Best Banana Lemon Layer Cake Recipes

BANANA/LEMON SENSATION

Steps:

• Preheat Oven to 350°F.
• Ovens will lose heat immediately the door is opened.
• A hint for retaining temperature without heat loss when oven door is first opened is to pre-set the oven to about 50° higher than required.
• As soon as pan (s) are put into the oven, close the door and immediately reset to required temperature.
• For BANANA/LEMON SENSATION, set the oven to 400°F and drop down to 350°, at the ready.
• "Prepare" loaf pan in the usual way using a light cooking/baking spray and light dusting of flour.
• Set aside for later use.
• In a small bowl, grate the lemon and set aside (If you have an aversion to lemon, skip this step).
• In a small saucepan, squeeze the fresh lemon half.
• FOR THE LOAF: In a medium-sized bowl, mash bananas well, with a fork.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter or margarine with 1 cup sugar.
• In a separate bowl, beat eggs really well.
• In a large bowl, combine mashed bananas, butter mixture, well-beaten eggs.
• Beat again.
• NOTE: If you are using a blender or food processor, please be aware of over-spills.
• Sift together (if you prefer sifting) flour, baking soda and salt.
• (HINT: Because of the lemon sauce, I do not add salt. If you do not use lemon juice, or lemon rind, salt may be added, in the quantity stipulated above) Add banana mixture to flour a quarter at a time, and mix well after each addition, by hand, with a large mixing-spoon.
• Scrape batter down sides of the bowl into the flour and mix well.
• At this point, add the grated lemon peel and mix well.
• You can never mix too much.
• Ingredients must be well-combined prior to baking.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. (my oven requires the full hour).
• Remove from oven and with your cake tester, test for doneness.
• Cake tester should come out clean, with no evidence of batter.
• Using your cake tester, puncture the loaf, all over the top, but not right through.
• While loaf is still hot, carefully spoon the lemon sauce over the surface.
• This will seep into the loaf through the punctures and add flavour to the Banana Loaf.
• Set on cooling rack until the pan can be handled easily, about 1/2 hour.
• Turn the pan over and tap hard on the bottom to loosen the loaf.
• Continue cooling baked loaf, until ready to seal and put away, or serve same day.
• THE LEMON SAUCE: In a small sauce-pan, over medium heat, combine lemon juice and sugar (or other sweetener) Mix continuously and bring to a boil.
• If you have an aversion to lemon, skip this step.

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.

FRESH BANANA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, knocking out excess flour.
• Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl whisk together mashed banana, yogurt or buttermilk, and vanilla. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in flour and banana mixtures alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture and stirring after each addition until just combined. (Do not overmix.)
• Divide batter evenly among pans, smoothing tops, and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through baking, about 18 minutes total, or until layers are springy to the touch and a tester comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks to cool completely. (Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.)
• Make frosting:
• Into a large bowl sift confectioners' sugar. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy and beat in vanilla and a pinch salt. Beat in confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, and beat frosting until smooth.
• Assemble cake:
• Cut 2 firm-ripe bananas diagonally into thin slices. Put a cake layer on a serving plate and spread with a thin coating of frosting. Arrange one layer of banana slices on frosting, overlapping them slightly, and top with second cake layer. Spread cake layer with another thin coating of frosting and arrange 1 more layer of banana slices in same manner, cutting and using slices from third banana if necessary. Top bananas with remaining cake layer and spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. (Cake may be made 8 hours ahead and kept in a cake keeper at cool room temperature.)