Chocolate Banana Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 9-inch layer cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and 6 tablespoons of cocoa powder in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the butter with the white sugar until blended, then mix in the eggs, one at a time, mixing the egg in before adding the next one. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then mix in mashed bananas and buttermilk, alternating with the flour mixture in three additions. Add in just enough buttermilk to make a workable batter (bananas may vary in moisture content). Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before turning out onto racks to finish cooling.
• In a bowl, mash the cream cheese and 3 tablespoons of butter until thoroughly combined; mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and beat in milk, a little at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
• Place a cake layer onto a cake plate, and frost the layer with about 1/3 of the frosting; top the layer with a layer of sliced bananas. Place the second layer onto the cake, and frost top and sides with remaining 2/3 of the frosting. Top cake with decorative slices of banana, if desired.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat shortening and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolks. Beat in banana on low speed until blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; add to banana mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter., Coat two 6-in. round baking pans with cooking spray and dust with flour. Add batter. Bake at 375° for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat shortening and butter until smooth. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, salt and extract; mix well. Stir in banana. Beat in enough of the remaining confectioners' sugar to achieve desired spreading consistency. Tint with food coloring if desired. , Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C and spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with vegetable spray.
• Banana Cake: Combine margarine and sugar in large bowl or food processor; mix until smooth. Add egg, banana and vanilla; mix until well-combined. In small bowl, stir together flour and baking soda; add flour mixture to banana mixture alternately with yogurt and mix just until combined. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Chocolate Fudge Cake: Combine margarine, sugar and egg in large bowl; mix until well combined (mixture may look curdled). In small bowl, stir together cocoa, flour, baking soda and baking powder; add to the batter alternately with the yogurt. Mix just until combined. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Frosting: Put ricotta cheese, icing sugar and cocoa in food processor; process until smooth, or beat with electric mixer.
• Assembly: Put banana cake on serving plate; top with one-quarter of the frosting. Place banana slices over top. Put chocolate cake on top and use remaining frosting to frost sides and top.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix cake mix, water, eggs, and oil until smooth. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into each prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• While the cake layers are cooling, combine whipped topping, 1 cup milk, powdered sugar, 1/2 of the banana cream pudding mix, and 1/2 of the chocolate pudding mix in a bowl; mix until thoroughly combined. Mix remaining 1 1/2 cups milk and banana cream pudding mix in another bowl until smooth. Place both bowls in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes. Save remaining chocolate pudding mix for another use.
• Slice the tops of the cooled cake layers to make them level. Place one layer on a serving platter. Top with a single layer of banana slices arranged in a circular pattern, completely covering the cake. Spread a 1/4-inch layer of banana cream pudding on top, then repeat with another circular layer of banana slices.
• Place the second cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the whipped topping mixture.
• Decorate cake as desired with vanilla wafer cookies and remaining banana slices. I like to stand cookies around the cake bottom, top the cake with bananas, and sprinkle crushed cookies over top. Slice and enjoy immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.