This easy Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread recipe turns a box of cake mix and overripe bananas into a soft, bakery-style loaf everyone will love. With only six simple ingredients, this banana bread is perfect for gifting, sharing, or treating yourself to a slice!
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Banana Bread with Cake Mix Recipe
This Banana Bread with Cake Mix recipe is the ultimate time-saving hack for a delicious treat made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. By using a box of cake mix, you can whip up a moist banana bread in just five minutes. And after baking it, you will think it actually tastes like it was made from scratch.
Top Recipe Tips
Make this bread the way you want it. You can make this bread in two bread pans, four mini bread pans, or even a bundt pan. I’ve tested them all, and each one works great.
This bread freezes well for up to six months. Make the bread ahead of time before the busy holiday season, freeze it, and then wrap it up and give it to friends and neighbors during the holidays.
Let the banana bread cool completely before slicing. This helps with easier slicing.
For extra flavor, mix in your favorite add-ins. Try adding some fresh fruit on top, such as blueberries, banana slices, or strawberries. You can also add different nuts or chocolate chips to the batter.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
You only need six ingredients to make this banana bread. I have also included a few substitution recommendations.
- Yellow cake mix (15.25 oz – $1.23) – You can use another flavor of cake mix, such as vanilla, chocolate, or a spice cake mix.
- Vegetable oil (¼ cup – $0.48) – Adds moisture to the bread. You can use canola oil as an alternative.
- Eggs (3 large – $0.90) – Binds the ingredients together.
- Mashed bananas (1 ½ cups – $0.66) – The star of the recipe that adds a natural sweetness.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon – $0.75) – Make your own homemade vanilla extract for a budget-friendly option.
- Granulated sugar – (4 teaspoons – $0.04) – Gives an extra sweetness to the flavor. Use honey as a substitute if needed; note that it will slightly alter the overall flavor of the bread.
The recipe cost is calculated based on the amounts needed. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out . The pricing for this recipe was updated in October 2025.
How to make Banana Bread from Cake Mix
Mix, pour, and bake. It’s so easy, let me show you how.
- Mix the batter ingredients and pour them into the pan evenly.
- Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the batter and bake.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing and serving.
Share the Love: Gift-Worthy Banana Bread Made Easy
This recipe is perfect for baking for your family, wrapping up and delivering to a friend in need, or as a neighbor gift during the holidays. All you need to wrap these loaves for gifting is plastic wrap, parchment paper, and festive ribbon.
Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread
Recipe Cost 4.06 Serving Cost 0.25Equipment
- cooling rack
- mixing bowl
- wire whisk
- measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- 8×4-inch loaf pans OR bundt pan OR mini bread pans
- spatula
- bread knife
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ cup mashed bananas about 3-4 bananas
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
MIX INS: (both optional)
- 2 cups chocolate chips mini or regular
- 1 cup nuts toasted and chopped (walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
PREPARE OVEN AND PANS:
- Move oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease (2) 8×4-inch bread pans with nonstick cooking spray. (Alternatively, grease a bundt pan or four mini bread pans, about 5 ½ x 3 ½-inch, if using).
MAKE BATTER:
- In a large bowl add cake mix, oil, eggs, bananas, and vanilla. Fold in any optional mix-ins at this time.
- Whisk until just combined and no flour pockets remain.
POUR INTO PANS:
- Split the batter evenly between the two loaf pans (Or the 4 mini bread pans or the bundt pan if using).
- Smooth batter into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the loaf pans (or bunt pan if using).
BAKE:
- Bake the two 8×4-inch loaves for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Bake the 4 mini loaves for 20-25 minutes. Bake the bundt pan for 50-60 minutes.
COOL:
- Move bread pans to a wire rack and let them cool for 20 minutes.
- Then, remove the bread from the pans and cool completely, about 1 ½ – 2 hours.
- The four mini loaves will need to cool 10 minutes in the pans, and then 45-60 minutes outside of the pans before slicing and serving.
- The bundt cake loaf will need to cool for 30 minutes in the pan, and then two hours outside of the pan before slicing and serving.
SERVE:
- Slice and serve! Or wrap in plastic wrap and ribbon for gifting.
Video
Notes
Storage Tips
Store: Store the bread at room temperature in plastic wrap, Ziploc bags, or in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Freeze: Wrap the bread in 2 layers of plastic wrap or one layer of foil and then in a freezer-safe bag. You can freeze the bread for up to 6 months this way.Nutrition
Banana Bread Using Cake Mix Recipe FAQs
While I haven’t specifically tested this recipe for muffins, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Once your banana is pale, soft, and brown, it is too ripe to eat and is perfect for using up in banana bread. If the bananas are black, they are way too ripe to use, even for banana bread.
Yes, you can store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days before serving.
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Carolyn says
Used a spice cake mix. Really good!
Jess Jankowski says
LOVE that!
Adele N. says
Since ,I been using this recipe it help me alot it’s very easy and save time for the last 3 years this is my go to recipe for holiday or just want something like to snack on.
Jess Jankowski says
I love that. Thank you for your review, it means a lot to us!
Amanda says
This Banana Bread Made With Cake Mix recipe was perfect on the first try. Amazing!
Mary Boyd says
I made the bread exactly like the recipe calls for but used a French vanilla cake mix. I used the mini loaf pans. I baked them about 30 minutes before toothpick came out clean. Wow! My family loves them. Am going to wrap them on the outside of the plastic wrap with Christmas paper for gifts.
Jess Jankowski says
Love this! So glad that substitution worked for you. Thanks for your feedback!
Phoenix says
can you veganize this recipe?
Jess Jankowski says
Hello, we have not tested this recipe with making it vegan.
Josie says
YUM O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome late night snack!
Done Right!
Jess Jankowski says
Woo hoo! Thanks for the review.
Judy L Holen says
I love this recipe. I also used other leftover fruit instead of bananas and it turned out great. thanks for sharing this recipe.
Jess Jankowski says
Love that you added other leftover fruit!
Rebecca Johnson says
I made your recipe last week in a Bundt pan, with a small amount of doubt. Needless to say it was a welcomed recipe. I stood back and watched my co workers devour it. I made one today and mixed the sugar with crushed walnuts and sprinkled that on top. Oh my goodness, you talk about a welcomed recipe. I will never make banana bread the same. It’s a keeper. Thank you for sharing.
Jess Jankowski says
We love everything about this! Thank you so much for letting us know and for making it your own recipe!
Sandy Gotter says
How long can you go past the best by date? I. A cake mix
Jess Jankowski says
Articles we have read online state that a cake mix can be used from 4-6 months after the best by date has passed. However, we recommend using your best judgment as we do not promote using expired food ingredients in recipes.
Sandy Gotter says
Can I make this banana bread into muffins ?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Sandy, we have not tested that specifically with this recipe but imagine it would work just fine.
Donna says
I have frozen bananas, could I use them in this bread??
Jess Jankowski says
Absolutely! Just let them thaw before using them.
Janice Rose says
This recipe is delicious! I used pecans and about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips that I had left in a bag. Perfect recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
Love those add-ins! Thanks for your review Janice!
Donna says
I love making banana bread, but I’ve never tried it with cake mix. Such a great idea! This recipe looks so easy to make too!
Ron Weinberg says
There’s nothing like banana bread cake!
Jess Jankowski says
It really hits the spot!
NANCY says
Sounds delicious! Like that it’s low cost & easy to make.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so easy! Give it a try!
Calvin says
Seems like an easy to make recipe, I love banana bread.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so easy my kids can make it on their own!
Lisalia says
Yum! A delicious new way to make banana bread. It was so easy and turned out perfectly moist.
Jess Jankowski says
Lisalia, we love that you now have a new way to make banana bread!
Cindy says
I was looking for recipes to make for a picnic this weekend and I can’t wait to try this. tysm!
Jess Jankowski says
Cindy, this Cake Mix Banana Bread is perfect for a picnic! Enjoy!