Friday, November 2, 2012

Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut Cake







I’m pretty excited that this is the first time I’m hosting  The Home Bakers (THB)event  organized by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours . We’re actually baking from Lou Seibert Pappas’s cookbook – Coffee Cakes . Well, I’ve chosen this recipe just coz my hubby loves coconut & the only coconut recipe that I can find in the cookbook was this Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut cake .  And another ingredient that intrigues me in this recipe was olive oil .  I’m sure by now , most of you know how much I love to try innovative recipes ! LOL  This is a lovely moist , soft  & flavourful banana cake .  I’ve tried both olive oil & canola oil for this recipe & I must say that olive oil does makes the difference .  The first time that I baked this cake a couple of weeks ago, I’ve used a 20cm cake pan .  And this time round I wanted to make them into muffins & topped with few slices of bananas, sprinkle cinnamon sugar .  I’ve reduced the sugar to ½ cup & replaced sour cream with crème fraiche .  As for the muffins I’ve baked them at 170°C & only for 25 minutes .  Well, to my disappointment that it doesn’t look as presentable as it should be .  Well, no worries, you will find more lovely bakes of this delicious cake from all the wonderful THB members HERE . So do hop over & enjoy 






Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut Cake

Ingredients for a 20cm (9-inch cake)  or 12 muffins

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup dark brown sugar ( I’ve added  ½ cup)
1 ¼  cups mashed bananas ( about 2- 1/2 large bananas)
2 large eggs
½  cup sour cream ( I’ve used crème fraiche)
2 tablespoons dark rum or amaretto liqueur
1/3 cup extra –virgin olive oil ( best with mild buttery one) or canola oil
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup sweetened flaked coconuts
½ cup chopped macadamia nuts or pecan halves
1 tablespoon granulated sugar mixed with 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) . Greased & flour a 20cm (9-inch) springform cake pan or muffin tins.

2)      In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda & brown sugar. Stir well to blend. 


3)      In a blender or food processor, combine bananas, eggs, oil, rum or amaretto, sour cream with vanilla & blend till smooth. 


4)      Stir in coconut till well combined. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly the chopped nuts. & cinnamon sugar over the batter. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes till golden brown & a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let to cool. 







Jane Austen moment in Persuasion
Chapter 12

There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. In all their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the sensation was delightful to her.  The hardness of the pavement for her feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, however.  She was safely down, and instantly, to show her enjoyment, ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she smiled and said, "I am determined
I will:" he put out his hands; she was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the Lower Cobb, and was taken up lifeless! There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death.  The horror of the moment to all who stood around!

Captain Wentworth, who had caught her up, knelt with her in his arms, looking on her with a face as pallid as her own, in an agony of silence. "She is dead! she is dead!" screamed Mary, catching hold of her husband, and contributing with his own horror to make him immoveable; and in another moment, Henrietta, sinking under the conviction, lost her senses too, and would have fallen on the steps, but for Captain Benwick and Anne, who caught and supported her between them.
"Is there no one to help me?" were the first words which burst from Captain Wentworth, in a tone of despair, and as if all his own strength were gone.
"Go to him, go to him," cried Anne, "for heaven's sake go to him. I can support her myself.  Leave me, and go to him. Rub her hands, rub her temples; here are salts; take them, take them."




27 comments:

  1. Hi Kit, Yours look extra special with the banana slices on the top! Now why didn't I think of that? I planned to put in extra chopped pieces of banana in the batter, but I have forgotten about that when it was time to make the cake! Lau liao-oh!! But never mind, this cake was super delicious. My family loves it! Thanks for choosing such a wonderful bake, and I happen to like coconuts in bakes too!! Have a great weekend!

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  2. Hi Kit, how are you, being MIA for the past 2 weeks?

    Love your cake, look so moist and fluffy. The combination look great too. Can pass me 2 pieces with cup of hot coffee. LOL
    As usual love your elegant presentation and nice click.

    Have a nice weekend, take care. With lots of love and hugs to you.

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  3. Hi Kit,
    This is a lovely n tasty banana coconut muffin!
    Would love to try it..:)
    mui..^^

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  4. Love the look of the inside of these lovely little cakes!

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  5. Oooh, I love your banana toppings on top... It has gotten such a nice browning color... I could nvr get that from my oven thou:-p
    Thanks for chosing this great bake, I loved it very much... despite the lil hiccup I had made, the cupcakes, luckily still turned out edible... :))

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  6. Kit , I just love your About me photo ! :D ..... Anyway , after your long hiatus :D , this latest offering looks wonderful and delicious ! Love everything in that cake and I'm really sure that it taste as good as it looks !

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  7. Hi Kit,feel like haven't seen you updated your post for a long time,so must come to support you!The cake looks delicious

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  8. This looks delicious, love the pieces of banana on top... will be posting mine soon...

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  9. Loves yummy, I love the banana toppings on your cake!

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  10. I always love cakes with bananas, Kit
    Will bake this tomorrow :)

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  11. The bananas on top look so caramelized and yummy! The cake looks very moist as well. Delicious (as always!).

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  12. Looks really good, Kit. Wonderful combination of texture & flavors.

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  13. These look lovely...and the fluted sides look great! Banana, Macadamia and Coconut sounds like a fab combination too and the banana on top is the perfect finishing touch! :-)

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  14. hi kit! how have you been? was thinking if you remember to host this round of THB cos you were missing for the 2 weeks. haha! your cake is presentable la, i also like how you put the slices of bananas on top. Thanks for choosing this lovely cake, i enjoyed eating it!

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  15. I think you have presented this cake very beautifully too! Love the addition of banana slices on the top!

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  16. These sound so delish Kit, what a great pairing of favors and of course we all know I love anything with coconut!

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  17. Another amazing cake! Love your topping!

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  18. Love the banana topppings on top and totally adore the reason behind this month's pick. I hope your husband realizes how lucky he is :D.
    Cake is really moist and tender with tons of flavours. Great pick!!
    M so sorry for visiting late. My laptop crashed and m really lagging behind in my blogging :(.

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  19. Hi Kit,

    Just came home from holidays and was caught in between the "to-bake" or "not-to-bake" situation with this recipe. This recipe seems very easy to bake but my family didn't like to have coconut in our bakes. Sorry that I've decide not to bake this one as I'm too "lazy" to alter the recipe. We are missing our Singapore families and so I made a curry and roti instead :p

    Zoe

    Zoe

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  20. Eileen, Hundred Eighty DegreesNovember 7, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    Hi kit, I've bake this late last night. I've omitted coconut and added chocolate chips . Love your version with the banana slices. Nice cake.: )

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  21. Thanks for great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you


    macadamia nut oil

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  22. yum!! I just want to peel those bananas from the top of the muffin and eat them first :) looks like a delicious muffin to have for breakfast.

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  23. these look amazing ...i need to try them :)

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  24. Thank you dear friends for your kind words & support that touches my heart. So sorry for my long MIA for the past couple of weeks. I do appreciate all of you for dropping by & left such lovely words that makes my day. =)

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  25. Hi Kit, I like the way you put your loving touches to this bake with banana slices. More bananas are good!! :) The idea of using olive oil sounds good, I will try your suggestion when I re-bake this again :)

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  26. Great choice Kit! I really liked this cake! Just had a look around your blog and OMG you've been busy with all these amazing creations!! Well done :) :)

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