Birthday celebrations … it’s such a joy to honor another person and celebrate another year of life with them.
Which brings me to my post today about my Dad and Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
My Dad turned 75 last month and as is our family tradition, every year my sisters and I join together to cook a family favorite German dish called Fleischkuechle.
We were happy to gather, to celebrate another year of our Dad’s life. Isn’t every year a gift from God?
I also knew that Dad loved banana cake, and guess what was sitting on my kitchen counter?
Yup – 5 ripe bananas just screaming to be mashed and baked into a delicious cake.
Pulling out my Mom’s church cookbook that she gave me for my 30th birthday, I thumbed to the “cake” section where I already had this recipe earmarked: Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. I combined the recipes from 2 different pages because I had made notes in the book that these recipes were delicious together.
We layered the 3 cakes together differently this time, with lemon curd in between and the frosting on top. But many times I’ve also frosted the entire cake.
Either way, it’s pure yumminess!
And then my sisters and I served up the dessert …
What’s your “go-to” birthday cake to make for a special person? Do you ask them first what they like, or like me, use up what you already have in the kitchen?
Recipe: Banana Walnut Cake {ReluctantEntertainer.com}
Summary: Delicious served with Cream Cheese Frosting with walnuts on top.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 1/2 cup flour
- 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 4-5 bananas, soft and mashed
- 1/2 cup nuts. chopped
Instructions
- Cream together butter, eggs, and sugar. Add vanilla and buttermilk.
- Mix dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture.
- Add bananas and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well.
- Pour into 2 (or 3 small) well-greased cake pans.
- Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
- Cool for 15 minutes and remove from pans. Frost the cake and serve!
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 35 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 8
Recipe: Cream Cheese Frosting {ReluctantEntertainer.com}
Summary: Spread onto banana cake and serve. Spread the leftovers between graham crackers and freeze.
Ingredients
- 3 oz. cream cheese
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. grated lemon rind
- 1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Instructions
- Add ingredients together except for walnuts. Sprinkle walnuts on top of cake before serving.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. It says that dinner parties are attainable, they are affordable, and that they can be beautiful even when on a budget. 
