Taste Differences

• Banana cake and banana bread have similar tastes, but because of a few slight changes in recipe, the banana cake is generally a bit sweeter. Keeping parallel with the usual rules and reputation of cakes, banana cake is meant to be more of a dessert, hence the sweeter taste. Banana bread tends to emphasize more of a grain taste with just a hint of sweet, while banana cake embraces the full sweetness of a traditional cake.

Texture Differences

• The difference in texture between banana cake and banana bread is subtle, but can be determined by closely looking at the two next to each other. Banana bread is generally very dense, much more than banana cake. This makes banana bread somewhat heavier and appear drier than its counterpart. It is easy to see that banana cake is moist and considerably lighter than banana bread when the two are directly compared.

Ingredient Differences

• Many of the ingredients in banana bread and banana cake are the same with the exception of a few. Banana cake generally calls for a different flour than banana bread. Instead of regular flour, banana cake is made with a soft, wheat flour, which ultimately means banana cake contains less gluten than banana bread. Another difference in the ingredients is that banana bread is usually made with baking powder, while banana cake is made using yeast.

Banana Cake Preparation

• Banana cake is made by first placing shortening in a bowl, then sifting in dry ingredients. Then, ripened bananas and buttermilk are added and beaten until mixed and moist. More buttermilk is mixed in along with eggs and chopped walnuts. The ingredients are then beaten for another few minutes before being lightly floured and baked in greased cake pans for 35 to 40 minutes. Preparation for banana cake places great emphasis on keeping the mixture light and moist.

Banana Bread Preparation

• Banana bread is made by first combining cream shortening and sugar, and mixing until fluffy. Eggs must be added in one at a time next, with the mixture being beaten after each egg that's added. Next, ripe bananas and vanilla are stirred in. All ingredients are sifted together and baked in a greased loaf pan for about 30 to 35 minutes. Preparation for banana bread places great emphasis on keeping the mixture fluffy.