Vintage Recipe: Honey Banana Cake

My grandmother didn't have much of a sweet tooth, but she loved to make banana cake.  Quite often when we went to visit she would have a pan of banana cake, slathered in maple frosting, waiting in the kitchen.

Then I discovered this handwritten recipe for banana cake among my great-grandmother's recipes.  It seems a love of banana cake just might have been multi-generational!

Although the original cake would have been made with white flour and brown sugar, my version uses spelt and honey, but could easily be substituted with whole wheat flour.

Banana Tip: Ever have bananas turning overripe before you can get to them? Simple peel and freeze until you're ready to bake!

Vintage Honey Banana Cake Instructions

Beat together the butter and honey until smooth.  Beat in eggs.  Stir in lemon juice, bananas, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until combined.

Pour into greased 9×13 pan and cook at 350 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting

Although there is no frosting mentioned on the original recipe, I like to add a little something to my cake, in memory of my grandmother.  Rather than use her maple-flavored buttercream, I whip up this simple peanut butter frosting.

• ⅓ cup softened butter
• ⅓ cup natural peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp honey
• pinch of salt

Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth.  Add in honey and salt.  Spread over cake.

Vintage Recipe: Honey Banana Cake

Andrea Sabean

This banana honey cake is deliciously moist with the bananas and honey, making it favorite anytime of day.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Dessert

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ cup butter softened
• ¾ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 ripe bananas mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups spelt flour or whole wheat
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp arrowroot flour or cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt
• Peanut Butter Frosting
• ⅓ cup softened butter
• ⅓ cup natural peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp honey
• pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Beat together the butter and honey until smooth.
• Beat in eggs.
• Stir in lemon juice, bananas, and vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until combined.
• Pour into greased pan and cook at 350 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Frosting Directions
• Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add in honey and salt. Spread over cake.

Notes

• To make these into cupcakes, pour into greased or lined cupcake tins and bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

Keyword honey banana cake

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Enjoy!