Banana Cake (adapted from the Chic Simple Cooking)
This cookbook is an oldie of mine. I got it at a flea market in Maryland with Kristin and our families, when our kids were really little. I always remember it as a hot day, towing little ones, and Em got stung twice near her eye by a bee. We had picnic and I think our boys got Star Wars coloring books.
Serves 16
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Canola or Vegetable Oil
3 Large Eggs
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
4 Overripe bananas, mashed with a fork
3 Cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
2. Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in a large bowl. Add vanilla and bananas and mix until just combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to banana mixture.
4. Mix until just combined. Pour into Bundt pan and cook 1 hour.
This bittersweet glaze is wonderful poured over top the warm Banana Cake. I have made it tons of times..and of course you can always save a little for some ice cream. But, for full disclosure….I’ll let you know the thicker sauce in the above picture is not this sauce….exactly. It’s actually a very similar concoction my husband whipped together for our late night pajama fondue party with our kids. We cut up the banana cake, along with some pretzels, marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, strawberries, and oranges.
Silly us, what were we thinking?…get there pj’s on, get them ready for bed and then whip out every amount of sugar possible, fill there bodies to the brim with treats and then send them to bed. Yeah, like that works out.
Chocolate Glaze (The one that goes with the recipe – that I have actually made tons of times.)
3 ounces Semisweet Chocolate
3 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
3 Tbsp. Water
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla
1. Melt chocolate in microwave.
2. Stir in heavy cream, water, and vanilla into melted chocolate.
Substitute dark rum for water and vanilla if you like.
Of course, you can always just eat it like this!
