Remember when I admitted I’m a glutton for pie? Well, turns out I’m also a gorger for banana cake. There’s just something so traditional, so comforting, so homey about it, although I must admit I’m willing to try pretty much anything if you tell me it’s slathered with cream cheese frosting. Can’t get enough of it. That silky, smooth, creamy, cheesy cream cheese frosting. Mmm-mmm. I know apple pie is supposed to be the go-to all-American dessert, but it ain’t got nothin’ on banana cake.
My love affair with this cake started during quarantine, a time when baking (and cooking) became my saving grace. Not only did my house smell amazing but working with my hands gave me focus and a sense of control during a time where it would have been so easy to spiral into nothingness. It’s not a coincidence that so many of us have taken up baking and bread-making during this crazy creep of a year—it’s fun, soothing, and evokes images of home, simplicity, and happier times. You often hear people speak of distraction like it’s a bad thing, but I live for distraction (remember my obsession with that other big life distraction, Game of Thrones, which I also built around food and cooking?!). It’s a damn effective coping mechanism and one in which I have no problem partaking. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to get out of my head and no one wants that, least of all my poor husband, who bears the brunt of my misery. But in this case, at least he gets something delicious out of it! And stuffing our faces with all the scrumptious delights I’ve made these last five months was (and still is) the highlight of many evenings—that blissful moment when we finally put the kids to bed and sit down on our sofa to enjoy whatever show we happen to be immersed in.
What are we watching now, you ask? Interestingly enough, we came across a movie called The Professor And The Madman on Starz. It is the true story of Professor James Murray (played by Mel Gibson), who takes on the gargantuan task of compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid-19th century. And he finds help in the unlikeliest of places: Dr. William Minor (played by Sean Penn), a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, where he’s sent after being found guilty of murder. We finished it last night and it was so intriguing—the story goes far deeper than just someone’s take on compiling a book that eventually becomes a crucial part of our society. It’s also about love and friendship and forgiveness. And the fact that it’s a biography only makes it sweeter. I’ve developed such a passion for history and true stories in my old age and this one doesn’t disappoint. Plus, I’m a word girl, so as soon as I saw this was a movie about the dictionary, of course I had to see it. Oh, oh, and it features two familiar faces from Game of Thrones—a surprising bonus! If you’re interested in this sorta thing, I highly recommend it. Gibson and Penn were outstanding.
Anyhoo, I discovered this banana cake recipe through my husband, when he requested it for his birthday in March (he found it on AllRecipes). And I am so happy he did! We loved it so much that we saved the second half for my birthday two weeks later. Even my kids devoured this thing. In fact, my son spent the entirety of those two weeks asking for this damn cake. Oh, kids, LOL! Since then I’ve made it three more times, including this week—that’s how delicious it is. And because it’s made with bananas, I consider it a health food. Win-win.
Now, let’s see. Quarantine began on Monday, March 16, and that means we’ve had dessert for approximately 127 days (and counting). Holy shitake mushroom sauce!!!! That’s a lot of sugary delights. But you know what, oh well. When you’re stuck at home with kids day after day after day, ya gotta do what makes you happy, and sugar makes me happy. That said, being fat does not make me happy, so I have been trying to cut back here and there by changing up the ingredients in some of my favorite recipes. This helps make them my own and more nutritious. And since I have no intention of stopping my confectionery gluttony … let’s move on to my recipe.
Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Cake
4 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose (AP) flour
1 1/2 cups oat flour (I simply grind up regular oats—the kind I use for oatmeal)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I always add extra cinnamon, too)
A dash of salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract*
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 tbsp lemon juice (if you don’t have lemon juice, you could also use white vinegar)
Cream Cheese Frosting
One 8-oz block cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract*
A dash of salt
*One amazing aspect of this quarantine is that it’s forced us not only to conserve our supplies but also to brainstorm workarounds for certain essential ingredients that we use all the time, such as vanilla extract. My husband has been steeping gourmet vanilla beans in vodka since March and it’s finally ready (yes, it takes that long!). This cake is the first time I’ve used this extract and it’s crazy how much of a difference the “real thing” makes in baked goods. I have no intention of buying premade vanilla extract ever again.
Instructions
Banana Cake
1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch pan (bonus: You don’t need to flour it because this puppy is served right from the pan—no flipping necessary, other than to flip out over how yummy this cake is!).
2) In a measuring cup, whisk together the coconut milk and lemon juice and let it sit for about five minutes.
3) Combine the AP flour, oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl and set it aside.
4) Cream the unsalted butter with the white and brown sugars until incorporated.
5) Add the eggs and vanilla; mix well.
6) To the butter/sugar mixture, add the coconut milk/lemon juice alternately with the dry ingredients, mixing just to incorporate after each addition. The batter will be on the thicker side.
7) Pour into your prepared pan and bake approximately 45 minutes, checking after the first 40 minutes. You know the drill here: It’s done when a toothpick or a cake pick comes out clean.
8) Allow the cake to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1) Beat the cream cheese and the butter until smooth.
2) Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
3) Mix in the confectioners’ sugar and salt and beat on high speed until creamy and smooth.
4) Slather this lusciousness all over the banana cake—once it’s had a chance to cool, of course.
This recipe is a dream because it makes a lot of frosting, as you can see from the pictures. (Yes, I used every last bit on my cake.) It almost left me wondering if perhaps it made too much frosting. Nah, not possible. In all seriousness, though, if you are not a frosting person (which, I cannot even fathom) or prefer only a little bit of frosting (which I also cannot fathom), go ahead and cut this recipe in half. It will still be enough to cover your cake. Or freeze half of the frosting for your next banana cake because there will definitely be a next banana cake, believe me you.
And there you have it, a delectable—and healthier—banana cake for your eating pleasure! I have only one more piece of (mental health) advice: As much as you want to devour this beauty as soon as it’s frosted, which you will, force yourself to pop it back in the fridge until your children go to bed. Then cut yourself a ginormous slice, sit your ass on the couch, and enjoy every blissful bite within the quiet confines of your home. You’ll thank me later.
I will probably continue to tweak this recipe, further reducing the sugar (in both the cake and the frosting), changing up the flours and the milk, and maybe adding nuts, seeds, or dried berries. The options are endless! I’ll keep you posted on any trial runs. In the meantime, if any of you readers decide to try this cake, let me know what you think. I’m always open to feedback and suggestions.
Next up, lemon pie!