Monday 14 October 2013

Banana Carrot Cake


Banana and carrot? To me, that sounds like an unlikely partnership but of course that was before I ate this cake. I was itching to bake something when I saw this recipe in the book Blend It Well, Bake It Right by Chef KS Lee. 


It so happened that I had some ripe bananas and two carrots in the fridge. The other ingredients were pretty basic, just sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and cinnamon powder. And what I like is that there is no frosting for this cake. 


I am always nervous when I try a new cake because the baking time is a headache for me. The recipe says 170C for 45 minutes but my oven can only handle cakes at 160C max. Another headache is sugar, to follow the recipe or to reduce. I am still a long way from being good at baking.


I did change the recipe just a little bit. The recipe called for margarine, but I am not keen on margarine. It will always be butter for me. I had an opened block of butter in the fridge and it weighed 200g, just 20g above the amount called for in the recipe. Not wanting to cut off 20g and stashing such a small piece of butter in the fridge, I used the whole lot. I also decided to add 1/2 a cup of raisins.


The recipe called for all the batter ingredients (except the carrots and bananas) to be whipped at high speed till smooth. I was scared of doing that so I stuck to the usual creaming of butter and sugar first before adding eggs and flour. I am such a coward when it comes to baking :)


Everything seemed to come along fine with the mixing of the batter. It took me quite a while to fold in the carrots, bananas and raisins. My oven was ready but I was still folding the batter. My auntie told me not to leave the oven on preheat for too long because the oven would become too hot. So I hurried up to pour the batter into the pan.


Then I quickly peeled a banana, sliced it and hastily arranged the banana slices on top of the cake. Because I was in a hurry, the arrangement was lopsided and not in a nice circle :(


I set the oven for 50 minutes but at the end of the baking time, the center of the cake was still wobbly but the top was already brown. I had no choice but to tent the cake and bake at 150C for another 10 minutes. Luckily, the cake turned out alright. I noted that the cake in the book has a shiny surface but no mention was made about glazing the cake. Perhaps it was done for photography purposes.


I read somewhere that jam is used as a glaze. So I heated up 2 tablespoons of peach jam and when the cake was cool enough, I happily glazed the top. I only tasted the cake the next day. I was very pleased because the cake was delicious. I felt that there wasn't enough carrots and bananas and I am thinking of adding more when I next bake this cake. I would also reduce the sugar as my partner found the cake a bit too sweet and so did I.


This cake is a keeper and I am very happy that I baked it. I exercised great restrain because I had only one slice. I wanted another slice very badly but I quickly packed up the rest to give away. My mum is right about baking - it is not a good hobby if you are trying to lose or maintain your weight!









Banana Carrot Cake
Recipe source : Blend It Well, Bake It Right (Page 35)
(My notes and adaptations in red)

Ingredients A
- 180g margarine (I used 200g butter)
- 150g sugar (to reduce to 140g in future)
- 4 eggs
- 260g plain flour (I used self-raising)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (I omitted)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

Ingredients B
- 100g carrots (shredded)
- 100g mashed bananas
- 1 banana (sliced thinly for decoration)
- 1/2 cup raisins (my addition)

Method :
1. Combine all ingredients A in a mixing bowl and whip at high speed until smooth (I creamed the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and then added the eggs one by one. Then I folded the flour and cinnamon powder in).
2. Add ingredients B (except for banana slices) and mix well.
3. Pour batter into a lined baking mould. Arrange banana slices on top. (I used an 8" round pan).
4. Place in preheated oven and bake at 170C for 45 minutes until cooked. (I baked at 160C at 50 minutes and had to increase baking time for another 10 minutes at 150C).
5. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes and unmould.




This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #5 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

55 comments:

  1. Been hearing often of carrot cake, carrot cake....but rarely of banana carrot cake. This cake I can imagine how soft and moist in texture. I know I sure love this lots and lots.

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    1. Mel, I loved it a lot and I know you will too!

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  2. I'm not a big fan of carrot cake but I like banana cake, I wonder how did this cake taste like? Which of this gave a stronger taste, the banana or the carrot?

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    1. Jessie, I couldn't taste the carrots at all. More on banana and cinnamon which I think you like :)

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  3. I think these combination butter cake will suit my mum's liking. Will bake this for her next time. Thanks Phong Hong :)

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    1. Esther, do bake for your mum! I am very sure she will like this cake a lot :)

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  4. I must loose 3 kilos... so not for me, I can only admire cakes now:) well, at least for some days:)

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    1. Ola, good luck on your weight loss! I need to lose weight too :)

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  5. This sounds so perfect! I love anything with carrot and banana. Must be very delicious!

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  6. So, the carrots and bananas formed a good partnership resulting in a yummy cake for you to enjoy!

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    1. Cheah, they went so well together to make this yummy cake!

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  7. Hi Phong Hong,
    Your cake looks great, with moist texture. I have never tried the combination of carrot and banana before. And adding the raisins, I would too! :)
    Thank you for linking with CYB!

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    1. Thanks, Joyce! Do try this cake, I am sure your family will love it!

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  8. Hi PH, i have never come across this 'partnership' but it sure looks delicious :)

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    1. They sound strange together but turned out so yummy!

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  10. PH! I still cannot get over your pandan cheese cake just yet, and now, this one?!!! PH!!! aiyoooooo.....how come you so good one? hahha, yes indeed you are. Great Baker and Chill personality...two combination yang very "NGAM" ..hihi....I wish m your neighbor, I am sure everytime you give away your cake, I will get a slice of it...heaven!!!! :) ... My tangan a bit pain today. I help out my husband burned about 150 sticks of chicken satay yesterday at my friends house. Everyone love the satay and i make my own peanut sauce too. Do you like satay PH?

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    1. Yuss! Wow, you can make satay? I love satay especially with a good satay sauce and lots of cucumber and onions. I must have onions! Eh, so are you sharing your recipe? No? You are very naughty hee..hee...

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    2. PH!! haha, i thought you baking person tak suka sangat grill stuff. Yeah, I make satay, I really want to persue it actually. I do catering here in LA. But at the moment only friends and word of mouth aje. I wish I can open small restaurant and sell satay. But at the moment I do catering only. You can check my website if you want. (www.satayplace.com) Resipi, alah, biasa biasa jer, :) hihi....but my peanut sauce... memang i do from scratch...and i know you gonna love it. Do u like your peanut sauce, thick, liquidish or very fine kind of style, I'll do it for you :)

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    3. Oh...taukeh satay kat LA rupa-rupanya! Yuss, I have checked your website, best lah orang kat LA boleh rasa satay yang sedap. I like my peanut sauce to be thick and chunky, barulah dapat rasa the sauce betul-betul. Kalau PH ada peluang ke LA (strike lottery ke, mana tau), I datang cari Yuss, OK? Hee..hee..All the best with your catering. One day you will achieve your dream!

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    4. Wah PH! I like the same way you like your peanut sauce. Haha, belum lagi lah jadi taukeh, just very small aje. Hopefully I can get more customer in the future. Yeah, you are more than welcome PH. You cari Yuss, i make you satay, then you bake me Pandan Cheese Cake okay? :) If you have anyone di LA yang nak makan satay, let me know, and order from me...hihi...I make sure they will end their craving and know where to eat and cari satay......God Bless :)!!! Have a great day PH....Lets hope for a better future!!! :)

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    5. Anytime, Yuss! I will put in a word for you about your satay!

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  11. My friend baked me such wonderfully-yummy cakes. Post on it in my blog will be out in a few days...

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    1. Oh, I love yummy cakes! Look forwards to the post :)

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  12. Your cake looks so very yum-yum Phong Hong .Only wish I can put my hand into the computer and grab your yummy looking cake makes me lau nyouir titek titek Can't wait to try out your yummy cake

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    1. Thanks, EE! You should bake this cake, so easy!

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  13. mmm, i hv never tried this combination but am sure the carrot will add lots of moist to the cake! bookmarked this ;)

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    1. Victoria, I guarantee you will love this cake!

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  14. Hi PH, your cake really looks very moist. I guess the bananas already add some sweetness to the cake.

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    1. Yen, I felt that the bananas and carrots could be increased. I am baking this cake again because I love it so much!

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  15. it really sounds unique combo :) thanks for sharing..

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  16. Yep, not a good hobby but really can't resist baking even though I can feel clothes are getting tighter :P Another good recipe to pin for trying when feeling lighter lol!

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    1. Jeannie, must quickly give away the bakes or else the baker sendiri makan and sendiri gemuk!

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    2. I was just telling my colleague to look for an orphanage to bring my bakes to! That way hopefully I can make some children happy and me still able to bake and not grow sideways haha!

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    3. Jeannie, that is actually a very good idea! You will be doing a good deed, the kids would be thrilled!

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  17. Looks moist and delicious. Banana and carrot sound like a great combo.

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    1. Yeah, it turned out to be a great combo!

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  18. Wow Phong Hong! First time baking this cake with so many little changes to the original recipe and yet it turned out so beautifully! You should own this recipe.... :D I'm not kidding, my friend!

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    1. Thanks, Alvin! Oh, I couldn't take credit for the recipe but I intend to add more ingredients next time :)

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  19. WOW.. looks so yummy & very moist.. definitely will try as i love banana & carrot

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    1. Ogyep, you can add this to your cake collection!

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  20. Hi Phong Hong,

    The combination of carrot and banana is not odd at all. Both are healthy ingredients and they made your cake even healthier :D

    Zoe

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    1. Zoe, agreed that they are healthy ingredients! But they'll still make me fat boo..hoo..hoo...

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  21. Banana and carrot sound great together! I love all carrot cakes and this one is no exception.

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    1. Mich, I do remember the banana and carrot cake you baked with pumpkin seeds. That I will try next!

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  22. Outstanding, the above cake is different and moist and the making procedure of this banana cake is very regular. it looks so delicious and tasty

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  23. Hi Phong Hong, very delightful cake. Love the moist texture. Great to go with kopi -o, so can have or not? I want 2 slices. :))

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    1. Amelia, sure you can have 2 slices with steaming hot kopi-o!

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  24. eh, i actually do have the impression that banana carrot sounds good..tho i never had one ...banana cake is always nice..i see your cake also has a shiny surface and the texture looks fantastic!

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    1. Lena, turns out that it is a good combination. I liked it so much and am thinking of baking it again.

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