You guys are in it for the pictures and recipe right? I mean I’m sure some people read what I write, but I don’t blame you for skimming my actual post and just checking out the goods- I’m guilty of it sometimes too. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m exhausted from a little nugget who got up at 4 AM today and I’m a bit brain dead- for that reason I’m going to keep this brief. :)
Getting better at layer cakes and cake decorating has been a major goal for this year. I already conquered a Rose Cake, and next on my list was a cake with even layers, that was smooth and symmetrical. I’m not going to win any cake decorating awards any time soon, but I was pretty darn proud of this baby!
Every year on my birthday I get asked if I’m making my own birthday cake and I usually don’t. Last year I was too preoccupied with our Europe trip and in the years before I typically had a party or event planned and a cake at home didn’t seem worth it.
This year though I’m laying low- I mean what else do you with a 5 week old baby? My Mom is coming later tonight which will be great and Andy took off work so we can wander the city as a family of three. I’m pretty darn excited for that!
I decided to make my birthday cake with one of my favorite flavor combos of all time, banana, peanut butter and chocolate. This banana cake is moist and delicious, full of mini chocolate chips and layered with creamy peanut butter frosting. I cut into it a day early for these pics, but definitely attempted to stuff the slice back in and frost around it- (what we do for food blogging!) I had enough batter for a few cupcakes as well so got to taste a little sample and man oh man is it good. Maybe just maybe I am getting kinda good at layer cakes!!
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 4 medium-sized ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips plus more for garnish
- 2 sticks of butter softened (1 cup)
- 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-3 tablespoons milk
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round pans*
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter, white sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in the bananas and vanilla.
- Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the batter- starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined. (Don't overmix.) Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and place on a damp tea towel to cool.
- Cream together the butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar a half cup at a time and then the vanilla. Gradually add the milk, beating after each splash until frosting is smooth and creamy.
- For a 4 layer cake, level each layer with a long serrated knife. Fill and frost the cake as desired, always placing the cut sides down for easier spreading!
Cake recipe adapted from: All Recipes
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
This and adorable Hugo will no doubt make for a wonderful birthday. Love this cake!
Lily @ Life, Love, and Cupcakes says
Gorgeous cake!! This sounds like an awesome combo..anything with peanut butter frosting gets a million thumbs up from me!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
Happy Birthday!!!! I’m loving this new cake that you made. Hope you have a wonderful day with that new baby.
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
That is more beautiful than any birthday cake I’ve ever had. Nice job! Enjoy your “laying low” birthday!!
danielle says
That is gorgeous – and I love the flavors!
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
Beautiful cake! Layer cakes aren’t my forté at all. Yours looks great! Happy birthday!
Clever Hen says
This layer cake looks positively delish! Great combinations of flavors together.
Tami says
4 bananas? Large small it’s easier if you list it in weight or sometime type of measureable amount
Audra says
Hey Tami- sorry for the confusion. 4 medium sized bananas are what I used.
Orla says
Happy Birthday!! Fantastic cake! :)
Jenny says
Looks amazing! How many pans did you use? It looks like there are 4 layers. Did you modify the baking time at all?
Audra says
Hi Jenny! Sorry- I totally dropped the ball on explaining that…new mom brain!! I used 2 6 inch pans and sliced each layer to make 4. I also had extra batter for 4 cupcakes. You could do the same with 8 inch pans!
Jenny says
No worries – thanks for responding! I hope you had a wonderful birthday! :)
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This cake looks perfect!! Love that frosting.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Banana, choc, and pb is def one of the best flavor trios!!! And these pictures are STUNNING! Amazing job! DELISH!
Lisa M. Perkins says
I think you did a marvellous job with this cake. The chocolate chips on the top along with the piping made it look so elegant. I actually had to take a second look to realize that the chocolate chips were actually chocolate chips and not little flowers. I can hardly wait to try this recipe. I imagine that it is so most with the bananas and buttermilk for ingredients. You seem like an amazing young woman, what a wonderful wife and mother you are balancing your time as need be. I wish you a wonderful birthday!!!!
All the best,
Lisa
Audra says
Your comment made my day. Thank you so much Lisa!
Allison @ Celebrating Sweets says
This cake looks fabulous! I can’t wait to try it.
Kimberly says
Happy , Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy your special day!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Happy birthday! I’ve never thought of making a banana layer cake but I don’t know why it looks wonderful. Especially with peanut butter frosting ;-)
Meriem @ Culinary Couture says
Gorgeous! You did great!
Elisa @ Insalata di Sillabe says
You ARE getting good at layer cakes, skip the “maybe”…I’d love to be half as good as you are! Plus…happy birthday and I hope you enjoyed your family day!
xo, Elisa
Joanne says
Your layer cake is GORGEOUS!! One of my life goals is to be really good at layer cake-ing…guess I MUST make this one next weekend for practice. :P
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This cake looks absolutely fantastic! I think I am in love! Beautiful
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice says
Happy birthday, mama! Great that your mom is coming and that you’ll have some time to wander around with your two men. Sounds like a great way to ring in a new year.
The cake looks fantastic – might substitute almond for peanut butter for us. Your layers look amazing!
[email protected] In Pyjamas says
I always love the thought of making a stunning layer cake but when I get around to actually icing it I wonder why I did it in the first place and why I’m torturing myself but we never reach where we want to get without practicing and practicing. Your cake looks delicious, I love all the flavours. Happy Birthday!
Cassandra Eastman says
That looks like one delicious birthday cake! Hope you had a great one!
Olivia says
Made this today and it was perfect!! So delicious!!!! Exactly what I was looking for :)
Melissa says
I made this cake this past weekend for my dad’s birthday. Divine. Thank you so, so much for this incredibly recipe!
Michelle says
If I make this cake on Friday, for a Saturday evening birthday party – will it be ok in the fridge (already cooked and frosted)? Please advise as to what you think! Don’t want to ruin this delicious recipe!
Audra says
Hi Michelle- Sorry if this response is coming too late- I think that would be fine though if you haven’t done it already! :)
Zara says
This recipe looks amazing!!! But please could you tell me the conversions of the cups in to ounces or grams?
Thanks!
Zara says
Also is there an alternative I could use instead of buttermilk? :)
Karen says
Question on the ingredients- is it really 1 tablespoons of baking soda?
Audra says
Yes! 1 tablespoon is correct!
Alexa says
Can I switch out the buttermilk for sour cream?
Amy Eubanks says
Every year,my son tries to stump me with a cake flavor for his birthday. This year, banana chocolate chip with peanut butter frosting. I stopped looking when I saw your pictures. To make it more interesting, we are in a temp house while our house is being built. I did bring the mixer with me. The cake pans left here are 9×1.5 so there are 3 layers. There is no frosting spatula so I used the back edge of the cheapo bread knife. And yes, it is on a Christmas plate, again, came with the house. I found the pearl ball things at Wal-Mart and thought they would look good, my son added the smile (he is 19). The cake looked great in the pans, but i should have lined them with parchment, the cake is pieced together under that oh so yummy frosting. And I did have about an inch of cream cheese left in the tub so I added that to the frosting.
i’m trying to add a picture, but that’s not working so, use your imagination.
looking forward to a piece of yummy cake tomorrow!
Amy says
Well, that was yummy!
The cake was good but, omg, that frosting….already have 4 requests for a dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.
thanks for the recipe!
Audra says
I’m so glad- thanks for letting me know!