8 people
DESSERT
Ina Garten How Easy Is That? (p. 222)
Ripe bananas - 3
Orange - 1
Granulated sugar - 3⁄4 cup
Light brown sugar - 1⁄2 cup
Vegetable oil - 1⁄2 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
All-purpose flour - 2 cups
Baking soda - 1 tsp
Cream cheese frosting (bought or homemade) - 12 oz
Walnuts - 1⁄2 cup
Eggs - 2
Sour cream - 1⁄2 cup
Bananas - mash
Orange - zest entire orange
Eggs - bring to room temperature
Walnuts - rough chop
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or by hand), mix the bananas, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on low speed until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla and orange zest. Mix until smooth.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and 1⁄2 tsp kosher salt. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack, and cool completely.
Spread cream cheese frosting thickly on the top of the cake and decorate with walnut halves.