Ingredients
- •3 cups granulated sugar
- •2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- •1-1/8 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- •2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- •2-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- •1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- •1-1/2 cups milk
- •3/4 cup vegetable oil
- •3 eggs, slightly beaten
- •1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- •1-1/2 cups very hot water
- •2 cups whipping cream
- •3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- •1 to 2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals, dissolved in 1 to 2
- teaspoons hot water
- •4 bananas, sliced in 1/4-inch-thick slices
- •Chocolate curls
Preparation
Step 1
Lightly grease bottoms of three 9x1-1/2-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with parchment. Grease and lightly flour bottom and sides of pans. Preheat oven to 350° F.
In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment or in very large bowl with an electric hand mixer combine granulated sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on low speed 5 minutes. Gradually add hot water, mixing at low speed just until combined. (The batter will be very thin.)
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pan. Peel off
parchment paper. Cool thoroughly on wire rack
Meanwhile, in medium bowl combine whipping cream, brown sugar, and coffee. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks
form (tips stand straight).
To assemble, place cake layer on serving platter. Top with 1/3 of coffee whipped cream; cover with banana slices. Repeat with another cake layer, coffee whipped cream, and banana slices. Place final cake layer, and top with remaining coffee whipped cream. Garnish with chocolate curls and additional banana slices. If desired, chill cake up to 8 hours before serving. Makes 12 servings.
Tip: To make chocolate curls, place piece of foil or wax paper on sheet pan. Place bar of chocolate in microwave 15 to 25 seconds. Using a vegetable peeler, draw blade across edge of chocolate bar, letting curls fall onto foil. Make enough curls to cover cake. Place sheet pan in refrigerator to chill curls and make them easier to handle. Place them on cake top. Or, just let curls fall onto top of cake as you make them