I know January just ended and (hopefully) New Years resolutions are in still full force. So in an effort to not derail any progress, I’m starting off 2021 with a simple, straight forward recipe. No fuss or frills. Just jam packed with bananas, so it’s pretty healthy. Right?
I first made this snack cake almost a year ago now, when the pandemic hit (can you tell by my littles quarantine hair? Oy vey). During our days at home, with really nothing else to do. So we baked. Ate. And baked some more. I would be lying if I said I didn’t absolutely love those lazy, slow days with my littles. When all we were concerned about was making sure an egg shell didn’t make it in to the batter.
But I digress. This is a perfectly lovely cake to have on the counter for your littles to grab on their way off to school or afternoon treat. It’s very much like banana bread, just in square form. Moist, slightly sweet, and simple. And right now we could all use some simplicity in our lives, amirite?
Happy baking, friends!
Banana Snack Cake
Equipment
- Hand mixer
- Large bowl
- 8×8" pan
Ingredients
- 8 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
- 1 c. light brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 4 to 5 bananas, ripe and mashed
- 1-3/4 c. all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 to 2 tbsp. sugar, for topping
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray; set aside until ready to use.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended. Add the bananas and mix until combined.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat until just combined. Stir in pecans (if using).
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle sugar over top, covering completely (you may need a little more than called for, but up to you!).
- Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let pan cool slightly before cutting and serving with butter.
Notes
- I especially love using vanilla bean paste in this recipe, because you can see the pretty vanilla bean specks throughout the light colored cake.
- This cake is wonderful warmed up for a few seconds in the microwave with a nice smear of butter!
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