The first time I had a three layer banana pecan cake was at my Uncle Luke and his bride Vita’s wedding. I was a little girl under the age of ten and had never tasted anything so fine. Having banana cake at a wedding wasn’t a popular thing to do in those days. I distinctively remember instantly falling in love with the taste of banana cake and wondering WHEN I would have this enchanting taste in my life again?
Many banana cakes later I still excite over the taste of banana cake. It’s like the little girl in me is tasting it for the first time with each passing of a bite. This is my banana cake… the one that transports me back to my childhood discovering delicious cake.
Ingredients for Three Layer Banana Pecan Cake:
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 5 very ripe bananas (mashed)
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar (packed)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 2 sticks butter (room temperature)
- 12 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 4 cups confectioner sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon whipping cream
- Toppings:
- Milk chocolate chips
- Banana chips
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray (3) 8- inch baking pans with non-stick baking spray then line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Whisk cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a bowl.
- In a stand-up mixer on medium speed mix olive oil, and brown sugar together until they fully combine. Add in eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla and mix on low until combined. Slowly add in cake flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time until just combined. Don’t over mix. Stir in pecans.
- Divide the batter equally between the 3 pans. Bake the cakes for 30 minutes each or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool cakes completely before removing from pan.
- Let’s make the frosting:
- Using an electric mixer beat butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until well combined. Then add in sugar a little at a time until it comes together. Scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Lastly add in vanilla and whipping cream and mix until completely combined.
- Frost the cake:
- Place first layer of cake on cake stand or platter. Scoop 1/3 of frosting mixture onto the top of the cake and spread out evenly to cover top.
- Repeat process with layer 2 by stacking on top of one another.
- Top with final layer of cake, and then gently press to make sure top layer is secure.
- Use offset spatula to frost the entire outside of cake stacks with cream cheese frosting. Decorate with chocolate chips and banana chips.
- Place in fridge for 1 hour before serving.
- Enjoy!
My Uncle Luke also used to make me a ‘banana wacky’ his version of a licuado when I was a kid…. here’s his recipe.
