Banana Walnut Heaven Cake

Growing up in Iran walnut was a daily snack or part of breakfast meal. We eat so much walnuts, that I honestly can't remember not having it in our house on regular basis. Banana in the other hand wasn't that popular in Iran. At least in my birth city Esfahan there weren't many places that you can purchase banana. It was considered as a fancy fruit, which rich people would serve it in the high class parties or weddings. When I moved to Canada, banana became one of my first choice as a fruit. It was tasty and more affordable compare to other fruits.

This recipe to me is where my childhood meets the adulthood and my new lifestyle. Click on the picture below to watch the stop by stop video.

Banana Walnut Heaven Cake

Ready in 1 hour

Method used: one bowl method

Makes one 8 inch cake (tall pan)

Ingredients

• Flour 1.5 cups

• Sugar 1 cup

• Baking powder 1/2 Tbsp (7.5 ml)

• Salt 1/4 tsp

• Eggs 3

• Milk 1/2 cup

• Yogurt 1/4cup

• Vanilla extract 1 tsp

• Butter and oil 1/2 cup (use half and half)

• Mashed Banana 1/2 cup

• Dround Walnut 1 cup

• Unsweetened applesauce 3 Tbsp (optional)

Preparation

1. Pre-heat oven 350 degrees F

2. Prepare a 8 inch cake pan and set aside

3. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt (dry ingredients) in a big bowl, mix together and set aside

4. In a separate bowl mix oil, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, yogurt, and unsweetened applesauce (wet ingredients)

5. Pill and mash the banana and set aside

6. Using a hand mixer beat butter into the dry ingredients, and then add the wet ingredients and beat on low speed. Stop few times in between and using a spatula clean the side and mix the bottom of bowl (don't over mix)

7. Add the ground walnut and mashed banana and mix with spatula

8. Pour batter into prepared cake pan, cover the top completely with apricot, and bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean

9. Once the cake is completely cool, take it out of the pan and transfer to a serving plate. Then dust it with icing sugar, or drizzle with icing sugar glaze (mix of icing sugar and water)

Ingredients For the top sauce

• Brown sugar 2 Tbsp

• Butter 1 Tbsp

• 10% cream or milk 1/2 Tbsp

• Direction: bring butter, brown sugar and cream or milk to boil in a small pan and cook until thickened (1-2 minutes)

• Drizzle on top of the cake for decoration

NOTE:

• Use applesauce for extra moisture, and don’t use if you prefer a fluffy cake

• Bring butter, eggs and dairies to room temperature