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Banana Cake
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Cardamom Banana Cake with Coconut Frosting

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 1 9x13 cake

Ingredients

CAKE INGREDIENTS

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 tsp ground cardamom
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable/canola oil
  • 2 1/4 cups white sugar
  • 3 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups mashed bananas (3-5 large bananas)
  • 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

COCONUT FROSTING INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tbsp coconut milk
  • 1 tsp coconut extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of table salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup cream of coconut
  • 3 cups confectioner's sugar
  • ground nutmeg (to taste)

Instructions

PREP INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat your oven to 325F.
  • Spray a 9x13 cake pan with baking spray, then line the bottom with parchment paper.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

  • Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cardamom in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Use a whisk to beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, and the mixture has thickened and turned pale yellow.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir together with a spatula or wooden spoon using swift strokes until all ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick, almost like cookie dough.
  • Stir in the mashed bananas until thoroughly blended into the batter. Then, fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Pour cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 325F for 50-55 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Let cake cool 15-20 minutes in the pan, then turn onto wire rack to cool completely. Cake should be completely cool before adding frosting.

Coconut Frosting

  • Whisk the coconut milk, extracts, and salt together until the salt dissolves.
  • Use a handmixer or stand mixer to whip together the butter and cream of coconut in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Reduce the speed and slowly add the powdered sugar. Beat mixture until smooth, about 2-5 minutes.
  • Beat in the extract mixture, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 4 to 8 minutes. You want as much air in the frosting as possible.
  • Spread coconut frosting over cooled cardamom banana cake, then sprinkle with ground nutmeg as desired.

Notes

The coconut frosting recipe is lightly adapted from The Coincidence of Coconut Cake : https://www.tipsonlifeandlove.com/recipes-2/grandma-luellas-coconut-cake-recipe