Chocolate Banana Cake Recipe

This recipe yields one 7" round cake

95g cake flour (plain flour works as well but it won't be as soft)

5 g cocoa powder

100g castor sugar (fine sugar works well too)

100g unsalted butter

4 eggs (55g in size)

400g whipping cream (both dairy and non-dairy works well)

400g dark couverture chocolate

3 - 4 bananas

350g dark couverture chocolate

140ml whipping cream (both dairy and non-dairy works well)

1 tbsp unsalted butter

Fresh fruits for garnishing (I used strawberries and blueberries)

Method

Preheat oven to 160 degree Celsius, fan mode. Melt the butter either over a double boiler or in the microwave on medium heat at 1 minute intervals till butter is all melted. 

Sift the cocoa powder and cake flour.

To the sugar, add the eggs. Do not leave this mixture for too long. Whisk it as soon as you can (: Whisk the mixture till it is near stiff peaks. You should see distinct tracks in your batter. This tutorial will help you in getting a better understanding (: 

Pour the mixture into a greased and lined baking tin of 7". Tap gently against table or drop from a low height to remove excess air bubbles. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or till a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. 

Invert baking tin on a cake pan/plate and remove baking paper. Using another cake pan/plate, invert the cake back on its base. Store in air tight container or cake caddy and allow it to cool completely. 

Melt the 400g of couverture chocolate in the microwave (on 1 minute intervals, medium setting) or double boiler till it is shiny. Stir well and allow it to cool down for 5 minutes.

Whisk up the whipping cream (400g) to stiff peaks. 

Add the chocolate into the whipping cream and stir well with a spatula. It may seem clumpy at first but just keep mixing. The mixture will seem a little deflated but fret not! 

Have the cake on a turntable.. it helps in assembling cakes. If you haven't got one.. please invest in one! You'll love it as much as I do! (: Slice the very top layer of the cake and dispose of it.. (or eat it!) This layer is what makes cakes dry. 

Prepare a sugar solution of 1 part hot/boiling water to 1 part castor/fine sugar and mix well to allow sugar to dissolve. Have the sugar solution in a spray mist bottle.

Slice cake into 3 even layers. Spray the sugar solution in between layers to keep it moist. 1 spray per spot or two is enough.. DO NOT soak the cake in the sugar solution!

Layer 1.

Spread 1/6 of the chocolate cream. 

Top with bananas. 

Top off with 1/6 portion of chocolate cream.

Add next layer of cake. Repeat steps for second layer of cake. Remember to spray your sugar solution! 

Frost the cake with remaining 2/6 of the chocolate cream. This video tutorial will help you! (: 

Chill cake in fridge while preparing chocolate ganache. 

Melt the 350g of couverture chocolate in the microwave (on 1 minute intervals, medium setting) or double boiler till it is shiny. 

Add the whipping cream and heat it up for another 2 minutes.

Add the butter. Stir well. If your mixture is still chunky, pop it back into the microwave oven (medium setting) on 1 minute intervals to have it all melted. 

My ganache is ready! Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before applying on the cake.

Cover the cake with the chocolate ganache. This video tutorial will help you! (: 

Garnish with your favourite fruits! I used blueberries and sliced strawberries (: 

I hope you'll enjoy this 'cheat' method of baking a Secret Recipe alike Chocolate Banana Cake! (:

http://www.thebakingbiatch.com/2013/09/cynthias-easy-secret-recipe-chocolate.html