Banana Split Cake

I was in my kitchen over the weekend and saw some bananas that were quickly ripening.  I just wasn't in the mood to waste them, so I got out one of my trusty Southern Living cookbooks and started looking to see what I might be able to do with them.  I found the "Banana Split Cake".

This cake was so different but really good!  It not only has banana, but also includes pineapple, cherries, pecans and coconut.  However, after having made it, there are a couple of things that I would do differently.  I would probably use chocolate melts for the chocolate drizzle and I would add a little vanilla to the cream cheese frosting. 

I also believe this recipe would make wonderful cupcakes.  Bake as you would any cupcake but use decorator cream cheese frosting drizzled with melted chocolate candy melts and then add chopped pecans or top with a stemmed cherry... or both! 

Ingredients

·                                 3 cups all-purpose flour

·                                 2 cups sugar

·                                 1 teaspoon baking soda

·                                 1/4 teaspoon salt

·                                 3 large eggs

·                                 1 cup vegetable oil

·                                 1/2 cup buttermilk

·                                 2 cups mashed ripe banana (5 medium)

·                                 1 cup chopped pecans

·                                 1 cup flaked coconut

·                                 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·                                 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained

·                                 1 (16-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained

·                                 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

·                                 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

·                                 Garnishes: toasted flaked coconut, long-stemmed maraschino cherries, grated milk chocolate, chopped     pecans, hot fudge sauce

  

Preparation

·                                 Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together eggs, oil, and buttermilk. Add oil mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in banana and next 3 ingredients.

·                                 Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Gently press pineapple and maraschino cherries between layers of paper towels. Chop cherries. Stir pineapple and cherries into banana mixture. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

·                                 Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool on wire rack.

·                                 Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in reserved pineapple juice. Pour over cake; garnish, if desired.

F

 For Cupcakes:  Bake at 350 for 17 to 20 minutes.

Enjoy!