INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat and Prepare:

• Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the cake mix box (usually around 350°F or 175°C).
• Grease the bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Mix the Ingredients:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, mashed bananas, eggs, vegetable oil or melted butter, and vanilla extract.
• Use an electric mixer or a whisk to blend the ingredients together until smooth and well combined. Stir in chopped nuts if using.

3. Pour into Baking Pan:

• Pour the banana cake batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.

4. Bake to Perfection:

• Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake the banana cake according to the time indicated on the cake mix box, usually around 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

5. Cool and Serve:

• Once baked, remove the banana cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes.
• After cooling slightly, slice the cake into squares or rectangles, and serve warm or at room temperature. Optionally, you can dust the top with powdered sugar or frost with cream cheese frosting for added sweetness.

Tips for Perfect Easy Banana Cake:

1. Ripe Bananas: Use ripe bananas with brown speckles for the best flavor and sweetness in your cake.
2. Customize Toppings: Get creative with toppings such as whipped cream, caramel sauce, or sliced bananas on top of the cake slices.
3. Storage: Store leftover cake slices in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for longer freshness.
4. Variations: Experiment with different cake mix flavors such as vanilla or spice cake mix for unique banana cake variations.