Banana Nut Cake

Banana Nut Cake

When anyone asked Mom if she liked to cook, she would always respond “I don’t enjoy cooking, but I love to bake.” And she was an excellent baker, which I’m sure helped contribute to my sweet tooth. 

Mom baked many different cakes and desserts but some of the cakes stand out more to me than others. Especially her Banana Nut Cake.

I tend to associate desserts with specific people – and the Banana Nut Cake belongs to Dad. I think it’s safe for me to say that this is his favorite cake. It was pretty much a guarantee that Mom would bake this for Dad’s birthday  - and that was fine with me because it’s delicious!

This cake is fairly simple to make and it’s a great option when you have a few bananas that are starting to cross over into that “too ripe” stage. The bananas help make the cake moist (does that word bother anyone else?) and the nuts give it the perfect texture. But what really makes this cake is the powdered sugar icing Mom would generously spread over the top. (Did I mention I have a sweet tooth?)

My girls and I had a blast baking this cake together. They were excited to be helping out and I loved having them in the kitchen with me in our matching aprons. It may have taken a little longer, but sharing this experience was worth it! I’ll forever remember the first time Lola cracked an egg and how the egg whites flung all over. And the sense of satisfaction from the girls when I removed the cake from the oven and they saw the final result.

Mia mixing it up!

Lola's turn to mix!

The banana mash

Cooking with Mom Team

Thumbs up from DJ!

Note: since we have a nut allergy in our household, we opted to make the cake without the nuts. End result – deliciousness! I was concerned leaving out the nuts would affect the texture, but no need for concern. DJ gave the cake a thumbs up!

Banana Nut Cake

Sift together:

2 ½ cups flour

1 2/3 cups sugar

1 ¼ tsp baking powder

1 ¼ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Add:

2/3 cup shortening

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 ¼ cups mashed bananas (3)

Beat 2 minutes.

Add:

3 eggs

Another 1/3 cup buttermilk

Beat 2 more minutes

Pour mixture in a 9 x 13 cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes

Buttermilk

Stir in 1 Tbsp lemon juice into 2/3 cup of milk.

Powdered Sugar Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla

1-2 Tbsp milk

Mix powdered sugar, vanilla and milk (adding the milk 1 Tbsp at a time) until spreadable.

Banana (Nut) Cake - YUM!