Banana Bundt Cake

 

Banana cake for those who don’t want it “too banana-ie”.  Cream Cheese Glaze is good.  Brown Sugar Icing is good.  You decide!
Besure to measure the volume of your bunt pan – mine is 8-9 cups.  I had to divide the dough and cook the cake twice.

Cake Ingredients:

  • 1 c sour cream (8 ounces), at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature (add 1 more for altitude)
  • 1 stick (4 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon butter, melted, divided
  • 3 1/2 c plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 c very ripe mashed bananas (3 large or 4 medium )
  • 1 2/3 c granulated sugar
  • 1/2 c packed dark or light brown sugar
  • 1/2 c neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable
  • 1 Tab vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 c pecans (about 4 ounces), finely chopped (optional)

Cream cheese glaze and garnish ingredients:

  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 c pecans (about 1 ounce, optional)
  • 2 Tab milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla 
  • 1/2 c powdered sugar

Brown Sugar Icing:

  • ¼ c butter cut into cubes
  • ½ c brown sugar packed
  • 2 Tabmilk
  • ¼ tsp vanilla 
  • ¾ c powdered sugar
  • ¼ c chopped toasted walnuts or pecans

Cake Directions:

  1. Heat the oven to 350°.
  2. Mix 1 tablespoon of the melted butter and 1 tablespoon flour together in a small bowl until smooth.
  3. Brush a 12- to 16-cup Bundt cake pan with all of the paste, making sure to brush the tube. (Baking spray with flour works too)
  4. Mix the remaining 3 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in bowl.
  5. Peel and mash bananas in a large bowl until smooth.
  6. Mix in sour cream, 2 eggs, remaining melted butter, sugar, brown sugar, oil, 1 vanilla, and salt until smooth.
  7. Add the flour mixture.
  8. Add pecans if using.
  9. Fold until just combined and no dry bits of flour remain. The batter will be lumpy.  Do not over mix.
  10. Scrape the batter into the Bundt pan.
  11. Smooth the top.
  12. Bake until a comes out clean and the cake is starting to pull away from the edges of the pan, 50 to 65 minutes.
  13. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.
  14. Flip the cake out onto the rack and let cool completely before glazing, about 1 1/2 hours more.
  15. Meanwhile, toast the pecans for garnish if using. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until evenly golden-brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely, then finely chop.

Glaze Directions :

  1. Mix cream cheese, milk, and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
  2. Mix in powdered sugar until smooth. It should be able to coat the back of a spoon, with the excess slowly dripping off.
  3. Transfer the cooled cake to a cake stand or serving platter.
  4. Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake, nudging it with the back of the spoon over the sides so it drips down.
  5. Sprinkle with the finely chopped pecans and let sit for at least 5 minutes before slicing (this is a soft glaze that does not harden completely).

Brown Sugar Icing Directions: 

  1. In a small saucepan combine butter, brown sugar and milk.
  2. Bring to a simmer, stiring frequently.
  3. Cook until the sugar is dissolved, a minute or two.
  4. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Add vanilla.
  6. Add powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time, stirring vigorously, until desired consistency. The icing will start to firm up quickly.
  7. Drizzle the icing over the cake and immediately sprinkle with nuts. The icing will set in a matter of minutes.

Serves: 12 to 16

Source:  thekitchn.com

Note:
To Ripen – Poke unpeeled bananas all over with a fork or knife.  Then put them on a paper towel or plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds at a time, repeating until they’re as soft as you want.

To freeze –  Peel and place in a freezer-safe bag or container.

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