Friday, July 8, 2011

Banana Dream Cake*

By Jessica / 73 comments »

I bet you didn’t know this about Bananas:

1. The banana “tree” is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.

2. Bananas were introduced to the United States at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Celebration, where they were sold wrapped in foil for 10 cents each.

3. The average American consumes 28 pounds of bananas per year.

4. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

5. Bananas are available all year-round. They are harvested every day of the year.

I recently attended a Dole Banana event where I learned lots of fun facts about Bananas. And when they were calling out some of these facts I was speedily typing them out to share with you guys. I couldn’t believe that an average American eats 28 pounds of bananas a year! Holy Crap! I consider myself to be the “average” American and I eat Bananas often, but not all the time. Jorge, on the other hand, eats bananas almost daily. He even eats them with spaghetti (seriously, on the same plate). I am trying to convince him to weigh each banana and keep track for a year…but for some reason he isn’t saying yes.

This cake…oh this Banana Dream Cake…it is my favorite cake I have ever made. And I do not say that lightly. I first made it almost 2 years ago now and it has remained at the top of the list. Of course, back then, I was a new blogger and the only person reading this blog was my Mom. I also had no idea how to take a decent photograph (or make a layer cake), so the cake itself sure wasn’t very pretty. So when we were talking Bananas at the Dole event, I couldn’t help remembering this Banana Dream Cake. It stuck out in my mind and when I had two overripe bananas staring me in the face, I finally gave in. Heaven. Pure heaven. Do yourself a favor and make this. Make it tonight. Make it the next night too. Oh and while your at it, please overnight me a piece.

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Banana Dream Cake

Recipe Note: To help ripen bananas you can place them in a brown paper bag. This speeds up the "ripening" and you will have cake in no time! :-)

Ingredients:

For the cake:
3/4 cup butter
2 1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz applesauce
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup mashed over ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)

For the frosting:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 (12 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon, for sprinkling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 8-inch round pans. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla, sour cream and applesauce. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in banana mixture.

Divide batter (about 2 1/2 cup batter in each pan) into prepared pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and immediately place in freezer for 45 minutes. (This keeps the cake moist by immediately stopping the baking so the cake does not continue to bake when you remove it form the oven.)

For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Assemble the 3 layers with a thick layer of frosting in between each layer. Then apply a thin crumb coat on the top and sides. Pop back in the freezer to harden the crumb coat for about 10 minutes. Then apply a thick even layer around the outside of the cake. Sprinkle on a little cinnamon around the outside and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

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Posted In Cake, Dessert, Fruit
73 comments / leave a comment »
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73 Responses to “Banana Dream Cake”

  1. 1

    Marsha @ The Harried Cook — July 8, 2011 @ 2:58 am

    What interesting banana facts :) Love the cake! It is absolutely gorgeous… Now, thanks to you, banana fana fo fana is playing in my head, and in a very strange voice! Gosh.. Thanks for sharing this beautiful cake! And cream cheese frosting too! Yummy!

  2. 2

    Maris(In Good Taste) — July 8, 2011 @ 4:01 am

    Oh I believe you because this cake looks incredible! And that frosting is magical and I could see me eating that with a spoon!

  3. 3

    patsy — July 8, 2011 @ 6:12 am

    What fun facts! I will have to share them with my boys because I know they will get a kick out of them. :) This cake look wonderful! I’m not very experienced with layer cakes, but yours makes me want to give it a try. So pretty!

  4. 4

    Katrina — July 8, 2011 @ 6:36 am

    This cake sounds delicious! Great recipe :)

  5. 5

    Jessica @ Sushi and Sit-Ups — July 8, 2011 @ 6:45 am

    Banana is one of my absolute favorite flavors, especially in desserts…and coladas…

  6. 6

    Becki @ Becki's Whole Life — July 8, 2011 @ 7:24 am

    This cake – oh yum. Love the addition of the sour cream – I’m sure it keeps and moist and gives it a little tang! Interesting facts on the bananas. For whatever reason, eating uncooked bananas gives me a huge stomach ache so I can really only have them in breads or cakes – oh well:-). I told my doctor about my banana problem at my last visit and he was like “well don’t eat bananas then.” That wasn’t the answer I was looking for – I want to eat them so badly because they are such a great, handy snack.

  7. 7

    Jen @ BeantownBaker.com — July 8, 2011 @ 7:37 am

    I love triple layer cakes – this does look amazing. I am one of those people who eats a banana almost every day too. 28 lbs does seem like a lot but I guess that’s only about a 1/2 pound a week so when you say it that way, it doesn’t seem like too much.

  8. 8

    Jihane @Sinful Sundays — July 8, 2011 @ 7:52 am

    I am definitely one of those people who eat more than 28 pounds of bananas a year. I love them! Especially in my oatmeal. I like them wayyy more in cakes though and your dream cake looks so delicious! :)

  9. 9

    Chris @ TheKeenanCookBook — July 8, 2011 @ 7:53 am

    Yum! I love banana cake/bread. I mad a chocolate banana cake but used a 7 minute frosting. I think the cream cheese frosting you have here would have been even better.

  10. 10

    Lauren at Keep It Sweet — July 8, 2011 @ 8:32 am

    I eat bananas almost every day because they are the perfect pre-workout snack! My husband probably eats 2 a day… LOVE this cake, so pretty, too!

  11. 11

    Ann — July 8, 2011 @ 8:33 am

    Wow – that is beautiful! My nickname as a child was Anna Banana – because I was always eating them! I can’t wait to try this one!

  12. 12

    kathleen @ the lushers — July 8, 2011 @ 9:37 am

    Yes! I will totally be making this the next time I find a bag of already ripe bananas on the reduced produce shelf!

  13. 13

    Sues — July 8, 2011 @ 9:40 am

    How did I not know the banana “tree” is actually a giant herb? In any event, this cake is soooo pretty and yes, dreamy :) I love bananas on my oatmeal! Or on peanut butter toast. But no, not with pasta… :)

  14. 14

    Jodi Veldheer — July 8, 2011 @ 10:48 am

    Thank you!!! I’m making this tonight. I have two bananas waiting for me. My two year old is obsessed with cake lately. This looks so moist and awesome. I like the addition of the cinnamon sprinkled on top too.

  15. 15

    The Slow Roasted Italian — July 8, 2011 @ 10:52 am

    This looks heavenly. I am going to have to try this one! My family loves bananas!

  16. 16

    Blog is the New Black — July 8, 2011 @ 11:07 am

    I love bananas, but I love this cake more!

  17. 17

    Heidi @ Food Doodles — July 8, 2011 @ 11:21 am

    Wow that does look like a dream. Amazing cake! I love the banana facts too. I had to read the 28 pounds one out to my husband because I’m pretty sure we have that one beat. We love bananas so much :D

  18. 18

    ErinsFoodFiles — July 8, 2011 @ 11:56 am

    Yum yum yum!

  19. 19

    Honeybee Sweets — July 8, 2011 @ 12:39 pm

    This looks amazing!! Too funny, I was searching your blog last night for some banana recipes because I had 3 over-ripe bananas! I ended up just going with a banana bread, but this would have been totally better!!

  20. 20

    Alli — July 8, 2011 @ 12:39 pm

    Wow! Your cake looked good 2 years ago but, this layer cake is absolutely divine. Being a new blogger it is so inspiring to see the transformation of skills over the years. Love your blog!

  21. 21

    kellypea @ sass & veracity — July 8, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

    This is really a gorgeous cake — I can almost taste it. Love banana anything and would love to try this. I’ve got a lemon cake to bake, though — sampling recipes for my niece’s wedding coming up at the end of this month. Maybe I can sell her on banana instead ;0

  22. 22

    Joanne — July 8, 2011 @ 1:15 pm

    Oh yes. That is a triple layer cake with my favorite frosting on it. Oh how do I want it. Greatly.

  23. 23

    Mrs. Fish — July 8, 2011 @ 1:38 pm

    Oh my gawd….I want this cake right now!

  24. 24

    melissa — July 8, 2011 @ 1:41 pm

    I was reading back then – I remember because I made this cake after you posted about it. And you’re right. It is flippin’ AMAZING. SO SO good. I am so grateful you posted it again because it reminds me to make it again while I’m still pregnant so I have an excuse to eat as much of it as I want!

    Hope you’re doing well, girl! Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve commented!

  25. 25

    UndomesticBride — July 8, 2011 @ 1:48 pm

    Great photos! This cake looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it.

  26. 26

    Paula — July 8, 2011 @ 2:06 pm

    Weighing the bananas I eat for a year to see how it compares to the average 28 pounds seems like a challenge! I think I just found the cake to make for a co-worker’s birthday at the end of the month!

  27. 27

    Kulsum at JourneyKitchen — July 8, 2011 @ 2:22 pm

    That’s some serious big fat banana cake! My husband is a obsessed with bananas and if we ever have banana crisis in the world – u can come arrest him. I’m going to throw those facts on him today and see how much he knows and act as if I knew them all!

  28. 28

    Lindsey @ Why Just Eat — July 8, 2011 @ 3:17 pm

    Holy freakin’ cow that looks soooooo good. *Putting bananas in a paper bag*

  29. 29

    Kimmy @ Lighter and Local — July 8, 2011 @ 7:40 pm

    I love bananas and am forever trying to figure out ways to use up the few that never get eaten. I love banana bread, but I’m drooling over this cake. It’s on my list now!

  30. 30

    Catie — July 8, 2011 @ 10:43 pm

    I can’t make a layer cake to save my life. Can this recipe be made in a 9×13 pan? I’ve got some very ripe bananas that have found their calling!

  31. 31

    Amanda N — July 9, 2011 @ 7:18 am

    This cake looks delicious!!! I have everything to make it except applesauce….is there anything you can substitute it with?

  32. 32

    Jill@MadAboutMacarons — July 9, 2011 @ 9:26 am

    Banana a herb? Wow – love all your banana facts and that cake of yours is just perfectly moist and screaming eat me! Not planning a work-out but I feel I really do need this…

  33. 33

    Kerstin — July 9, 2011 @ 12:58 pm

    I bet I eat way more than 28 pounds a year, haha :) I know I’d love this cake – yum!

  34. 34

    garlutti — July 10, 2011 @ 5:16 am

    HI … I’m glad to discover your blog .. I love these recipes you have with many new ideas for me … I follow you on facebook .. I invite you to share my recipes and blog … greetings from SPAIN VIGO … Marimi

  35. 35

    Kita — July 10, 2011 @ 9:07 am

    Oooh wow. This cake has my name all over it. I am not a huge fruit in the raw person but I am trying to learn to like bananas. Love them in things but so far can only eat about a quarter of a plain banana without being freaked out by texture – blame my parents. Bread, muffins, cookies and this cake… oh this cake, yeah, I’ve got to try this. (specially since I have the rest of all of those bananas I’ve been trying to eat in the freezer).

    (love the banana facts at the top!)

  36. 36

    Karriann Graf — July 10, 2011 @ 9:59 am

    Looks delicious! Happy Baking!

  37. 37

    Salad week, invisible caterpillars and rain « Green Basket — July 10, 2011 @ 10:36 am

    [...] Tonight- Seared steak salad, breaded artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, leftover garlic bread and chimichurri Monday- Florida Crunch Salad (yes, again!) Tuesday- broiled trout, roasted beets and purple Japanese sweet potatoes, macaroni & cheese Wednesday- crockpot mojo pork taco salad with leftover grilled corn, homemade refried black beans, and Florida avocado Lunches- Tahini curried carrot salad, cold cha soba noodle salad with leftover chicken Baking- butternut squash brioche, and I must do something with all these pears, maybe this, but probably pear butter and then this with pear butter instead of applesauce and bananas. [...]

  38. 38

    Lori @ RecipeGirl — July 10, 2011 @ 12:20 pm

    Thanks for the banana education! :) I LOOOOOVE banana cake w/ cream cheese icing! yours looks awesome.

  39. 39

    Jenn — July 10, 2011 @ 11:40 pm

    I love fun little facts like that. If this is your favorite cake, then I have got to make it. I have a favorite banana cake recipe too, but I would like to see how it compares to yours!!

  40. 40

    Heather of Kitchen Concoctions — July 11, 2011 @ 12:27 am

    What interesting facts about bananas! This cake is beautiful and sounds delicious!

  41. 41

    Willow Bird Weekly | Willow Bird Baking — July 11, 2011 @ 1:41 am

    [...] Chip Ice Cream Pies on Bakers Royale -Banana Dream Cake on The Novice Chef (have I mentioned how much I love banana baked goods? Oh goodness.) -Oreo [...]

  42. 42

    Lindsey@Lindselicious — July 11, 2011 @ 2:38 am

    Great post and drool worthy pics! That banana cake is no joke and I totally want a huge slice!

  43. 43

    Rachel @ The Avid Appetite — July 11, 2011 @ 10:18 am

    This looks beautiful and delicious! I would love a slice over here, thanks :)

  44. 44

    Tracy — July 11, 2011 @ 10:46 pm

    This cake does look oh-so-dreamy! I love bananas and would love this cake for sure!!

  45. 45

    Paula — July 13, 2011 @ 11:39 am

    I love bananas! At one point I was eating so many that at an annual check-up my my blood work came back with potassium levels a little high and I had to lay off them for a bit. True story!

    Your cake sounds and looks delicious!

  46. 46

    Clippings: July 14th, 2011 | Cream and Sugar — July 14, 2011 @ 9:07 am

    [...] bananas sound like a perfect excuse to make this Banana Dream Cake on a rainy day. Cream cheese frosting? [...]

  47. 47

    Eileen Goodall — August 6, 2011 @ 11:13 am

    Hi – I am hoping that this cake lives up to the comments above – it is in the oven as I type – will let you know :D

  48. 48

    Eileen Goodall — August 6, 2011 @ 4:49 pm

    What a gorgeous cake, very moist, very morish – changed the filling though, didn’t really fancy cream cheese so made a family favourite of traditional buttercream with added double cream and a teaspoon of maple syrup, gives it a slightly walnutty taste and a much softer texture.

    Thanks for the recipe!

  49. 49

    The Novice Chef » My Soft Serve Brings All The Boys To The Yard — August 8, 2011 @ 11:36 pm

    [...] 4 bananas that are wayyyy past their prime. And your hips can’t afford for you to make the Banana Dream Cake. So you will cave and try out this Peanut Butter Banana Soft Serve even though you are convinced it [...]

  50. 50

    Melissa — August 14, 2011 @ 1:37 am

    hi just wanted to let you know that I made this for my sons 12th birthday today(8/13/11) :) He loves monkeys so what better cake to make him than a banana cake? He loved it and after eating his sliced asked me to please make this his permanate birthday cake :D the only thing I changed is that I put the cream cheese frosting between the layers and crumb coated it with it then finshed it off with butter cream. Love this cake and will be making again and again and again and again.

    • Jessica replied: — September 6th, 2011 @ 3:24 pm

      I am so glad it was such a hit with your son! It is by far my favorite cake too :-D

  51. 51

    Mary H. — August 20, 2011 @ 11:21 pm

    Made this for my husband’s bitrhday. Was nervous about not having super ripe bananas and needing to bake it for more like 65 minutes BUT not to worry. Turned out beautifully! Incredibly moist cake and delicious frosting! I will most definitely be be serving this again! Thank you!!

  52. 52

    The Novice Chef » I ♥ SPRINKLES! — August 28, 2011 @ 11:51 pm

    [...] cupcakes. Big surprise right? Occasionally they will branch out from the cupcakes and ask for a layered cake. But I have never been asked to make cookies. Seriously, never! Cookies say picnic or lunchbox, but [...]

  53. 53

    Amy — September 6, 2011 @ 8:42 am

    I made this cake for a dinner party this weekend and it was phenomenal. How the heck did you get it assembled and iced though?

    I couldn’t get the cream cheese frosting thick enough to hold against the density of the three heavy layers. I even used 1.5 kilograms of sugar, which I think is around 15 cups. I did a crumb coat as well and even used skewers as makeshift dowels (the babe was napping and I couldn’t get out to buy real ones).

    I couldn’t get it to stop leaning to one side. It was delicious nonetheless and we dubbed it the delicious banana ugly cake.

    • Jessica replied: — September 6th, 2011 @ 3:23 pm

      How strange! I had no problems putting this one together into a layer cake and it even stayed put for a drive to Jorge’s office!

      I make the cakes, pop them in the freezer, make the icing, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes while I get out the cake layers. Get the cake ready to go and then put it together with a crumb coat, back in the fridge for a few…then final layer. I made it just a week ago and on issues again.

      I am so sorry your’s was ugly! LOL But I am glad it was tasty! ;-)

  54. 54

    The Novice Chef » Banana Cake — September 6, 2011 @ 3:27 pm

    [...] » This cake has been remade, updated, recipe changed and in general made much better here! [...]

  55. 55

    A dream come true! « The Culinary Cheesehead — September 6, 2011 @ 8:20 pm

    [...] check out this delicious Banana Dream Cake!  I kind of scoffed at it being called “dream cake” but it really is a cakey delicious [...]

  56. 56

    Claire — September 8, 2011 @ 2:25 pm

    Banana Cake is my all-time favorite! I’ve made the original recipe from AllRecipes.com and absolutely loved it, but I can imagine the addition of applesauce and sour cream does wonders! Can’t wait to make this version!!

  57. 57

    This Weeks Delish: July 9, 2011 — October 29, 2011 @ 3:26 pm

    [...] This Banana Cake looks incredible. I’ve been dying to make one every time I see past prime bananas… but I haven’t quite gotten around to it yet. This Weeks Pick: Ohhhh, definitely going with the banana bread! The idea itself is just so clever. The technique is so inventive, I just love it. [...]

  58. 58

    Jennifer — December 21, 2011 @ 1:43 am

    JUST made this cake and I’m DYING to try it tomorrow for my hubs birthday. I tried some crumbs with frosting and it’s already divine. He’s a huge banana cake fan and he’s really looking forward to it. Sprinkled cinnamon on the top… mmmmm! Cooking time was a little longer… took it out at 60 mins but probably could have used a couple more.

    • Jessica replied: — December 27th, 2011 @ 5:12 pm

      Eek! It’s one of my favorites! How was it when you finally got to try a bite?!

      And I think you were probably ok! I always feel like it could bake a little more…but really it is done! The cake is just incredibly moist!

  59. 59

    Jennifer — December 27, 2011 @ 5:16 pm

    it was AMAZING! So delicious!! Hubs has asked for it to be his birthday cake every year!

  60. 60

    Amy — December 29, 2011 @ 3:14 pm

    I loved this recipe so much that I want to make these into cupcakes for my son’s birthday but am concerned about converting the cooking time. I would normally test cupcakes after about 18 minutes on 350, but because this recipe bakes at 275 and the 8 inch layers bake for much longer than a traditional layer cake, I’m not sure that would be enough. Have you made cupcakes out of these before? Any idea how long to bake them for.

    • Jessica replied: — December 29th, 2011 @ 3:17 pm

      I have never made them into cupcakes, but I think it is a brilliant idea!

      I would actually probably bake one cupcake at a time and see what happens.

      I would probably actually start with baking it for about 16 minutes, and then popping it into the freezer, and then cutting into and see if it needed a longer baking time.

      If you try it, you have to let me know what happens! :-D

  61. 61

    amy — January 6, 2012 @ 12:04 pm

    hmm – left a comment, but not sure if it posted. The cupcakes are great. I baked them for 22-25 minutes at 300 – 275 was just too slow. I didn’t pop them in the freezer either, but they didn’t need it. I filled them 2/3 full and the recipe made 3 dozen perfectly sized just to the top of the paper cupcakes.

  62. 62

    Melissa — January 8, 2012 @ 5:35 pm

    I just made this and it is AWESOME! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    • Jessica replied: — January 11th, 2012 @ 9:44 pm

      So glad you loved it! :-D

  63. 63

    Katherine — January 31, 2012 @ 9:24 am

    Can I do without the sour cream or can I sub it with something else? This looks delicious but I had a bad sour cream experience that I just can’t shake lol.

    • Jessica replied: — February 1st, 2012 @ 12:35 am

      I promise you can’t taste the sour cream AT ALL!

      But if it has to be substituted, I think you could probably get away with some plain greek yogurt.

  64. 64

    Don — February 1, 2012 @ 10:18 am

    Awesome! I gogled banana dream cake and you were the first result! I will be trying this tonight, except with chocolate/peanut butter buttercream icing.

  65. 65

    Don — February 6, 2012 @ 10:14 am

    Made this yesterdat and it came out awesome. Used a homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. Thanks for posting this!

    • Jessica replied: — February 6th, 2012 @ 1:14 pm

      I can’t imagine this with anything other than the cream cheese frosting…but I am so excited to know it is awesome with chocolate buttercream too!

      Glad you liked it Don! :-D

  66. 66

    Rachel — February 13, 2012 @ 4:06 pm

    Mmmm, I am going to make that tonight!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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