if you love cake and happen to be looking for an alternative to the banana bread
you usually make, then give this happy stunner a go. hey maybe even throw
a cake in your thanksgiving rotation to spice things up a bit.
banana cake & cinnamon vanilla buttercream
cake:
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) soft butter
2 eggs, separated
2-3 small bananas, mashed to smithereens
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 c. buttermilk
2 1/4 c. flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
preheat oven to 350. mix butter and sugar in stand mixer on medium until light and creamy. add yolks and mashed bananas. mix well. dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. sift flour, baking powder and salt. alternating, add flour mixture and buttermilk, and lastly the vanilla. do not over mix.
beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. fold into batter. bake in greased 9in. round cake pan or two smaller ones for layers, for about 30-40 minutes until done. let cool before frosting.
buttercream:
4 egg whites
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 sticks salted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or extract if that is all you have on hand)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
in small sauce pan begin boiling a few inches of water. in bowl of stand mixer that will fit nicely over the hot water, combine egg whites and sugar. whisk well. set over boiling water and whisk furiously until mixture reaches 160 or feels hot to the touch, or your arm is about to fall off. attach hot bowl to mixer and beat on high for several minutes until it fluffs up nicely. let cool.
turn on that mixer on med/high speed again and slowly add blobs of butter. once frosting begins to whip up like buttery whip cream you are good. add vanilla and cinnamon. woo hoo youre done!
now frost the cake and share a piece with your neighbor over a glass of champagne! cheers.
