Southern Living Marvelous Banana Cake Recipes

UPSIDE-DOWN BANANA CAKE

Steps:

• Grease a 14cm x 24cm loaf pan, and line the base and sides with baking paper.
• Making the topping: combine the butter and sugar in a small bowl and stir until the sugar has dissolved; spread this over the base of the pan; cut each banana into 9cm lengths, then cut each banana into four even slices; arrange the slices, cut-side facing downwards on top of the butter-sugar mixture.
• Making the cake: beat the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl (with an electric mixer if you have one) until light and fluffy; beat in the egg until it has combined with the mixture; transfer to a large bowl and stir in the mashed bananas; then gradually stir in the flour and the milk. Once the mixture is thoroughly combined, spoon it into the prepared pan on top of the banana slices.
• Cooking the cake: cook in a moderate (180°C) for one hour or until cooked when tested with a skewer; allow it to rest in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then turn it out onto an wire rack to cool.
• Serving the cake: the banana cake can be served warm or at room temperature. Serve with fresh cream or sweetened cream cheese (see SERVING SUGGESTIONS below).
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS: to serve the cake with sweetened cream cheese, beat 125g cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of icing sugar until the mixture is smooth, and serve in a separate bowl. Sprinkle the cake with slivered almonds.

SOUTHERN LIVING MARVELOUS BANANA CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating will at medium speed of an electric mixer.
• Add bananas; mix until smooth.
• Stir in eggs.
• Combine flour and baking soda; add to banana mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture (mixing after each addition).
• Stir in vanilla, bourbon (or juice) and pecans.
• Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes; cool in pans 10 minutes and remove cake from pans.
• Cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread Banana Nut Frosting between layers and on top of cake.
• Yield: one 3 layer cake.
• Banana Nut Frosting:.
• Combine banana and lemon juice; set mixture aside.
• Cream softened butter at medium speed of an electric mixer; add powdered sugar and milk and mix well.
• Add banana mixture, beating until fluffy.
• Stir in toasted coconut and chopped pecans.
• Yield: 3 1/2 cups.