The banana cake found in Food that Really Schmecks – a recipe book given to my parents as a wedding gift in 1972 – is hands down our favourite cake. My Grandma would make it with penuche icing and that is exactly how we like it.

Enjoy!

The Cake
½ cup soft shortening
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup buttermilk (any milk will do! I use whatever is in the fridge)
2-3 ripe bananas

I use my mixer for this cake but you don’t have to. Cream together until fluffy, the shortening and sugar; beat in the eggs. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and stir them in alternately with the milk and bananas. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Penuche Icing
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter (or whatever you have)
¼ cup milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup icing sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla

Bring the first four ingredients to a boil and continue boiling for 3 minutes.  Turn down heat, and whisk in icing sugar and vanilla. Pour over cooled cake.

A bit more…here is my favourite banana bread recipe. I do not add the walnuts or chocolate chips to mine. And here are some tips for cake baking and what to do when you mess up

What are your family’s favourite cakes?