Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Allen's birthday was this week and I asked him to pick a recipe from my Pinterest cake board so I could bake him a cake. He chose Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing from blog, Bake or Break (http://www.bakeorbreak.com/2012/04/pecan-layer-cake-with-banana-icing/). I baked the cake yesterday and it is one of the best tasting cakes ever! If you love Pecans and Bananas, you will love this cake. The cake is moist and the cinnamon with the crunch of the Pecans is delightful. The Banana Icing is smooth and has a slight tang from the Lemon Juice, which compliments the Banana. I had a slice with coffee this morning and it is heavenly!

Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Cake Ingredients

2 cups All-Purpose Flour

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

½ teaspoon Kosher Salt

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1 stick, ½ cup Unsalted Butter, softened (room temperature)

¾ cup Granulated Sugar

¾ cup Packed, Dark Brown Sugar

3 Extra Large Eggs

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1 cup Sour Cream

½ cup Chopped and toasted Pecans

Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Directions

Grease with Butter, 2 9-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Grease over the parchment paper and sprinkle flour over it.

Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350 degrees.

If you want to toast the Pecans, roughly chop them and place in a skillet on medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring with spatula. They are ready when you smell them. Keep an eye on them, since they are easy to burn. Put aside and let cool completely.

Whisk together Flour, Baking Powder, Salt and Cinnamon in a large bowl, put aside.

Allen's birthday slice - yum!

With a stand or hand held mixer with paddle attachment on medium speed, mix butter until it is creamy. Add Sugars little by little, and continue mixing until it is light and creamy.

Add Eggs one at a time, mixing well.

On low speed, add in some of the Flour mixture and mix until combined.

Scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all ingredients are incorporated. Mix again for 10 to 20 seconds.

With mixer on low speed, add Vanilla Extract, Sour Cream, and Pecans just until incorporated.

Spread cake batter evenly between the 2 pans using a spatula to smooth tops. Lightly tap the pans against the counter top 2 to 4 times to settle the batter.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven. Cake is ready when you insert a toothpick or cake tester in the center of the cake and it comes out clean.

Cool cake in pans for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the cake and then flip cakes onto wire racks. Peel off parchment paper, and cool completely before frosting, about 1 hour.

Another view of Allen's birthday slice

Banana Icing

Ingredients

1 large Banana

2 tablesppons, Unsalted Butter, softened (room temperature)

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed

2 cups Confectioners’ Sugar

4 tablespoons, chopped and toasted Pecans

So yummy - Pecan Layer Cake with Banana Icing

Directions

In a bowl, mash Banana.

Using a stand or hand held mixer, transfer mashed Banana to mixing bowl. Add Butter and mix on medium speed until smooth.

Add in Lemon Juice and Sugar little by little and continue mixing until it is smooth and spreadable.

Line edges of cake platter or cake circle (Wilton 10 inch) with strips of parchment paper to keep edges clean as you add the Banana Icing and Pecans to the cake. I use a cake turntable. Place one layer on cake platter or cake circle and cover with half of the Banana Icing. Place top cake layer and cover with the remaining Banana Icing. Garnish with Pecans.

Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys