Sunday, February 03, 2008

Upside down banana cake

The reasons why we decide to prepare a recipe are so varied. I was once asked about what drives me. It is difficult to pinpoint. This time I was driven by a present. I have this wonderful girl friend that lives in Japan and she sent me a pair of really beautiful mugs. I wanted an occasion to have my first cup of English breakfast in them. Flicking through the latest issue of Olive, the magazine, I came across this lovely cake. I cannot resist banana in cakes. In Brazil they are terribly popular. Bananas are fairly abundant and popular commodity. Once you bake with bananas you understand why they are favoured. There is some sort of magic alchemy that happens to them in the oven and they become little wonders.

This cake is dead easy, and does not take long to get ready. I used currants instead of sultanas because I had none in the house. Rum was also not to be found so I used vodka instead. Once the cake is ready and you open the oven door there is this most beautiful smell, a smell of the sweet baked banana…I then got my kettle to boil and finally got to use one of my beautiful mugs.

A big thank you to my lovely friend Clarice for the lovely pressie, and I so wished she were here, drinking tea with me and eating cake away.

Ingredients:

100g sultanas

50ml rum

4 large or 6 small bananas

6 tbsp golden syrup

75g butter softened

100g caster sugar

1 medium egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

175g self-raising

60g pecan, chopped

  • Soak the sultanas in the rum for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 160oC/ 140oC fan assisted oven. Grease a 23cm13cm loaf tin and line its base with baking paper. Peel and cut 2 bananas in half, and mash the rest of the bananas.Pour the golden syrup along the base of the tin and cover with the banana pieces.
  • Beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy – about 3 mins. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat a bit more. Add the mashed bananas using a metal spoon, followed by the flour, nuts and raisin.
  • Spoon the mixture onto the bananas, being careful not to move the bananas at the bottom. Bake it for 45mins or until cooked through – test with a skewer.
  • Remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10min so the syrup soaks into the cake. Only then turn onto a plate and serve with crème fraiche or yoghurt.

12 comments:

Pille said...

It looks very pretty, Valentina, especially the top photo!!

Brilynn said...

I love bananas in desserts, but my problem is that I always eat the bananas before they're brown enough to turn into bread!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Valentina this banana cake is beyond beautiful. I love the bottom that becomes the top - so effective on this one!!
Nice way to celebrate a friend and the pressent!

Anonymous said...

How delicious looking! Great to be able to eat your cake and enjoy your tea in your special cup from your friend. Awesome!

Paz

Deborah said...

What a beautiful cake!

Anonymous said...

Pretty cake, good idea!

Cynthia said...

I do love it when you are blogging. I am definitely going to try this and I do have rum (lol)

Anonymous said...

I want to comment on the jelly rolled candy on your logo--My grandmother used to buy these candies--they were square and a sugar jelly robe with marshmellow in the middle--I haven't thought of these candies for years!!Where do you buy them?I could not find a spot to send you an e-mail so I posted here-
I love the banana bread recipe too-

Anonymous said...

I've made this one myself. It looks spectacular and tastes great as well! Good work. Nice pictures as well.

Nora B. said...

I know that I will love this cake - it looks delicious. I am a banana fan.

And I see you changed your blog banner - nice one!

Nora

Anonymous said...

What a bautiful! I love bananas! I'm french, I speak english verry more. Did you visit my blog at: www.gourmandelise.com. Bye Bye!

Henny A. said...

I'm always looking for new ways to use up my over-riped bananas. This recipe looks so lovely and delicous!