MONKEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Butter and flour an 8 1/2-inch-diameter 3-quart stainless-steel or oven proof bowl and 1 cup of a large (1-cup capacity) muffin tin; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
• In a separate medium bowl, whisk together bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and brown sugar; mix on medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes; mix in eggs.
• Reduce speed to medium; mix in flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with banana mixture.
• Fill prepared muffin cup three-quarters full.
• Transfer remaining batter to prepared baking bowl.
• Transfer to oven, side by side.
• Bake cupcake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool in tin on a wire rack.
• Continue baking large cake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes more (1 hour and 40 minutes total).
• Let cool in bowl on a wire rack 30 minutes.
• Invert bowl to remove cake; let cool completely.
• Trim flat side of cake to be level.
• Trim away top of cupcake to be level.
• Cut cupcake in half vertically for the two monkey ears.
• Cut bowl cake in half horizontally to make 2 layers.
• Spread 3/4 cup chocolate buttercream on top of flat layer.
• Top with domed layer.
• Transfer to a cake plate.
• Spread a thick layer of chocolate buttercream over entire monkey head.
• Spread icing over cupcake ears.
• Attach ears to sides of head, top of cupcake facing forward, securing with toothpicks.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a large plain round tip with yellow icing.
• Pipe an oval near the front base of cake.
• Fill in with frosting, and smooth.
• Place 2 small pieces of licorice rope inside for nose.
• Add a long piece of rope for mouth.
• Place Junior Mints above oval for eyes.
• Pipe yellow half-circles in centers of ears; fill in with frosting, and smooth.
• Decorated cake can be refrigerated up to 3 hours.