Sunday, July 8, 2012

Chocolate Banana Cake

Last Sunday was my son's birthday and he requested for a Chocolate Banana Cake, the same cake I baked for him two years ago.


A simple decoration of some strawberries and slices of bananas, which I brushed over with some apricot glaze. I followed the decoration  from the book, that way I do not have to think about the decorating part, as I am hopeless when it comes to cake decorating! :o)



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE BOY!!



This is a chocolate sponge cake, with layers of cream and fresh bananas in between. I baked the cake in a 9"  round pan, sliced it in three layers and in between these layers, there's a filling of whipped chocolate cream flavoured with a little instant coffee powder. A layer of sliced bananas are placed on the cream, and top with more cream. Repeat with the next layer. The top layer and sides of cake are spread with more cream. Leave the cake in the fridge for the cream to firm up. The chocolate ganache is made by melting the chocolate with some cream and a tablespoon of butter, and are poured on top of the chilled cake, flowing down the sides. Decorate as desired and refrigerate until set.



The sponge cake is spongy and soft, and I like the cream which has a nice lovely fragrance of the coffee. Overall, this is a lovely cake for a birthday, and since the cake uses oil instead of butter, this cake stays soft even when refrigerated, and great eaten cold, direct from the fridge. 
Chocolate Banana Cake
(adapted from "Delicious Cakes" by Amy Heng)
For the chocolate chiffon cake :
Ingredients A :
30gm cocoa powder (dissolved with 120ml hot water, leave to cool)
4 egg yolks
100gm caster sugar
130gm self-raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda" 
60ml corn oil
1 tsp vanilla essence


Ingredients B :
4 egg whites
60gm caster sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar


For the cream filling :
500ml chocolate whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla essence
1-1/2 tbsp instant coffee (dissolved with 1 tbsp hot water)
1 tbsp gelatine (dissolved with 40ml water)
5-6 ripen bananas (sliced)

For the chocolate ganache :
140ml whipping cream
350m cooking chocolate
1 tbsp butter


To make the cake :
Preheat oven to 180C.  Line and greased a 9" round cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, hand whisk thoroughly ingredients A until smooth.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar (sieve cream of tartar over egg whites) until foamy. Add in sugar and continue whisking until stiff.
Fold a third of beaten egg whites to ingredients A and mix with a spatula until well mixed, fold in the rest of the egg whites, fold gently till evenly mixed.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes until cake is well risen and a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Unmould cake immediately to a wire rack, remove baking paper and place cake right side up to cool completely.
When cake has cooled, trim top mounted layer and discard. Slice cake horizontally to get 3 even layers.


To make the cream filling :
In a bowl of a stand mixer, with the whisk attachment, whisk the cream until stiff. Add in vanilla essence, coffee mixture and gelatine mixture. Whisk for a minute to combine. Use immediately.


To make the chocolate ganache :
Heat the cream in a double-boiler and add in chocolate and butter. Stir until chocolate has melted. Leave to cool slightly before pouring on top of the cake.


To assemble cake :
Spread some filling on 1st layer of cake. Arrange banana slices all over, top with more cream, spreading evenly. Place the second cake layer on top and repeat. For the top layer, spread cream all over and sides of cake. Leave cake in refrigerator for the cream to set and firm up.
Place cake on a wire rack over a large baking tray to catch the drips.
Pour chocolate ganache on cake, letting the ganache flow down the sides. Decorate cake as desired and refrigerate to set. 



22 comments:

  1. Morning Joyce,am I the 1st 'guest' here for the birthday cake?Happy belated to your little prince,he is 10yo?The cake looks fantastic&I bet the it was finished very quickly!

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  2. That is a very chocolatety flavour with healthy fruits cake. Make me think of Secret Recipe banana cake :) have a nice day!

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  3. Happy belated birthday to your dear son! The chocolate banana cake looks super chocolaty good! No wonder your son is asking it for the 2nd time. :)) yummy!

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  4. Happy bday to your son Joyce:D I tried baking a bday cake for my mum with icing and all but didn't turn out so I have to make do with a simple swissroll hahaha! Your son is lucky to have a mummy who is so talented.

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  5. Great use of slices as the top decoration!

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  6. Happy bday to your little boy Joyce!
    What a spectacular cake for the celebrations! Love the combination of bananas, coffee whipped cream and chocolate cake.
    Drroooling! gotta make this :D
    Have a great day!
    Anuja

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  7. Happy belated birthday to your son. Wow, your cake look exactly like that one selling in secret recipe shop, immediate bookmark for next Birthdat request.

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  8. Belated Happy Birthday to your kiddo ! I'm sure he enjoyed that delicious cake ! I'm sure I would , too ! lol

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  9. so did you pass my msg to him??

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  10. Happy birthday to your son... cake looks gorgeous.. love the banana layer in between

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  11. Happy Belated birthday to your son Joyce...

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  12. This looks absolutely delicious. Happy belated birthday to your son.

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  13. Happy belated birthday to your little boy Joyce! The cake looks gorgeous and delicious, reminds me of the one I love from Secret Recipes! I hope I can get my hands on some ripe bananas so I can try it out!

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  14. This is just awesome! No wonder your son requests for it again. Happy belated b'day to your boy!

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  15. Hi Joyce, that is one real fantastic birthday cake. Oh ya, tell your son a friend from Canada wishes him a very happy birthday, a bit late, sorry, but was tied up.
    I think I can polish off 4 pieces, no problemos, ha ha.
    Have a great week.
    Lee.

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  16. This looks insane! Just finished massive dinner but this has made me hungry again x

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  17. Belated Happy Birthday to your little boy. The cake must be very good hence he requested for same cake. It does look yummy to me from the photos.

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  18. Happy Belated Bday to your son:-D The cake looks great as it is, I will definitely bookmark this choc bana cake as it is one of my fav too....:))

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  19. Hi Joyce, I hope you're feeling better from your sore throat. Do take care and eat lots of Vitamin C. Happy belated birthday to your son! Cake looks so delicious! I love the chocolate banana combination.

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  20. wah, yum!! looks very very tempting & delicious!!!! i also been wanting to try this cake from this book and still haven't done so. so many cakes to try!!

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  21. This looks divine - makes me wish it was my birthday!! Chocolate and banana is such a great combination, and this is beautifully decorated.

    Thanks so much for sharing at Cookbook Sundays.

    Sue xo

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  22. eileen@hundred eighty degreesSaturday, July 14, 2012

    Happy belated birthday to your little boy! Your cake looks tempting.

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