Homemade Banana Cake

I like homemade banana cake so much because it’s not costly and easy to make while giving you the best results. The beauty of this cake is that you can customize it further for diabetic people by simply substituting the sugar with pure honey in the recipe below. I hope you will join me in becoming a buddy of this precious cake.

Why Bananas?

Bananas are the UK’s most popular fruit. On average we each eat 10kg of bananas every year (about 100 bananas). There are hundreds of edible varieties that fall into two distinct species: the banana and the plantain banana. Bananas have a distinct shape and a firm but creamy flesh inside a thick, inedible peel.

Although it looks like a tree, the banana is actually a plant. The banana plant grows up to 15 metres and belongs to the same family as the lily and orchid. Bananas grow in clusters of 50-150, with individual bananas grouped in bunches known as ‘hands’ of 10-20 at a time. The most popular type of banana is the large, yellow, smooth-skinned variety of sweet banana. This banana, Musa sapienta, varies in size and colour and is usually eaten raw. The larger, green bananas are known as plantains. Plantain bananas are prepared in a similar way to vegetables in that they are usually cooked or fried.

Nutritional Highlights

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and supply vitamin B6, fibre and carbohydrates, and some vitamin C. Since they have a lower water content than most fruit, bananas typically have more calories as well as a higher sugar content compared to other non-tropical fruits. A 100g serving provides 81kcal, 20.3g of carbohydrate, 1.4g fibre and 18.1g of natural sugar.

Unripe bananas have higher starch content. As they ripen, the starch is converted to sugar (and the fruit becomes sweeter). Green bananas are also a good source of pectin, which is a type of dietary fibre found in fruits and helps them keep their structural form. Pectin breaks down when a banana becomes overripe, which causes the fruit to become softer.

If you thought bananas are boring? Think again! They are actually one of the best all-round foods and packed full of goodness. I love them and it’s a bonus that they are so healthy!

Here Are My Top Five Reasons to Include Them in Your Diet

1. Bananas are packed full of nutrients including potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and fibre
2. They boost your energy levels—eating just 2 will give you enough energy to work out for 90 minutes
3. Bananas help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin which makes us feel happy
4. As they are high in potassium and low in salt, bananas are credited with being able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attacks and strokes
5. The high levels of potassium and magnesium make bananas great at regulating blood pressure

Still not convinced? Try this amazing banana cake—it truly is delicious and if we can claim some health benefits from eating cake—what’s not to like?

To make it you will need the following Ingredients:

1. Mashed ripe bananas – 200g
2. Bicarbonate of soda – 2 tablespoonful
3. Home baking flour – 500g
4. Baking powder – 30g
5. Salt – 5g
6. Corn oil/softened butter – 150ml
7. Sugar – 200g or pure honey – 200ml (for diabetic recipe)
8. Eggs – 5pcs
9. Vanilla essence – 2drops
10. Fresh warm milk (enough for consistency)

Procedure

1. Pre-heat oven to 275⁰C. Grease and flour baking tin.
2. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with bicarbonate of soda and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the mixture of mashed bananas with soda and sugar/honey until light and fluffy. Add the corn oil/softened butter while stirring continuously.
5. Beat in eggs one at a time, and then stir in vanilla essence.
6. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk.
7. Pour the content into prepared pan and bake in the pre-heated oven for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
8. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
9. Finally invert it on a dish, portion and serve it accordingly.

Convert the Cake to Your Favourite Dessert

Banana Cake can be served as a snack with tea/coffee or taken as a dessert after the main meal by topping it up with whipped cream and garnished with fresh strawberry fruits.