RETRO RECIPE..WHOLE WHEAT BANANA-COFFEE-CHOCOLATE CAKE

This is a great  70yr old recipe I have upgraded to 21st Century, also I mixed it in my 1960's era electric stand mixer,(a recent acquisition).

You may make it by hand or by electric mixer your choice..


This recipe make a large loaf or a layer cake, I doubled the recipe to make 3 x 8 inch banana cakes.
Also note that the oven temp is just 325F as chocolate cakes tend to scorch quickly at higher temps and these bake for 40-60 mins depending on size of pans.


You will need:

2 1/2 cups wholewheat flour (or 50:50 all purpose and whole wheat)
3tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup warm black coffee

1 cup sliced very ripe bananas*

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used grape seed)
1 large egg, beaten
2tsp vanilla extract*

In a bowl beat the oil & sugar until light and lemon colored, this is also to dissolve the sugar in the oil, so it will thicken up.
Beat in the egg and vanilla, set aside.

In a large bowl blend the flour, salt, unsweetened cocoa and baking powder well.

Add the egg mix and the warm (not hot) coffee (warm coffee helps to "bloom" the cocoa powder).
Beat to mix, adding more coffee to produce a loose cake  batter (the amount of liquid depends on the freshness of your flour and your climate/humidity in kitchen)..thick enough to hold the fruit when added to the cake pan. Not runny enough to flow everywhere.


Pour 3/4's of the batter into a greased pan.

Then top with sliced bananas and the final 1/4 of batter.

Bake on middle shelf in a preheated 325f Oven.

Bake until too is set and yields slightly to pressure then remove from oven and cool completely in pans.

These may be frosted with chocolate frosting or topped with thick whipped cream or sour cream...for added decadence try just spreading with room temp nut butter.


Variations:

* add any fresh fruit...mashed strawberries, raspberries or pitted, bottled cherries are great.

* is also great with coconut extract, or almond extract in place of vanilla.
You may also drizzle with coffee when they are baked or a hard liquor  (rum, brandy, whisky) of choice

Great eating and simple too.