Banana Cake, Monkey Tail

By moddie2bert

Ingredients

• Banana Cake:
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 6 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 (16 oz) container sour cream
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
• 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (13 oz) container chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
• Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. In large bowl, cream together the butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the sifted ingredients to the batter. Stir in nuts, if using, and chocolate chips. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 to 15 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting: Prepare the frosting by whipping the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until creamy. Increase the mixing speed, then slowly pour in the heavy cream and beat until smooth and thick and the frosting is the consistency of whipped cream. Store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
To assemble the cake, place 1 cake layer on a cake plate. Spread with ½ the container of chocolate-hazelnut spread and top with a thin layer of whipped cream cheese frosting, about ½ cup. Repeat with the second layer, using the remaining ½ of the chocolate-hazelnut spread and ½ cup whipped frosting. Cook's Note: You will use the chocolate spread only for the bottom 2 layers.Top with the final cake layer and frost or decorate with the remaining whipped frosting. Garnish, as desired.