Homemade Milk Banana Cake recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup milk (or buttermilk for extra softness)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups or 350g)

Optional Ingredients:

• ½ cup brown sugar (100g) for a richer flavor

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (for added texture and taste)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bananas:

   • Peel and mash the ripe bananas in a bowl until smooth. Set them aside for later use. You should have about 1 ½ cups or 350g of mashed bananas.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:

   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. Cream the Sugar and Fat:

   • In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar and vegetable oil (or melted butter). You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer for ease.

   • Once the sugar and oil are well combined, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

4. Add Milk & Vanilla:

   • Stir in the milk and vanilla extract to the wet mixture. Continue mixing until everything is well incorporated.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:

   • Add the mashed bananas to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.

   • Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, mixing gently. Be careful not to overmix; stop as soon as the flour is incorporated.

6. Optional Add-ins:

   • If you’re using brown sugar, fold it into the batter at this stage for a richer flavor.

   • You can also fold in the chopped walnuts or chocolate chips for some extra texture and taste.

7. Prepare for Baking:

   • Pour the batter into a greased and lined 8-inch (20cm) square or round cake pan. Make sure the pan is lined with parchment paper or greased with butter/oil so the cake can be easily removed after baking.

8. Bake the Cake:

   • Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).

   • Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The baking time might vary slightly depending on your oven, so check for doneness around the 40-minute mark.

9. Cool and Slice:

   • Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

   • Then, transfer the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Serving Suggestions:

• You can serve the cake plain or top it with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

• For an extra special treat, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some fresh fruit.