Thanksgiving Recipe: Banana Bourbon Layer Cake
Banana Bourbon Layer Cake from Martha Stewart
Prepare the sliced-banana topping just before serving.
Ingredients: (8 to 10 serves)
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, separated
- 2 ripe bananas, enough to make 1 cup mashed
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 3 bananas, not too ripe
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
- 3/4 cup bourbon
Directions:
- Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg yolks one at a time. In another bowl, mash bananas, and combine with buttermilk and vanilla. Add alternately to butter mixture with flour mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
- Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into batter.
- Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
- When cake layers are cool, whip cream with confectioners’ sugar until stiff. Fold in sour cream. Place a cake layer on a plate, and spread with filling to within 1 inch of edge. Place other layer on top, and press down lightly. Chill for 1 hour.
- Slice bananas 1/2 inch thick. Melt butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. When it sizzles, add slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with sugar. When golden brown, turn slices; cook until brown on other side.
- Carefully pour in bourbon (using a measuring cup, never the bottle) and ignite with a match. Cook until flames die down, shaking the pan to toss bananas in syrup. Remove from heat.
- Arrange banana slices on top of cake. Pour remaining syrup over cake, letting it drip down sides. Serve immediately.