Banana Cake Recipe

Here it is for Lulu!

•2-4 Overipe bananas (or baked in foil, as per previous post) You can be flexible with how many bananas you use. Sometimes I put in a whole bunch, for extra punch. Still works! Just get a more moist cake. Never a bad thing.

• 175g (6oz) brown / demerara sugar

• 3 large eggs, room temperature

• 250g (9oz) Self Raising flour (I use wheat-free alternatives which work well too)

• 175g (6oz) Unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

Optional extras, which I always add

• chocolate chips - lots

• best quality vanilla extract. Just a few drops, as they tend to be strong. Or if you can get a real vanilla pod, scoop out the seeds and use fresh (and preserve the 'shell' in a jar of sugar, for some home flavoured vanilla sugar. That's a Jamie O tip!) 

If its a grown up cake, a slosh of booze works well too. Brandy or Rum, or just get creative, within reason! 

Method: 

- Preheat the oven to 'moderate' which is apparently around 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4

- Line baking tin base with greaseproof paper. Dust with a little four on the insides, all round.

- In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. If the butter isn't at room temp, will be much harder. Aim for a lump free, smooth butter sugar paste. Try and enjoy this bit, its as hard as it gets. Play some Jazz, or Old Soul, something 'smoochy' to help it along. It works.

- Whisk in all the liquid-y stuff: Eggs, bananas, vanilla extract, booze (if adding) and combine well.

- Now add dry ingriedients. Sift the flour and baking powder over the bowl. Add the choc chips, and fold all together gently to retain as much of the air as possible.

- Step back, admire the beautiful gloopy batter, jewelled with chocolate, then gently pour it all into the prepared baking tin. Leave enough in the bowl to lick out for yourself.

- Bake in the centre of the oven for around 40 mins to start with, then check it. Will probably need longer, so test it in the middle with a skewer. It will be done when it comes out clean. Final times depend on your oven, so just keep an eye on it.

- When its cooked, the whole kitchen and beyond will smell amazing. Allow it to cool al little, then decorate it however you like. I cover it with grated chocolate, I love the light powdery texture of it against the rich moist cake. 

Admire your creation and Enjoy!