Classic Banana Cake With Caramel Frosting Food

THE BEST BANANA CAKE I'VE EVER HAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch pan.
• Mash the bananas. I usually just use my mixer for this! Set mashed bananas aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy - about 1 minute. Add both sugars and beat on high speed for 2 minutes until creamed together. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until combined, then beat in the mashed bananas. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the buttermilk and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Do not overmix. The batter will be slightly thick and a few lumps is OK.
• Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top of the cake is browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
• Remove the cake from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely. After about 45 minutes, I usually place it in the refrigerator to speed things up.
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add 3 cups confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar (I add it). Spread the frosting on the cooled cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. This helps sets the frosting and makes cutting easier.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

BANANA CAKE WITH MOST EXCELLENT CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 for glass or light metal pan; 350 for dark metal or coated pan. Position a rack in the middle of the oven.
• Grease and flour a 9x13" pan.
• Put 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a measuring cup and fill with milk to the 2/3 cup line. Set aside.
• Mash bananas with a fork, adding the remaining tablespoon of lemon juice to them as you mash. Set aside.
• Combine cake mix and baking soda in a large mixer bowl and stir. Add bananas, softened butter, lemon-milk mixture, eggs, and vanilla. Beat at low speed about 30 seconds until moistened. Turn speed to medium and beat another 4 minutes.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and place in oven.
• For glass or metal pan, bake at 375 degrees for 28 to 33 minutes. For dark metal or coated pan, bake at 350 degrees for 31 to 33 minutes. Cake should be pulling away slightly from edges of pan when done, and the center should spring back when lightly touched with finger. Check for doneness at lowest time, but don't move cake in oven before then as it may fall.
• Cool in pan on wire rack, then frost.
• For frosting:.
• Spread chopped pecans on a baking sheet and bake in 375 degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes until lightly browned. Watch carefully to avoid overcooking! Set aside while you prepare frosting.
• Have all frosting ingredients ready so you can move quickly while making the frosting, or it may set up before you can smooth it on the cake.
• In a small saucepan, thoroughly mix brown sugar and flour. Add butter and milk, and set over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Boil exactly 1 1/2 minutes.
• Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. Beat briefly with a wooden spoon until it begins to thicken. Mix in vanilla and continue beating until frosting is the consistency of thick honey, no more than 1 to 2 minutes.
• Immediately pour frosting onto cooled cake and quickly spread with the back of a warm spoon before frosting begins to set up. Quickly sprinkle with toasted pecans.
• You can serve immediately; although frosting may take several hours to completely set.

CLASSIC BANANA CAKE WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour four 9 inch cake pans. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together.
• 2. In a separate large mixing bowl combine butter and sugar and beat well. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla. Beat until mixture is light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
• 3. Add half the flour and half the sour cream and with mixer on lowest speed beat just until flour and sour cream disappear into the batter. Add the rest of the flour and sour cream and mix in the same way as before. Stir in bananas with a large spatula.
• 4. Divide the batter evenly between the four cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until cakes are golden brown and toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Cool in pans on wire rack for about 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
• 5. To make frosting In a medium saucepan combine butter, milk and brown sugar. Over medium low heat bring mixture to a boil stirring occasionally. Continue to gently boil, stirring constantly, until mixture turns a golden amber color. This will take a while, usually about 15 to 20 minutes. Be patient, you can do it. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Let cool completely. When cool add confectioners sugar a little at a time mixing thoroughly until you have incorporated all the confectioners sugar. Mixture should be of frosting consistency.
• 6. Place one layer top side down on a plate and frost top and side. Cover with second layer top side up, frost top and sides. Continue with the other 2 layers in the same way, frosting top and sides between each layer. Place whole pecans around the perimeter on top of cake to make it look pretty and then pour yourself a big glass of milk and a large piece of cake and enjoy.

BANANA CARAMEL CAKE WITH MASCARPONE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Butter 2 9-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess; set aside.
• Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a small bowl, stir together mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1 1/2 sticks butter and 1 2/3 cups sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minute Scrape down the sides as needed.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in two parts, beating until well combined after both additions, 2-3 minute.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold in the reserved mashed banana mixture, being careful not to overmix.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake 30-35 min, or until golden and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 20 minute.
• Invert cakes onto the rack; peel off the parchment paper and reinvert cakes, and let them cool completely, top sides up.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar into a large skillet; cook over high heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until sugar is caramelized.
• Remove from heat and stir in 3 Tbs butter until melted.
• Return pan to medium heat and add the sliced bananas. Cook until slices start to brown, 1-2 minute Gently turn the bananas, and cook over medium-high heat until browned, about 2 more minute.
• Using a serrated knife, trim the tops of the layers to make them level.
• Place one layer on a cake plate and arrange the caramelized banana slices on top. Make sure the entire top is covered.
• Place the remaining layer on top and frost with mascarpone frosting.
• To make the frosting:.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the mascarpone, cream and confectioners' sugar until medium-soft peaks form, about 1-2 minute Be careful not to overbeat, and use immediately.

MY VERY POPULAR BANANA CAKE WITH CARAMEL ICING

Steps:

• Grease a 14cm x 21cm loaf tin.
• Cream butter and sugar in a small bowl until light and fluffy, preferably with an electric mixer.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time and transfer the mixture into a large bowl. Stir in mashed banana (it's easiest to mash it with a fork).
• Stir in half sifted dry ingredients and half sour cream and milk; stir well.
• Stir in remaining dry ingredients and sour cream; stir until smooth.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Bake in a moderate over for about 1 hour. Stand for five minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool.
• Icing:.
• Melt butter and sugar, stir constantly without boiling for two minutes.
• Add sour cream, bring to boil. Remove from heat, stir in sifted icing sugar. Ice immediately as it sets very quickly.