Chocolate Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting 🍌🍫🥜

Chocolate Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting 🍌🍫🥜

This decadent Chocolate Banana Cake is the perfect combination of rich chocolatey flavor, sweet banana goodness, and creamy peanut butter frosting. It's a great dessert for any occasion, and the peanut butter frosting adds the perfect savory touch to balance the sweetness!

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Ingredients (Makes one 9-inch round cake)

For the Chocolate Banana Cake:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• ½ cup buttermilk (or substitute with ½ cup milk and 1 tsp lemon juice)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup hot water

For the Peanut Butter Frosting:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-3 tbsp milk (adjust for desired consistency)
• Pinch of salt

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Instructions

1️⃣ Make the Chocolate Banana Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes using an electric mixer).
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Mix in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients in batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
7. Stir in the hot water to make the batter smooth (the batter will be thin).
8. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

2️⃣ Make the Peanut Butter Frosting:

1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, mixing until fluffy and smooth.
3. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, to reach your desired frosting consistency. If you want it thicker, use less milk; if you prefer a smoother frosting, add more milk.

3️⃣ Frost the Cake:

1. Once the cake has completely cooled, spread a layer of the peanut butter frosting on top of the cake.
2. You can either spread the frosting on top and the sides for a rustic look or pipe it for a more decorative finish.

4️⃣ Serve:

1. Slice the cake and serve it with a glass of milk or your favorite beverage!

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Tips for Success:

• Bananas: The riper the bananas, the better! Overripe bananas with brown spots are perfect for baking.
• Frosting Consistency: If your frosting becomes too thick, add a little extra milk; if it's too thin, add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
• Decorating: For an extra touch, garnish with banana slices or drizzle melted chocolate on top.

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This Chocolate Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting is a crowd-pleasing dessert with all the flavors you love: rich chocolate, sweet banana, and creamy peanut butter. Enjoy! 🍌🍫🥜