Banana Cake With Crunchy N’dizi and Banana Whipped Cream Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups mashed bananas
• 3/4 cup yogurt
• 6 bananas, peeled and sliced in rounds
• 1 tablespoon water
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup chopped unsalted peanuts
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 banana, mashed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fluffy.
4. Add 2 eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Stir in 1 1/4 cups of mashed bananas, then alternate adding the flour mixture and 3/4 cup yogurt into the batter until everything is blended together.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let the cake cool in its pan for 10 minutes, then remove it and set it on a wire rack to finish cooling.
8. For the Crunchy N’dizi, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Warm a skillet over medium-high heat, add 6 sliced bananas and 1 tablespoon water, cover, and steam for 1 minute. Drain the liquid.
9. Dip the banana rounds in 4 tablespoons of melted butter, coat with 3/4 cup chopped unsalted peanuts, and set on a baking tray.
10. Bake for 4 minutes, then flip the rounds and bake for an additional 4-6 minutes until the peanuts are roasted.
11. To make the Banana Whipped Cream, beat 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1 mashed banana.
12. To serve, cut the cooled cake into squares and top with the Banana Whipped Cream and Crunchy N’dizi.