Banana Loaf Cake

Banana Loaf Cake 

A delicious and moist banana loaf cake with a wonderful banana frosting topping! This is a perfect cake for afternoon tea.

Serves 8-12

Prep time:  15-20 minutes

Cooking time:  35-40 minutes

Ingredients

For the cake

100g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

200g light brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 medium eggs

300g over-ripe bananas

60g plain chocolate, chopped or in buttons

80g walnuts, toasted & roughly chopped

180g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the frosting

100g full-fat cream cheese

100g unsalted butter, softened

250g icing sugar, sifted

30g banana, mashed

Preparation method

1.  Preheat the oven to 175°C/155°C/Gas mark 4 and grease a 23cm x 13cm loaf tin with butter.

2.  Place the butter, light brown sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy.  Beat the eggs lightly and slowly add to the mixture while mixing on high speed.

3.  Mash the bananas and add to the cake mix, followed by the chocolate and the walnuts.  Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda together and add to the cake mix on a low speed until combined.  Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Take out and leave to cool.

4.  For the frosting, place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.  Place the butter and icing sugar in a separate mixing bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy.  Add the cream cheese, a little at a time to the butter mixture and mix at a high speed until the frosting is combined.  Add the mashed banana.  Once cool, cover the top of the cake with frosting and chill for 30 minutes to set the frosting.  Serve at room temperature and enjoy!