Banana Cake with Cardamom Cream Cheese Frosting

I first had this cake at our cottage last summer. Our neighbour brought it for dessert when I had her to dinner. When she told me it was a Banana Cake I thought, “Oh, that will be nice.” However, I wasn’t prepared for the moist deliciousness that was in store for me. I was so obsessed with the cake I couldn’t stop eating it and the cream cheese frosting only took it further over the top. Normally, I keep a piece or two of a dessert and then send it home with the generous guest who made it. I don’t like having too many sweets in the house and, really, who doesn’t want to go home with something they slaved over in the kitchen. Although, this time,  I didn’t want to send any home. I asked if I could keep it all and, when she asked for “just a bit,” I gave them the tiniest of slivers. For the next three or four nights, I couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning to have this cake with my coffee. I’d slowly eat it savouring every bite since it was like eating the fluffiest birthday cake crossed with the most impossible moist banana bread. I’d complete the week of leftovers by licking the plate clean of its smudges of cream cheese heaven. I decided I had to have the recipe.

I never ask friends or family for recipes any more. In my old life, when I was the editor at a magazine, I never thought twice about asking someone for a recipes I enjoyed. And people never thought twice when I asked. Now, as a food blogger who creates recipes, I feel awkward asking. And people some times act awkward if I ask. I remember I once asked a good friend for her recipe for homemade greek yogurt and she said that she doesn’t give out her recipes because she is superstitious about sharing them. She thinks a recipe that has been shared will no longer work for her. I’d never heard the superstition before, but I completely understand the importance of family recipes. I also realize some may fear their humble little recipe may end up here for any one to critique. (Although, I’d never share a recipe without any ones blessing.) Besides, I like the challenge of trying to re-create a dish on my own. Yet when it came to this Banana Cake I just had to ask. I needed this EXACT cake with its impossible moistness and perfect balance of banana flavour. I was nervous to ask, but, at the end of the day, I have no shame when it comes to cake.  Thankfully, Julia happily gave me this family recipe that Dan and Scarlett call the greatest banana cake they’ve ever had in their life.

Julia’s version of this cake was two, 8 inch cakes stacked with deep layers of cream cheese frosting. However, I decided to make it a sheet pan so it was an easier assembly job. As a result, I had to adjust the baking time to be sure to not dry out the cake. I also added cardamom to the frosting to compliment the spice in the cake. The outcome is this easy cake that is great for a party or a Wednesday. It’s versatile and over-the-top delicious and, not that I’m a big believer in superstitions, but Julia has reported that the cake still comes out perfect every time in her kitchen.

Photo by Jasmine deBoer