Banana Cake

 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

 

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons molasses

3 overripe bananas, mashed

 

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugars.  Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and molasses.  Mix in bananas. Gradually mix in the dry mixture. Batter will be very thick.

Butter an 11x7 baking dish, and then scrape batter into dish and smooth out.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.  

Note: Batter can also be baked in 3-inch mini cake pans, if desired.  Make sure pans are deep so cakes can be cut into thirds. 

 

Strawberry Raspberry Sauce

1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

6 ounces fresh raspberries

 

1 cup seedless strawberry jam

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

  

Whisk jam, orange juice, lemon juice and zest together until smooth.  Place strawberries and raspberries in a bowl and pour sauce over the top.  Gently mix.

 

Cream Cheese Buttercream

1/2 pound salted butter, room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

 

Beat butter and cream cheese with vanilla until smooth.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar until incorporated. 

 

Orange-Candied Walnuts

2 cups whole walnuts

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon orange zest

 

Place walnuts in a medium sized bowl, drizzle with butter and stir to coat.  Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and mix.  Spoon onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally or until toasted.  Remove from oven and mix in orange zest.  Let cool. 

 

Assembly:

Small Christmas cookie cutters

Using a 3-inch scalloped biscuit cutter, cut out cakes and then slice horizontally into thirds. Spread or pipe cream cheese buttercream on bottom layer and top with the second layer of cake.  Spread or pipe another layer of cream cheese buttercream.  Cut out the top piece of cake with desired cookie cutter and press on top of cake.  Serve with strawberry raspberry sauce and candied walnuts. 

Notes:  Candies walnuts can be crushed and sprinkled on top of each cream cheese buttercream layer if desired.