Banana Crumble Cake (Hope Cake) Recipe

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Banana Crumble Cake | somethingswanky.com

This is one of those recipes that I know I can’t do justice to through writing. Probably not even through photography. It’s that good.

A friend of mine made it for us a few months ago, and I have been dying to get my hands on the recipe ever since. And I know I’m not the only one– I’ve had friends clamoring for the recipe as well after sampling this one!

All I can say is: this recipe is well worth the wait.

Banana Crumble Cake | somethingswanky.com

My friend brought this recipe back with her from Bolivia, where they call it “Hope Cake.” I think what sets it apart from other banana cakes is the cream cheese. An entire brick of cream cheese is mixed into the batter and contributes to a dense, rich, and fluffy cake that has just a little bit of tang.

This cake is for sure going to be a staple in our house from now on!

Banana Crumble Cake | www.somethingswanky.com

Banana Crumble Cake

Deliciously soft and tender banana cake topped with a brown sugar and pecan crumble topping.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 3 cups flour
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3 medium bananas, mashed
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs

For the Topping:

  • ½ cup chopped nuts
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbs butter
  • 1 tbs flour

Instructions

For the Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9x13 dish.
  2. Cream together the butter, cream cheese, bananas, vanilla and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between.
  3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until batter forms. Pour batter into the prepared pan, set aside.

For the Topping:

  1. Mix together the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Mix in the nuts.
  2. Sprinkle the the topping over the cake batter.
  3. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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15 thoughts on “Banana Crumble Cake (Hope Cake) Recipe”

  1. Mind-reading again–I’ve got those three bananas sitting on my counter waiting to be made and I was not in the mood for banana bread. I have a go-to favorite banana cake already, but I’m intrigued by the addition of cream cheese here. Can’t wait to make this very soon!

  2. I’m not usually a banana person, but this recipe is definitely an exception! The pics are great, and you had me at the word “crumble.” Anything with crumbs. And the cake looks so fluffy!

  3. I love banana desserts, and this cake looks like it would be right up my alley, especially with all those pecans sprinkled on top. And I can imagine that the cream cheese must create an incredibly soft texture.

  4. Perfect timing! I had bananas to use. Made this one for my librarians. It was a beautiful cake. Hopefully tasted as good as it looked and smelled when baking. I think it is a keeper! Thanks for sharing.

  5. That crumble on top is calling my name!!! So much goodness going on in this cake. The batter reminds me of my favorite banana muffins…so I know I would absolutely die over this cake!!! So yummy!!!

  6. Just made this and it is SO amazing! I did want to leave you a note saying that although you have vanilla in the ingredients, it’s not listed in the instructions. I just added mine in when I was creaming everything together!

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