The official name of this week's recipe for the Tuesdays With Dorie baking group is "Lots-of-Ways Banana Cake" because Dorie Greenspan gives, well, lots of different ways to bake, fill, frost, and/or serve her recipe for banana cake. I've got to admit that despite all of the available options I baked a very plain version of this cake, and a tiny one at that, hence my name for it: Baby Basic Banana Cake.
n.o.e.'s notes:
- Kimberly of Only Creative Opportunities chose this week's recipe and you can find the recipe for the cake on her blog.
- I baked 1/8 recipe in a smallish loaf pan.
- At first I was a bit dubious about this cake; I had loved Dorie's Classic Banana Bundt Cake (that I posted here) so much that it was hard to imagine how this recipe could stack up to that one.
- Although I'd love to taste this cake baked with coconut milk and toasted coconut in it, my main taster - my husband - is anti-coconut, so I baked a coconut-free version.
- Since the quantities of ingredients were so small for 1/8 recipe I didn't use a mixer but just creamed and stirred with a big spoon by hand.
- For liquids I used a creamy thick plain yogurt, the optional rum, and a double quantity of vanilla extract.
- 1/8 recipe fits into a pan with an area of 15 or 16 square inches. I used a 3"x5" loaf pan, which I greased and floured, then lined with a parchment sling so that the cake would easily release from the pan.
- The little cake took around 27 minutes to bake.
- Rather than fill or frost the cake, I sprinkled it with powdered sugar and served it with vanilla ice cream. It would be great with whipped cream and toasted walnuts, too.
the verdict:
This cake turned out to be a wonderfully fluffy, soft yet moist, cake-ish version of the best banana bread you've tasted. We enjoyed it with vanilla ice cream; perfect for a hot summer evening. My husband rated this one an "11" on a scale of 1-to-10.
Here I'm going to sound like a broken record: I don't know why I ever doubted Dorie. She definitely knows her way around banana cakes. I loved this cake nearly as much as her banana bundt cake. In fact I'd need to taste them side by side to see which one I like better.
If you have any love in your heart for banana baked goods, this is a recipe to keep in your back pocket. Thanks, Kimberly for a great pick this week!
18 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more- Dorie does know her banana cakes. Even your simple version looks so delicious. Glad you both enjoyed it!
I completely agree, Dorie knows her stuff Nancy! Your mini looks marvelous :) This was my farewell post with TWD after almost two years of baking along. Hope you'll stop by and say goodbye!
Your baby cake looks delicious! Thanks for baking with me this week!
What an adorable "little" cake! I really really loved this cake and I want to make it again with some of the variations others used. I did love the blueberries I put in mine. I like it with whipped cream, but I wish I had thought of cream cheese frosting for example. Your cake is too cute!!!
What an adorable "little" cake! I really really loved this cake and I want to make it again with some of the variations others used. I did love the blueberries I put in mine. I like it with whipped cream, but I wish I had thought of cream cheese frosting for example. Your cake is too cute!!!
1/8 - you're nuts! I could have eaten this cake x 8, by comparision, lol
love how you did this! i did mine in a bundt which was quite delish. and i think you would love the coconut version! agreed--dorie never does us wrong!
I like the idea of making a mini cake. I just wasn't that excited about this one, but maybe I need to try it after all. =)
Dorie definitely knows her way around a banana cake. This one turned out wonderful for you Nancy.
I know what you mean about the comparison of this recipe to the bundt. confusing!?! Have to say I love them both though. Funny how those recipes that we minimize turn out to be a fav. Nicely done.
AmyRuth
Now I need to bake the Banana Bundt! This was a fun recipe.
Your baby banana cake is darling and looks delicious. My husband isn't a coconut fan either, so I made the brrrr-ownies for him.
11 out of 10, I'd say that is one tasty cake.
I agree, Nancy...this one is a keeper for sure!
I should have made the little baby banana cake size...that's so cute! The powdered sugar topping sounds great, but I knew if wanted SOMEONE to eat it, other than me, of course, that frosting would need to be involved. Lots and lots of frosting. Your cake looks great and I love your review of it, going to show that to Mark when I get home as he had to eat it for a week in his lunches.
Yes, this was a good one. Definitely a repeat - often. I liked it best plain even tho I did one with a banana compote. Such a cute little cake.
It's good to have a new go-to banana cake recipe. But 1/8? Really? That's restraint.
Love your cute little cake! We made the same version (though I made a half recipe) and for the same reason: my main taster eschews coconut. We loved the banana bundt, too (can't decide which is better); it's one of the recipes I've actually repeated. This one will probably get another go at some point.
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