Little Debbie snack cakes have been a lunch box staple for years. Now you can make and enjoy Banana Twins in your own kitchen. This banana flavored cake layered with vanilla cream frosting will remind you of the classic childhood treat.
Over the years I have made a few copycats of my favorite Little Debbie snack cakes. These homemade oatmeal cream pies and these homemade cosmic brownies are two family favorites.
My husband said that banana twins were one of the snack cakes he remembered eating as a kid. Did you know those cakes have been discontinued?
So, of course I had to recreate those sweet little banana cakes and fill them with my creamy vanilla frosting.
About This Recipe
If you grew up eating banana twins or banana flip snack cakes, you are going to love this fun and easy copycat recipe.
- Easy to make! You seriously mix, bake, and fill with frosting.
- No special equipment or decorating skills are necessary. You can make these cakes with a bowl, a mixer, and a sheet pan.
- Thick vanilla frosting center. No wimpy frosting layers here!
- Small hand held treats. The cakes are cut to look just like the ones in the cellophane wrappers.
- Sweet nostalgic treat! One bite and it will bring back memories of your childhood.
These homemade banana cakes are just like the Little Debbie snack cakes you know and love, but so much better!
What are Banana Twins?
- Banana Twins are one of the Little Debbie Snack cakes that have been around since 1965.
- The moist banana flavored cakes were filled with their signature creme filling. The cakes came twin wrapped, so you could share if you wanted to.
- They were recently discontinued due to a lack of interest.
Main Ingredients
The best part about this banana twins recipe is that it doesn't require any fancy equipment or ingredients. You can make it with what you have in your pantry.
- Butter - Unsalted butter is best because you can adjust the amount of salt you prefer in recipes.
- Granulated Sugar - Sweetens the batter and helps to cream the butter into a light and fluffy texture.
- Eggs - Helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Banana Extract - Gives this homemade cake a banana flavor that is reminiscent of Little Debbie Banana Twins.
- Cake Flour - The extra fine powder of this flour gives cakes a spongier and softer texture.
How to Make Banana Twins
With homemade banana twins, you can enjoy the flavor of your favorite childhood treat in the comfort of your own home. They are really easy to make, if you follow our simple recipe.
Prep for the recipe. Preheat oven. Spray a 10x15x1 sheet pan with nonstick baking spray.
Make the cake batter. Beat the softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add the eggs and banana extract and beat again until thick and light yellow.
Sift the dry ingredients into the batter and pour in the buttermilk. Mix just until everything is combined. Evenly spread the batter in the prepared pan.
Bake and cool the cake. Once the banana snack cake has finished baking, remove and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Place another pan or wire rack with wax paper on top and flip the cake out.
Assemble the cake. Cut the cooled sheet cake in half widthwise. Spread one half of the cake with frosting and place the other half of the cake on top.
Cut the cake in half again widthwise. Then cut each of those into 5 cakes making a total of 10 snack cakes.
Storage Recommendations
Counter - Place the filled banana cakes in a loosely sealed container and keep on the counter for 2-3 days.
Refrigerator - If keeping the cakes for longer, place in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for 5-6 days.
Freezer - Wrap the full cake or the individual cakes tightly in two layers of plastic wrap, then in foil. Freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Spray the sheet pan with nonstick baking spray to keep the cake from sticking. I don't recommend lining the pan with parchment because it tends to make the sides of the cakes bake up unevenly.
- Sifting the cake flour and other dry ingredients in a fine mesh strainer is recommended. This type of flour tends to stick and clump together.
- Do not let the cake cool in the pan. You want to flip the cake out after about 5 minutes, then let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make sure the cake is completely cool before spreading frosting on it. Even a slightly warm cake will cause the frosting to melt and the cake layers to slide apart.
- Spread vanilla frosting on the cake with an angled spatula. Want to change it up? Try filling the cake with dark chocolate frosting.
FAQs
No, but it is recommended because it makes the texture of this layer cake lighter and fluffier.
Yes, you can, but it is not recommended. Measure out 1 cup of regular all purpose flour. Remove 2 tablespoons from the measured flour, then add 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Mix it well and use in recipes that call for cake flour.
DIY cake flour not exactly like cake flour that you buy in stores. If you choose to use a homemade flour, your recipe may or may not turn out the same as ours.
Other Copycat Recipes
- Num Num Cookie (Jack Jack cookie found at Disney.)
- Pineapple Dole Whip recipe
- Iced Matcha Latte Starbucks
- Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Red Velvet Oreos
- Zebra Brownies
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Recipe
Copycat Banana Twins
When your favorite banana cakes get discontinued, you can make this Copycat Banana Twins® recipe at home. Layers of banana flavored cake with a creamy vanilla cream filling will satisfy your snack cake cravings.
Ingredients
For the Banana Cake
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons banana extract
- 1 ¼ cups cake flour*
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 ounces buttermilk
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs and banana extract and mix again until thick and pale yellow.
- Sift cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into batter. Pour in buttermilk. Gently mix until combined.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Tap lightly to remove air bubbles. Bake 17-18 minutes.
- Remove and let cool 5 minutes in pan. Flip out carefully onto a wax paper lined tray. Let cool completely.
- Beat butter, salt, and vanilla extract until creamy. Add heavy cream and powdered sugar and mix until combined. Increase mixer speed and beat until light and fluffy.
- Flip cooled cake over onto another tray. Cut cake in half short ways. Spread frosting on one half, then place other cake on top.
- Cut filled cake in half again and cut each section into 5 cakes giving you a total of 10 small cakes.
Notes
*Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill the measuring cup with flour until the required amount is obtained. Scooping the measuring cup directly into the flour bag will firmly pack flour, resulting in too much flour required for the recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 407Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 209mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 0gSugar: 39gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Nancy Hartberger
I wish the banana twins would come back. I love them. Please bring them back. I would be the happiest person on earth. Thank you
Jocelyn
Until they decide to bring them back, this is a great copycat recipe to try at home! I hope you enjoy them!
Chris
I also loved banana twins and also always found them sold out. KUDOS to you to create a recipe. If I ever have a kitchen again, will definitely be trying your recipe. 💛
Anna
Hi, what are the exact measurements for the ingredients?
Jocelyn
If you scroll to the bottom of the post, there is a printable recipe card with all the ingredients and instructions! I hope you enjoy the cakes!
Marie Sutley
Thank you for sharing this recipe I'm in the process of making it now
Deborah
Is the sheet cake cut in half, having two thin sheet cakes?
Jocelyn
Yes, you bake the batter in a sheet pan, then cut the cake in half to fill it.
DJ Honest
Why LIES for the corporate?
They were never discontinued due to any "lack of interest"!
Just be HONEST, I know, corporates and their shills HATE HONESTY!
They were very popular and were always sold out at EVERY store I go into!
They were discontinued because of the ridiculous price of bananas!
Higher priced bananas meant the greedy suits at little debbie's would only make 90 trillion in profit for the year, instead of 110 trillion!
Just be honest and quit kissing corporate ass!
Also, amazon sucks! Total socialist/nazi environment there!
Jocelyn
Do you feel better now? I don't work for that corporation. I just wanted to create a recipe so others can enjoy this delicious snack at home. Also, the original snacks don't actually have banana in them...they are just banana flavored. Have you actually eaten one before?
Brandi Cain
Amazing reply! I will be making these this week for my husband and kids, they LOVED these until they are discontinued.
Angie
Google it. They were discontinued for lack of interest. Shame on you for coming onto someone's recipe page and being hateful. And nobody asked about what you thought about Amazon. Be kind of just say nothing at all. The world would be a better place. 🙂
Bill Cobb
i am so glad i found the recipe for the Banana Twins. i think Little Debbie is a traitor for discontinuing them. now i can make my own. Thank you very much.