So last week I had a post planned for every day of the week. Unfortunately, my trip to Vegas was just as exhausting, time consuming and awesome as ever, and so I got around to writing and posting all of zero of said posts. But this week I'm back in action and ready to rock! I'll have some catch up posts coming up, but today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day!
I was assigned Our Eating Habits this month, and there were so many recipes that I wanted to try. I wanted something simple and utilized ingredients I had on hand, since there has been little to no food shopping in this house as of late. I did have 2 very, very ripened bananas that needed to be used and luckily Jamie has lots of banana recipes. I chose this chocolate banana bread, which was a perfectly simple recipe that was also great for Penelope to help with. She peeled the bananas, measured out baking soda and salt, poured in flour and other dry ingredients, and of course did her favorite part, the mixing.
Though this is a bread recipe, I made it into 2 small round cakes. I love cake and loved the idea of this one recipe stretching farther than just 1 loaf. I used an 8 inch cake pan and a 4.5 inch cake pan. We enjoyed the small cake this weekend and I froze the larger size for our annual campout next weekend. I think it would be fantastic with a little cream cheese frosting, and a perfect dessert to share. Thanks Jamie for this fun twist on classic banana bread!
Chocolate Banana Bread
Adapted from Our Eating Habits
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/3 C vegetable oil
1 1/4 C mashed bananas
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease your pan(s).
In a large mixing bowl, mix together with a fork or wooden spoon the wet ingredients: sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
Pour in the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes (for 2 smaller cake pans). For a standard loaf pan, bake for 60-65 minutes.
Top with frosting or powdered sugar, if desired!
I sprinkled on a bit of confectioners sugar ran through a sieve.
Enjoy!