Ultimate Chocolate Banana Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

Oh Man! There’s so much chocolate in this recipe and its soo moist and googey and yummy. I kid you not! It’s now my TOP chocolate cake. Ok, I know it says banana in the title, but don’t let that scare you away. All the banana does is make it unbelievably moist (just like a fantastic patisserie bought cake) and add a faint banana sweetness. I realized that banana in a chocolate cake is not such an odd combo. I ordered a slice of royal banana chocolate cake at the California Pizza Kitchen and was totally transported to heaven. So I looked high and low for a similar recipe and finally found a Joy of Baking one that looked and sounded delicious. The recipe is super rich and makes a huge cake for 12 people. This means not only do I have a fail safe recipe, but one that tastes un-freaking-believable, and feeds a lot of people at the same time…I am really in cake bliss! I balanced the sweetness of the cake with a dark chocolate ganache frosting. Again super easy to make, so don’t sweat it and don’t leave the frosting bit out. I’m telling you it totally elevates the cake. So I’m gonna beg you to make this cake… no really… I am... it’s that good!

Everyday Chocolate Cake

What is it about chocolate cake that makes men go weak in the knees? (Women as well… excuse the gender bias!). I am not the biggest chocolate fan… though my friends would beg to disagree. But I can honestly tell you, you can get away with murder if you offer someone a slice of chocolate cake. (OK, maybe not murder but a parking ticket for sure!). I won’t wax eloquent about the awesomeness of chocolate… some things are better experienced. This recipe is for the ‘easiest chocolate cake’ that you can whip up, to receive praise from one and all. Trust me, I have husband, siblings, friends and collegues who have fallen for its charm. My weapon of choice.

Everyday Chocolate Cake

Prep time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 30 mins

Serves: 6-8

What you need:

1 cup Flour

3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

½ cup Butter

¾ cup Sugar

2 Eggs

1/3 cup Milk

1 tsp Baking powder

¼ tsp Soda Bicarbonate

1 tsp Vanilla essence

a pinch of Salt

Chocolate sauce to serve

What to do:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Ensure all your ingredients are at room temperature. Grease a 9” tin with butter. Finely sieve flour, baking powder, soda and cocoa. Keep aside. Mix vanilla essence in the milk. Keep aside. Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy in a big bowl. (Electric mixer on low then moving to high or use a whisk). Add room temperature eggs one at a time and beat for 30 seconds after each egg. Beat till everything comes together. 

Now slowly beat the sifted dry ingredients into the egg and butter mixture in three batches, adding the milk between each flour batch. Start and end with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as required, and ensure that the batter is evenly mixed. Do not over beat.

Pour the batter into the greased tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 30 mins or till a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Please note that I use a convection oven, increase the time on a regular oven to 35 mins). Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack. Drizzle chocolate sauce and enjoy!