This week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe comes from Baking with Dorie. A Big Banana Cake, serving 12, was not, however what our household needed the weekend I made this (so many treats!) so I opted to make half the recipe in 2 8-inch square cake pans – for some reason, I do not own two 9-inch round cake pans… This quantity made 9 nice-sized square pieces…
I quite like the effect of the square tins, it has to be said – looks like a giant delicious sandwich!
It’s been a long time since I ate/ made a banana cake – I tend to use bananas in banana bread – so this was quite a lovely treat. It reminded me of when I was growing up and mum was always baking. There always seemed to be a slice of cake for us after school and the minute I had my first mouthful of this, I was transported back to my childhood. It got me thinking that you don’t tend to see banana cakes that often (and wondering why because they are so delicious!).
Dorie’s recipe calls for a frosting/ filling with cream cheese and Speculoos/ Biscoff spread but I just used plain cream cheese frosting (cream cheese, butter and icing sugar) and sprinkled the top with a little coconut and that was perfect. Knowing that I am a hopeless cake decorator, I opted to fill the layers and frost the top leaving the sides bare (and adding to the “sandwich” effect”) but I think it turned out ok…
It’s a denser type of cake so you only need a little slice (!) and I was hoping that it wouldn’t be tricky to cut smaller slices but it sliced beautifully after a spell in the fridge.
I loved this recipe and will be making it next time I have bananas needing using up!
Get the recipe for A Big Banana Cake on p 92 of Baking with Dorie.
Buy Baking with Dorie and join us baking through the book!
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Then join us over on Tuesdays with Dorie and bake your way through the book!
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Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of “Baking with Dorie” for review purposes. I was not asked to write about the book, nor am I being compensated for doing so. All opinions are 100% my own.
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This denser cake is a really nice change from banana bread; it somehow feels “healthier”, LOL.
It does look like a delicious sandwich! The coconut is a nice addition, too. Funny, I only have one 9″ round cake pan too. No idea where the other one went.
love, love, love the look of this! the square sandwich shape also reminds me of childhood cakes, but more the grocery store snack cakes I always begged my mother to buy for us-haha. the coconut on top is a fun touch.
A wonderful adaptation of the layer cake. The coconut topping adds another layer of flavor. Very appealing
I think your naked cake looks good. I am also not much of a cake decorator. It sounds like it is going to be a yummy treat.
I love your take on this one and it sliced up so perfectly!! Excited to try this one out.
That looks very so good. Love the sandwich cake look.
Your cake looks terrific. I made cupcakes to avoid the big cake.