Banana nut bread is typically called "bread" rather than "cake" because it's usually baked in a loaf pan, has a denser texture compared to most cakes, and is considered a "quick bread" which is made with chemical leaveners like baking powder instead of yeast, aligning more with bread-making techniques than traditional cake methods; despite its sweetness, it's often eaten as a breakfast item like bread, not as a dessert like cake.