Mrs Woo's Banana Cake

[meganjane]

Mrs Woo was a parent at the school where my sister's children attended many years ago. She brought along a delicious banana cake to an event one day and my sister asked for the recipe. Ever since then it's the only banana cake we make.

I've made loads of different versions. Sometimes I add cinnamon and grated orange rind, sometimes mixed spice and sometimes I use buttermilk.
I've also made 1 1/2 times the quantity. My sister has also made a delicious Ambrosia Cake from this recipe.

Mrs Woo's Banana Cake

125g soft butter or butter blend
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp bi-carb
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp mixed spice
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp lime juice (lemon will do)
3 large ripe bananas

Mash bananas with milk and add lime juice. Set aside.
Blend butter and sugar on speed 3 for 20 seconds. Add eggs one at a time and mix for another 20 to 30 seconds.
Add in sifted dry ingredients (can 'sift' them together first and remove from bowl) and banana mixture.
Mix for 10 seconds or so until incorporated fully. Use spatula if necessary.

Cook in moderate oven for 40 minutes. I use a ring tin normally and a Kugelhopf tin when I made the larger quantity.

Ice with cream cheese icing with a little added lemon juice and rind
Leave plain and butter slices.
Ice with Lemon Icing
Top with melted butter and cinnamon while still warm and serve straight away - yummo!

Variations
* Substitute cinnamon for mixed spice and add the grated rind of an orange.
* Use buttermilk in place of milk.
* Add choc chips, grated orange rind and chopped dates for Ambrosia Cake
* Make in muffin tins.

Picture below is one normal sized batch in a small Kugelopf tin.

[cookie1]

This sounds lovely MJ. Isn't it funny how we give names like this to recipes. I have Phil's peppermint slice, Jane's stained glass window cake etc.

[meganjane]

I love recipes that have people's names and I love hearing the story behind them!

[Moo2]

This was lovely MJ. I made it this morning as I had a few tired looking bananas which I was about to freeze but I remembered seeing this post. We had friends over and it went down a treat. Lovely and moist and although I love nuts in banana cake, I didn't miss them in this. I have no idea how well it would keep as it all went. I made it in a loaf tin and it cooked beautifully in the stated time. Thanks.

[meganjane]

It doesn't keep very long, only about three days, but I generally find it doesn't last that long anyway! I often freeze half of it if I've only got one man to feed.

[milnead]

Hi, meganjane,

Would  you take 1 1/2 cups flour to mean 200 g or so?

Thanks!

[fundj&e]

milnead its about 230g. i think we all fill our cups differently

[CreamPuff63]

yep I would say 230 also

[meganjane]

Yes, I meant to convert it to grams. My cup measurement is 140g, so 1 1/2 is 210g. I don't pack it down.

[RosieB]

Thanks for sharing this one MJ..
Tried it today as I had a few tired bananas.
The mixture did not go as far as I expected so my main cake was a bit small,  But they are YUMMMM.
1 small cake and 6 large muffins.

[cookie1]

Rosie I love the muffin shapes. Very impressive.

[meganjane]

Gorgeous shapes! I sometimes make 1 1/2 times the amount for a bigger cake. Works just as well.

[RosieB]

Gorgeous shapes! I sometimes make 1 1/2 times the amount for a bigger cake. Works just as well.

Rosie I love the muffin shapes. Very impressive.

Thanks.  I use the silicon muffin moulds.  I have a collection of shapes and sizes and love the way they look,
And just need to drizzle with icing or dust with sugar to get a good look.
I will try 1 1/2 next time as DGS likes muffin size cakes.  He is not keen on slices.

[Denzelmum]

DD requested banana cake.  While DS having his day nap, made this with DD - she had fun baking this.  In the oven now.  Thanks, MJ!

[Denzelmum]

Yum... DD has second and third pieces!  She's very proud of her yummy banana cake.