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Monday, February 20, 2012

Chocolate-banana Lunchbox Cake

I had a lot of free time on Saturday. Had a few things planned that got cancelled for one reason or another, husband had a lot of computer programming homework to do, and then he got called into work (yay money). So after a few chapters of The Eye of the World, reading writing group submissions, and doing some word count, I got bored. Very, very bored.

So I cleaned. I even rearranged my living room closet.

Then I started cooking.

One of the things I made to pass the time came from a "healthy"* dessert cookbook my dear sister gave me for Christmas: chocolate-banana lunchbox cake. (Why it's called "lunchbox" cake, I do not know.) Basically it's like super banana bread. But I liked it, and I thought sharing the recipe would be more interesting that typing up more LTUE notes. :)

Chocolate-banana Lunchbox Cake

2 cups sifted cake flour (I used all-purpose)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 small bananas)
3/4 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup chocolate chips
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (I used almonds and no one died)
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Pre-dusted cake
Personal note: I tweaked the recipe a bit to reduce calories. First, I only put in about a half cup (maybe a little less) of brown sugar, then put in maybe a teaspoon-worth of stevia extract (yes, I have that at my house.) I used about an eighth cup of corn syrup and made up the rest with honey. Also, instead of buttermilk, I used skim milk and vinegar, about 4:1 ratio. Had I still had coconut oil in the cupboard, I would have swapped out the canola oil for that, but alas. Coconut oil is friggin' expensive!

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil an 8-by-12-inch or 7-by-11 inch baking pan, or just coat it with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a mixing bowl, which flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk mashed banana, buttermilk, brown sugar, corn syrup, oil, and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the banana mixture; mix with a spoon or rubber spatula just until the dry ingredients and moistened.

3. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan, dust with confectioners' sugar, and cut into squares. Serves 12.

Post-dusted cake





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*Healthier, yes, but not healthy. If you want mucho healthy desserts, check out healthyindulgences.blogspot.com. I recommend the chocolate cake with a secret, but I'll let you know now it tastes WAY better after sitting in the fridge overnight.



5 comments:

  1. I am so glad I stopped by your post! I planned to make banana bread later on - now, I think I'll give this recipe a try! My boys will appreciate the addition of cocoa :}

    Thank you for your kind words about the snippets I posted this week. This will be my third work published - yes, as an Indie author....I am a work in progress! I learned so much during the writing of my first novel, and after. A few craft books further sharpened my writing for my second, Her Dark Baron, which has been more successful than I dreamed. The Third Fate, which I plan to publish in late March, is my first venture into paranormal romance, so once again, it is a learning process.

    I haven't read around your blog much, yet. What are you working on currently? What is your favorite genre?

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  2. I see a few answers to my questions...fantasy & six completed works! Wow! Are you planning to go Indie?

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    1. Yep, epic fantasy is my favorite genre by far! Two of those six completed works are short stories--I'm working on novel #5 right now. I don't have any plans to go indie in the future, but if I ever change my mind, I know who to talk to, right? ;)

      Glad the recipe struck a chord! Let me know how it turns out and how them boys like it!

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  3. This looks good. I must admit that if I'm really concerned about the healthiness of my desserts, I try to go with fruit instead. I save the desserts for when I feel like a splurge!

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  4. 1. This looks amazing.
    2. If I cooked better, i might try it. But even saying that, I think I may try it. thanks for sharing!

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