transfer the bananas to a baking sheet and place in the oven with the broiler on high. Keep a close eye on the bananas and remove when the sugar has just melted. We are not going for a thick layer of sugar here like you might with creme brûlée. We just want a really thin layer that gives these bananas a nice, sugary crunch!

Or, if this all sounds like too much, just serve it with slices of fresh banana or no banana at all!

other banana recipes you will love

• banana pudding blondies
• banana cream pie cookies
• banana bread donuts with brown butter glaze
• magnolia bakery banana pudding
• banana cake

banana coffee cake

5 from 1 vote

[category] Breakfast, Dessert

[published] July 19, 2022

[PREP] 15 minutes mins

[COOK] 30 minutes mins

[TOTAL] 45 minutes mins

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Ingredients

banana bread

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour 195 grams
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt

coffee cake crumb topping

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon

topping

• caramel sauce
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 tbsp sugar + more for bananas
• 3-4 bananas

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 (F). Prepare an 8×8" pan by lining it with parchment paper or thoroughly greasing it.
2. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and mix until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add mashed bananas, greek yogurt, eggs, and vanilla and mix until just combined.
3. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. For the coffee cake crumb, combine butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. The mixture should stick together, but should slightly crumble if you run it between your fingers. If it isn't crumbling, add 1 tsp additions of flour until it does crumble.
5. Crumble the mixture evenly on top of the banana bread batter. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. While the banana bread coffee cake slightly cools, prepare the toppings. Add the whipping cream and sugar to a bowl and whisk until soft peaks form.
7. Just before serving, slice a banana in half, lengthwise. Sprinkle with a light layer of sugar. If you have a butane / creme brulee torch, use it to torch the sugar until it is just melted. If you don't have a torch, transfer the bananas to a baking sheet and place them in the oven with the broiler on high. Keep an eye on them and remove as soon as the sugar has melted.
8. To plate, add a piece of the banana coffee cake, drizzle it with some caramel sauce, top with a scoop of whipped cream, and place the bruleed bananas on top. Enjoy!