Description
Ina Garten’s old-fashioned banana cake brings classic comfort to dessert tables with rich, moist layers. Creamy frosting and ripe bananas create a delightful treat that welcomes you into nostalgic baking memories.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 bananas (very ripe, mashed)
- 2 extra-large eggs (at room temperature)
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) vegetable oil
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) sour cream
- ½ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- Grated zest of 1 orange
- Cream cheese frosting
- Walnut halves (for decorating)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F and thoroughly grease and flour a 23cm / 9-inch round cake pan, ensuring even coverage to prevent sticking.
- Banana Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed bananas with granulated and brown sugars, creating a smooth base. Whisk in vegetable oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and orange zest until the mixture becomes glossy and homogeneous.
- Dry Ingredients and Batter Assembly: Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients. Fold gently to maintain the batter’s lightness, then incorporate chopped walnuts, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
- Baking Process: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface. Bake for 45-50 minutes, watching for a golden-brown color. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.
- Cooling and Frosting: Rest the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once at room temperature, generously spread cream cheese frosting over the top and garnish with walnut halves for an elegant finish.
Notes
- Banana Selection: Choose overripe bananas with dark, speckled peels for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor.
- Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients gently to maintain light, airy cake texture and prevent dense, tough results.
- Nut Preparation: Lightly toast walnuts beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a crunchier texture in the cake.
- Moisture Preservation: Cool cake completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure clean, professional-looking decoration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg