Banana Nut Cake

I love just about anything with bananas. Bananas are a powerhouse of vitamins and health benefits, including protecting us from heart disease, keeping bones strong, helping our eyesight, may help protect our kidneys, aid in digestion/elimination/prevention of ulcers, and the list just keeps going on. So I am loving the fact that I can eat this moist and yummy banana cake and feel good about it. I cut back on some of the sugar, which works fine especially if you use very ripe bananas. ....and the nuts, that is a whole 'nother topic of health benefits. The last time I made this recipe, I added a couple spices and ate it without any icing- it was perfect just the way it was.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil)
2 cups flour (I also used part wheat & part white flour)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 bananas, mashed (about 3/4 cup- I sometimes use up to 1 cup and just bake a little longer, if needed)
3 large eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c. nuts
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp ground cardamom (optional)
2 1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)

Cream oil and eggs with sugar in a large bowl. Add in mashed bananas, vanilla and buttermilk. Sift together the dry ingredients and then add into the wet ingredients. Mix together well and pour into a greased and floured 9x13 inch cake pan (or use the nifty Baker's Joy nonstick spray mixed with flour from the can).

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or just until toothpick or sharp knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Eat it as is after it has cooled, or sprinkle with powdered sugar or whipped cream before serving, or it is also great with a cream cheese frosting.

This recipe could be made into a layer cake with icing if you cut the 9x13 inch cake in half down the middle. Then put a thin layer of icing between the 2 halves, set the other half on top and then put icing all over the cake. It makes a tall square layered cake.

This cake stays very moist for a long time and the flavor improves with time.