Nanas Almond Butter Cake Food

NANA'S BANANA CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with baking spray and parchment liners.
• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar and butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each fully before adding the next.
• With the mixer on low, slowly trickle the oil into the mixture. Once added, increase the speed to medium-high and continue to mix until the mixture thickens and begins to look like mayonnaise. Using a silicone spatula, scrape down your bowl, making sure to get anything at the bottom of the bowl that has not been mixed well.
• In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add a third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on medium high speed for 90 seconds. Bring the speed down to low and, alternately, add the buttermilk mixture and remaining flour mixture in 4 stages, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Fold in the mashed bananas. Mix only enough to incorporate the ingredients after each addition.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. The top of the cake should spring back slightly after a gentle tap with your finger. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from the pans. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
• For the salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream: Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the egg whites and confectioners' sugar on medium-high until the mixture thickens to fluffy white, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and gradually add the softened butter. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue mixing for 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the speed and add the prepared caramel sauce, vanilla and salt. Mix until combined.
• To assemble the cake: Frost the top of 1 cake round with some salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream. Drizzle with some prepared caramel sauce and sprinkle with some pecans. Add a second round and repeat with the buttercream, caramel sauce and pecans. Top with the remaining cake round and frost the entire cake with the buttercream.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan, making sure the sugar is completely wet, but being careful not to let the sugar water coat the sides of the pan. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook for about 4 minutes. The cooking process is done when the sugar has reached a nice amber color. Do not stir during the cooking process. Quickly remove the sugar from the heat and add the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir to combine. Whisk in the butter, sea salt and lemon juice. Allow to cool completely before use.

NANA'S ALMOND BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add 1 whole egg and 2 yolks to flour mixture, reserving whites, then knead in bowl until a soft dough forms, about 5 minutes. Put 3/4 cup dough between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap and roll out into a 9 1/2-inch round, then chill 15 minutes.
• Transfer remaining dough to springform pan and cover surface with another large sheet of plastic wrap. Press dough (through plastic wrap) evenly onto bottom. Discard plastic wrap.
• Blend almond paste, cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon water in a food processor until crumbled (paste may be hard). Add remaining 3 tablespoons water, a little at a time, processing until paste is smooth.
• Beat together reserved whites and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they just hold stiff peaks, then fold in almond paste mixture gently but thoroughly.
• Spread almond mixture on top of dough in pan, tapping side of pan gently to smooth surface.
• Remove top sheet of plastic from remaining dough and cut dough into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange 6 strips 1 inch apart diagonally across almond mixture. Trim ends of strips flush with edge of pan. Arrange 6 of the remaining strips 1 inch apart diagonally across first strips to form a lattice with diamond-shaped spaces. (If dough becomes too soft, chill until firm.) Repair any broken strips of dough by carefully pressing them together and trim ends of strips flush with edge of pan. Discard any remaining strips.
• Bake until pale golden, about 45 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge of cake to loosen if necessary, then remove side of pan and cool cake completely, about 30 minutes.

NANA'S SOUTHERN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition.
• Add flour, salt and vanilla.
• Bake in tube pan at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

NANA'S COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour an 8" or 9" cake pan.
• Combine the topping ingredients (1-1/2 Tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon) in a small bowl. Set aside and reserve for sprinkling on top of batter.
• Combine the dry ingredients for the cake in a bowl.
• In a separate large mixing bowl, beat together egg, shortening and vanilla. Gradually beat in dry ingredients; then beat in sour cream or sour milk.
• Pour into prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the sugar/cinnamon mixture evenly over top of batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes.