Monday, February 7, 2011

Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Banana Cake

Hello everyone! I trust that one and all had a joyous and fun filled time during this CNY holiday. :) With so much good food around, I can totally understand that its hard to stop munching on them, lol! I know because I have already lost sight of my waistline!! Anyway, besides busy baking away before the holidays, I was doing the usual NY visiting and having friends over, so time really just went by unconsciously. Although school and work has already started for most today, I can still sense the holiday mood hanging around in the air. No worries, there's still 10 more days of CNY to go, and the next one to look out for would be "人日" on the 9th of the first month. There will be more gatherings and definitely more feasting going around!

Since I have so much to catch up on my blogging, I decided to just post up this Hazelnut Banana cake post since I know some of us will have ripe bananas hanging around in the house after all that praying a few days ago. :D

This recipe is actually an adaptation of the one DG from Tasted and Tested posted up a month back. In her post, the recipe source came from Small Cakes by Roger Pizey. I have actually made this recipe twice already and both turned out great!

I modified the recipe slightly and increased the amount. And I used Hazelnut instead of Almonds here. Here is the recipe for easy reference:

Recipe for Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Banana Cake:
3 to 4 medium size ripen bananas, peeled and mashed
225g unsalted butter (room temperature)
280g caster sugar
75g toasted, de-skined and ground hazelnut
3 large eggs
265g plain flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1&1/2 tsp baking powder
200g sour cream
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
100g chopped semisweet chocolate (I used 65% Lindt)

Method:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 10 cups bundt pan or two 8X4.5 loaf pans.and lined
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, salt and caster sugar together till light and fluffy.
  • Add in the ground hazelnut and mix well. Then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Add sour cream into the mixture and stir well.
  • Sift in the flour, baking powder and baking soda into the batter and stir well but not over mix.
  • Lastly add in the mashed banana, chocolate chunks and pure vanilla extract and stir till just combined.
  • Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes till tester comes our clean.
The outcome was a tender moist, fragrant and delicious banana cake. :P The hazelnut added in this cake makes it all so special, a whole new level from your usual banana bread. ;) And since I added chocolate chunks in as well, eating it feel like munching on a banana Rocher cake, hahaha!

I had actually made this cake twice and both turned out great, very well received my my family. :) So next time when I want to bake banana bread, I would definitely bake this cake....that is if I have ground hazelnut at hand. Alternatively, do it like DG, replace with ground almond, I think it'll be nice too. :)

Okie dokie, not gonna keep you folks here too long. Hope you all have another great week of CNY celebration! Have fun all! Cheers!

18 comments:

My Little Space said...

Bee, 祝你合家 : 新年快乐 心想事成 身体健康! 恭喜恭喜!
OH wow, still baking even during the new year day. Frankly, I have enough of those sweet stuffs for the past few days but I don't mind to have a slice of your banana cake. Looks really tempting. LOL! :o) Thanks again. Hope you're having a great time.
best wishes,
Kristy

Edith said...

Bee, I was just thinking about this cake.

This cake was so well received that I wanted to bake it again after that party as I didn't have any for my family.

With remaining banana I have on hand, I might bake this either tomorrow or after.

WendyinKK said...

I have yet got back to the mood for blogging, hahaha!
Happy CNY to you, still many more days to celebrate.

DG said...

Wouw! Your cake is perfectly baked. With ground hazelnut & additional of chocolate chunk, certainly it will be more fragrant & delicious. You really make me craving for this again, can I have a slice of your Banana Rocher cake ? :)

Lisa said...

That cake looks like it has a delicious crust on the outside and a wonderful moist inside. Sounds like a delicious flavor combo. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog until this evening called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to come by and link your cake up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweets-for-saturday-3.html

Your #1 Fan said...

Oh my...looks so delicious...the combination of flavor got me drooling. A slice please. Hehehe. Thanks for sharing.

petite nyonya said...

Gong xi fa cai, Bee!! Your cake looks soft and moist. And I love the full round shape. Anyway, may the rabbit year brings you & your love ones lots of happiness and great health. The 1st few days of CNY came & gone so fast so must really enjoy the remainder of CNY now.

ReeseKitchen said...

Nice cake! I have some hazelnut left in my fridge too but not ground ones..heehee! Might ground it and make this horr..:)
I'm not in the mood to do anything yet actually...haha! Still want to enjoy the holiday leh but school already started..."sian".
Wish you have a great time...:)

lena said...

hi bee, i feel like having this for supper now. Looks so moist and soft!

The Sweetylicious said...

NICE! (: i've got all the ingredients that it need (: it look so yummy and nicely baked!! (:

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks so much for the well wishes Kristy! You know, actually this cake was baked a week before new year, so not that I'm so hardworking, lol! Hope you are enjoying your new year celebration as well! Many blessings to you too!

@Edith: I guess if you haven't shared this cake with the others, I wouldn't have the chance to bake it! Thanks for sharing this!

Wendy, no rush lah, take your time to enjoy as much as you want! I was a bit slagging too but I know if I don't do it, it'll be a loooonnnggg time before I do it.:P

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks DG for sharing this with us! This is indeed a special banana cake! Yum!

Thanks Lisa for once again extending the invitation to me! Will do it right away! Cheers!

Jet, I'll give you two slices or more if you want! Hahaha!

Thanks Joslyn! So nice to hear from you! Thanks for the well wishes! May the rabbit year also bring loads of Good fortune and prosperity to you and your family! Take care and enjoy your new year celebration!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Reese my dear friend, I can safely tell you that you and Cheryl will love this cake, so go bake it! ;) hahaha, I totally understand the mood hinge! I also quite sian to do anything. But take your time lah, bake as you wish. :)

Lena, come over and we haw supper together lah!

Sweetylicious, hope you will try this! Looking forward to your post!

Bakericious said...

Bee Bee, another recipe go into my must bake list, this cake looks really tempting that I wish to have a bite of it!

Jo said...

Happy CNY Bee. This bundt cake looks delish and you wouldn't believe me if I told you I was thinking about banana cake the last week or so. Haha .. and then I chance upon yours.

Brittany @ Real Sustenance said...

Woweee!
I Love hazelnuts! And then throw in the bananas? Brilliant!!!

Wanted to invite you to share this recipe at a weekly event I host called Seasonal Sundays! This recipe fits the theme on so many levels!!

Happy Friday!!

-Brittany-

Edith said...

HBS, I tried your version and it is delicious.

Sanjeeta kk said...

Love the texture of the cake! Lovely color too.