Banana Bread vs. Banana Cake: Is There a Difference?

Banana bread
Photo by Leigh Skomal on Unsplash

There are many delicious desserts out there, from glorious trifles to simple fruit assortments. Baked concoctions are usually a fan favorite in most establishments, and one particularly popular dish is banana bread. Or is it banana cake?

That’s the question, isn’t it? Because for decades, this incredible dessert has confused many, with people constantly hearing both versions, and wondering whether or not there’s actually a difference between the two. But allow us to shed some light on the matter.

There Is a Difference, But It’s Very Subtle

Yes, there is certainly a difference between banana bread and banana cake, but let’s just say that most people would never even be able to detect it. It’s usually very subtle, but to keep things as simple as possible, we’ll start off by saying that banana cake is sweeter.

With banana bread, you get a more loafy texture, almost as if you’re eating—you guessed it—a loaf of bread. Only instead of a regular loaf, there’s a sweet, banana-like note to your experience.

Banana cake is usually baked in a round pan, and there’s more of a sticky texture and a lot more sweetness. Indeed, you don’t get that “bread-like” feeling, but instead more of a cake-style dessert.