Banana Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Banana Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 8 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 168 g (6 ounces) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature; 113 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 125 g (½ cup) mashed ripe banana; 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice; 450 g (1 pound) powdered sugar, sifted; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This simple recipe for Banana Cream Cheese Frosting features the tangy flavor of cream cheese along with its richness. All you need is one bowl and just 6 ingredients (including REAL bananas) for the perfect frosting to elevate cakes, cupcakes, or even a super moist, hearty slice of banana bread!

Cupcakes swirled with banana cream cheese frosting and topped with slices of fresh bananas.

Save This Recipe! 💌

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Let’s face it, frosting turns any dessert into something special! While I have a rotation of easy frosting recipes, I love adding simple and fun twists to recipes that will pair with your favorite cakes and cupcakes. This banana cream cheese frosting recipe combines the richness of cream cheese with ripe bananas for a true taste of comfort that can be used in so many different ways!

I’m all about simplicity, and this frosting requires only 8 minutes and 6 staple ingredients. I love swirling it over strawberry banana cupcakes, spreading it on brown butter banana cookies, and even using it to frost banana donuts.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Buttercream and cream cheese frosting are both popular toppings to use on cakes and cupcakes, but they have different flavors and textures. Banana buttercream is smooth and sweet, made with butter and powdered sugar for a very light and fluffy texture.

Cream cheese frosting combines cream cheese and butter for a richer and slightly tangy taste and can be mixed with your favorite flavors (like this orange cream cheese frosting). It can be finicky to pipe on cupcakes, but I’m sharing my favorite tips for creating the perfect consistency to make it a stress-free process (more on that below!).

Choosing The Right Bananas

This frosting recipe is a great way to use leftover overripe bananas. Using fresh bananas for frosting gives it a more natural flavor, which my family enjoys. But you’ll need to choose the right bananas for the best texture.

Ripeness: Select bananas that are ripe and soft, with yellow skin and brown spots, for the best flavor and easy mashing.
Avoid Overripe Bananas: While ripe bananas are ideal, avoid those that are overly ripe or turning black, as they may be too mushy and could alter the frosting's consistency.
Firmness: Choose bananas that are still slightly firm to ensure they blend well into the frosting without making it too runny.
Freshness: Use fresh bananas rather than frozen, as thawed bananas can contain excess moisture that may affect the texture of your frosting.
No Green: Avoid green or under ripe bananas, as they lack the sweetness and texture needed for a flavorful frosting. If your bananas are green, you can use these two easy ways to quickly ripen bananas!

Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients for banana cream cheese frosting set on a flat surface in bowls.

Cream Cheese - Choose full-fat cream cheese for the best texture. Do not use the tub version (there’s too much air whipped into it, and it won’t work as well!). The cream cheese must be at room temperature to mix properly into the frosting.
Butter - I prefer using unsalted butter, but if you have salted butter, that’ll work, too! Make sure to bring it to room temperature so it blends seamlessly with the cream cheese.
Mashed Ripe Banana - The more ripe the banana, the more flavor it will have. It’s ok if there are small lumps in the mashed banana, it doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth.
Fresh Lemon Juice - Cuts through the richness of the cream cheese and butter, adding a subtle tartness that brightens the overall flavor.
Powdered Sugar - I always like to sift my powdered sugar to ensure a smooth batter. Powdered sugar is ideal for blending in without any graininess.
Pure Vanilla Extract - Adds a subtle background vanilla flavor. For the best flavor, splurge on a good-quality vanilla (Nielsen Massey vanilla is my go-to).

How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting With Fresh Banana

Combine cream cheese and butter: Add the cream cheese and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the two ingredients together for 2-3 minutes until creamy. You can also use a mixing bowl with a hand mixer.

Add banana and lemon juice: Add in the banana and lemon juice. You’ll need to mix for about 1 minute to evenly combine everything. At this point, the frosting may have some small chunks of banana, which is ok!

Add vanilla and sugar: With the mixer on low speed, add the sifted powdered sugar until incorporated. Pour in the vanilla extract, then turn the speed up to medium for 4-5 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Creamed butter and cream cheese in a metal stand mixer bowl set on a flat surface. — Creamed butter and cream cheese.

Powdered sugar mixed into creamed butter and cream cheese in a metal stand mixer bowl. — Powdered sugar added.

Chill before serving: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then chill in the fridge for at least 15-20 minutes to firm up. When ready to use, transfer to a piping bag or use an offset spatula to spread on your favorite desserts.

Banana cream cheese frosting mixed in a stand mixer metal bowl set on a flat surface.

Tips For The Best Banana Frosting

Here we are! My 2 favorite easy tips for achieving the perfect cream cheese frosting consistency to hold up between cake layers or on top of cupcakes!

Prevent Runny Frosting

To avoid runny frosting, make sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature before mixing, as colder ingredients will not mix together well. It’s also important to chill the frosting before using it to help it set and maintain its shape. This step solidifies the fats in the frosting, making it less likely to become runny when it warms up.

Adjust The Consistency

If your frosting is too thick or too thin, adjusting the consistency is easy. For a thicker frosting, gradually add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired thickness. If it's too thick, adding a tablespoon of milk or cream can thin it out. Start with a small amount, mixing thoroughly so you don't make it too runny.

How To Pipe Frosting Properly

For best results, use a piping bag fitted with your favorite piping tip to create uniform and decorative swirls. Fill the bag halfway to prevent the frosting from spilling out the top and for better control. I like to practice piping on my spatula before decorating the actual dessert to get a feel for the pressure and movement needed to create the perfect design.

Customize Your Frosting

Chocolate: Replace ½ cup powdered sugar with natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder. Make sure to sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
Cinnamon: Mix in a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced banana frosting which adds warmth to the mixture. It pairs well with banana bread.
Peanut butter: Swirl in some peanut butter for a tasty twist that kids will love spread over chocolate cupcakes!
Fresh strawberries: Blend in lightly pureed strawberries for a fruity strawberry twist, perfect for spring!

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator: Keep the frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to use, let it sit at room temperature for several minutes to soften. Use a rubber spatula or mixer to briefly re-whip the frosting into a smooth and creamy consistency.

Freezer: Store the frosting in a resealable freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature and re-whip before using.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use frozen bananas?

I don’t recommend using frozen bananas. They can add too much moisture when thawed, making the frosting too runny and affecting its overall texture.

Can I add cornstarch to thicken the frosting?

Yes, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch instead of extra powdered sugar. Start adding 1 tablespoon at a time. It’ll help make your cream cheese frosting stiffer without adding extra sweetness.

Can This Frosting Be Used Under Fondant

Yes, but it's important to chill the frosted cake until the frosting is firm. This step helps prevent the fondant from sliding off or becoming misshapen.

More Creamy Frosting Recipes

I hope you love using this Banana Cream Cheese Frosting on your favorite cakes and cupcakes! Please leave a comment below, I love reading your feedback! And if you’d like to make this recipe later, don’t forget to pin it on Pinterest! Happy Baking!