Banana Cake with Vanilla Frosting

These banana cakes with Nilla Wafer frosting combine the rich, moist flavor banana with the nostalgic crunch and sweetness of the classic vanilla wafers. I used Dolly Parton’s banana cake mix and the cutest narrow trays to create the perfect comfort treats!

I was super excited how these individual banana cakes turned out! They’re made with Dolly Parton’s cake mix, and they’re the perfect blend of southern charm and classic comfort food. Each cake is topped with fresh banana slices and covered with a sweet Nilla Wafer buttercream. We go to Gatlinburg, Tennessee a few times of year and LOVE Dollywood. When Dolly released these mixes, I just had to try every one. The banana mix has a strong flavor, so the ideal match was a complimentary vanilla buttercream with the nostalgic Nilla wafer taste. To top it off, I added a mini Nilla Wafer on top, adding an extra layer of crunch. These cakes are so tasty and wonderful to make year-round. Dare I say, each bite holds a touch of country magic 😉

Banana Cake with Vanilla Wafer Frosting

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

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• 1 box Dolly Parton Banana Cake mix + ingredients listed on the box
• Narrow tray pans (like these)
• 1–2 sliced bananas
• 2 sticks of butter, softened- I use one salted and one unsalted. If you prefer to use unsalted, add in a pinch of salt, to taste.
• 4 cups of powdered sugar
• 3–5 tbsp of heavy cream
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1/2 c crushed Nilla Wafers
• Mini Nilla wafers, optional (to line the bottom of each tray and as a garnish on top)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set narrow baking pans on a flat surface. The amount of trays you’ll need depends on how much you fill them, but it’s usually 6-8. Spray each pan with baking spray.
2. If desired, place mini Nilla wafers at the bottom of each pan. This doesn’t change the flavor, it’s more of a visual effect. 
3. Make the banana cake according to the package directions and split it between the pans. I fill mine a tiny bit ore than half way. Bake according to the package for cupcakes and check them to see if they need to bake longer. Every oven is a little different so make sure the cakes don’t sink to the touch and they should be a light golden color. 
4. Cool completely. Meanwhile, beat the butter in a mixing bowl until creamy. Add in half of the powdered sugar and mix. Add in the rest of the sugar, wafers, vanilla and cream and mix until fully combined. 
5. Place the sliced bananas onto each cake and then covered them with frosting using a piping bag and tip. Garnish with a mini Nilla wafer.