Chocolate Banana Cake

 Another gem from Joy of baking....for all those who love chocolate.. :) It is so easy to make, just mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another..and then..just beat them up together. You don't even need an electric beater, a hand whisk would do. What you finally get is a dark chocolate cake with a faint banana taste.....and it is yummy.... :)

Although the cake is very soft, I have used it layered with cream cheese frosting and ganache for birthdays and was received well, I think :) It can also be frosted with whipped cream...endless ways you can turn it into your favorite dessert...:)

I have always noticed that this cake tastes better on the next day (I never show it to my son soon after baking...just tell him his chocolate cake will be ready only tomorrow)

Ingredients

• 2 cups (400 gm) granulated white sugar
• 1 3/4 cups (245 gm) all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup (75 gm) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda     (refer note on leavening agents)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (corn or sunflower or any flavourless oil)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the rack in the center. Butter and line the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan with wax paper.

In a large bowl mix together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs, banana, milk, oil, vanilla and water.

Add the wet mix into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. The batter will be thin.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes our clean.

Take the cake out of the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

As I told earlier.. serve it the next day...:)