The Only Buckingham Palace Banana Bread Recipe Fit for a Queen – Here's How to Make It

At Dinogo, we're obsessed with everything royal—especially their elegant recipes. Thanks to Darren McGrady, the former chef at Buckingham Palace, we now have access to a treasure trove of royal recipes via his YouTube channel. One recipe that particularly caught our eye? The royal banana bread.

I know what you're thinking—'Another banana bread recipe in 2020?!' But this one stands out for two important reasons. First, the blend of fruits and nuts ensures the bread stays moist, flavorful, and fresh for up to three months in the fridge, making it a perfect breakfast, dessert, or snack. Second, this isn't just any banana bread—it was served to the QUEEN herself.

Don't forget to check out our Queen Elizabeth Cake, a tribute to Her Majesty, topped with a broiled coconut finish.

It turns out that there wasn’t just one version of this famous banana bread. Chef McGrady wisely kept the fruit and nut-filled loaf away from royal kids, William and Harry, who preferred a simpler banana cake with no added ingredients—just a smooth, rich caramel frosting on top. Honestly, we’d take both versions!

The Classic Buckingham Palace Banana Bread

Courtesy of Darren McGrady

• 8 ounces self-rising flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces unsalted butter
• 6 ounces white sugar
• 4 ounces golden raisins
• 1 ounce chopped walnuts
• 2 ounces cherries
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
• 2 eggs
• 1 pound ripe bananas

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, rub the butter into the flour and salt until the mixture resembles small crumbs. Stir in the sugar, walnuts, raisins, and cherries.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas, then mix with the eggs and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the well and stir everything together until fully combined.
4. Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake on the center rack for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

The Buckingham Palace Banana Caramel Cake

Courtesy of Insider.com

For the Cake

• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups ripe bananas, mashed
• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ½ cups sour cream
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or pure vanilla extract)

For the Frosting

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• ½ cup sour cream
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or pure vanilla extract)

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a ½ sheet pan (12x18x1).
2. For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and mashed bananas.
3. Stir in the flour, baking soda, sour cream, milk, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake in the center of the oven for about 40 minutes, or until the cake springs back when gently pressed. Let the cake cool completely before applying the frosting.
5. For the frosting, melt the butter and sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes, ensuring the mixture doesn’t boil.
6. Add the sour cream, bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla, allowing it to cool slightly and thicken before spreading it on the cooled cake.
7. Slice into individual finger-sized pieces to serve.