Old Fashioned Banana Cake- Barefoot Contessa version

Tonight’s recipe is from one of Ina Garten’s tasty cookbooks.  This recipe for ‘Old-Fashioned Banana Cake’ comes together quickly and easily.  All you really need are 3 large ripe bananas and some sour cream.  You can finish this off with a recipe of Cream Cheese Icing or drizzle it with a glaze made of icing sugar and cream or orange juice.  I taste tested my piece as is and enjoyed immensely.

Dense and delicious, moist and flavourful banana cake.

I had no orange to zest into today’s cake but if you have one go ahead and zest away.  If using the orange zest an orange glaze drizzled over top would finish it off beautifully.  I also used 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 cup of unbleached all-purpose flour in my version, toasted pecans instead of walnuts and added a little extra vanilla.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake – Serves 8

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 8-inch round or square pan.

3 ripe bananas, mashed

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 extra-large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp pure vanilla

Grated zest of 1 large orange

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Grease a 8-inch round or square baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the bananas and sugars on low speed until combined.  With the mixer running on low, add in the eggs, oil, sour cream, vanilla and orange zest.

In a medium bowl whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, soda and salt.  With mixer running on low add in the flour mixture just until combined.  Stir in the walnuts.

Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.  Cool for about 20 minutes and remove from pan.

Batter ready for prepared pan.

Baked and cooled.  Top with icing, glaze or serve with a scoop of ice cream.  Enjoy!

Fresh Baked Old Fashioned Banana Cake.