Cooking With Lisa Loeb: Banana Layer Cake
by Dec 21st, 2010 // Desserts, Kid-tastic, Recipes
Cooking With Lisa Loeb: Banana Layer Cake
My kid has been listening to Lisa Loeb’s Catch the Moon album since birth. When he was about 2.5 years old he’d request “Big Rock Candy Mountain” over and over again. Imagine my delight when my husband told me he’d bumped into Lisa’s husband and learned that Lisa makes a killer version of Gourmet’s Fresh Banana Layer cake.
I’d never met Lisa but knew she had a little one and wondered aloud if she’d consider cooking that very cake with me. My sweet husband reached out to hers and arrangements were made. !!!!!
We had the best intentions of getting to Lisa’s house early in the afternoon but the baby had other plans. She demanded to be fed right as we were walking out the door. (Isn’t that always the way?) Lisa smartly started prepping for our arrival and didn’t bat an eye when we were a full hour late! When I walked into Lisa’s big, bright kitchen, the first thing to catch my eye was a Hello Kitty toaster. I squealed and Lisa revealed her obsession with Hello Kitty. She even has an album cover (Hello Lisa) that features Hello Kitty. Awesome.
Although she’d made this cake several times, Lisa has never once used white flour or the full amount of sugar. (Impressive will power!) As Lisa layered up the cake, I asked her about its significance. That’s when I learned that her daughter’s first word was actually banana. Too cute.
I loved watching Lisa frost the cake while we chatted about our kids. One of the things I love most about parenthood is how it brings us all together. Oh! And during the course of the conversation Lisa scooped me about her brand new line of eye wear. (Genius, right?)
Thanks, Lisa. You are so lovely. My kid and I had a great time getting to know you and witnessing your mad cakery skills. Now for the recipe…
Fresh Banana Layer Cake Recipe
adapted from Gourmet
2 1/4 cups sifted whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed very ripe banana (about 2 large)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup organic sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 to 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 to 3 large firm-ripe bananas
Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, knocking out excess flour. Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl whisk together mashed banana, yogurt and vanilla. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in flour and banana mixtures alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture and stirring after each addition until just combined. (Do not overmix.) Divide batter evenly among pans, smoothing tops, and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through baking, about 15 to 18 minutes total, or until layers are springy to the touch and a tester comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks to cool completely. (Cake layers will look very thin. Don’t worry, it looks nice once the banana layer is in!)
Into a large bowl sift confectioners’ sugar. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy and beat in vanilla and a pinch salt. Beat in confectioners’ sugar, a little at a time, and beat frosting until smooth.
Cut 2 firm-ripe bananas diagonally into thin slices. Put a cake layer on a serving plate and spread with a thin coating of frosting. Arrange one layer of banana slices on frosting, overlapping them slightly, and top with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. (Cake may be made 8 hours ahead and kept in a cake keeper at cool room temperature.)
Later that night Lisa decorated the cake for her adorable daughter, Lyla. I don’t know what’s cuter, the cake, Lisa or that pink Kitchen Aid in the background!
The banana cake sounds delicious!
What fun! I love that banana cake recipe–I made it for my son's 1st birthday. I am excited to try it again sometime with the healthier adaptations!
wow! I love Lisa Loeb! Totally Jealous of this experience!
A friend of mine who also adores Lisa Loeb and desserts shared this post with me. Lovely! Super jealous. Thx for sharing!
Stay is on of my favorite songs to get stuck in my head and I just adore Lisa Loeb. What a fabulous post!
loving the hello kitty toaster!
I can’t stand bananas, but Lisa Loeb is precious. Also, my kid has the monster recycling shirt that your kid is wearing there. So cute!
Awesome. Love Lisa Loeb, Love Bananas, never had a Hello Kitty thing but how cute is that?! Love this blog.
Wow wow wow!!!!! So cool.
yum. that's bananas!
Can't wait to make this!! Tell your son my 4 year old has the same "Be Green" T-shirt – Target rocks!
Wow! What a fabulous post. I love banana layer cake, love her music and love you guys! Perfect combo. xo
Cool story. It was so real…as in I could imagine it clearly. Thanks for sharing, and the cake looks super yummy.
ha! it's one of my favorites. his too.
I made this cake yesterday. I am, I would say, not a beginner but not yet an intermediate baker. I am at high altitude (5800 ft) and the cake came out pretty good. It would be yummier with regular flour, but if you are trying to make it a *little* more healthy (because with all the butter and cream cheese its not like you are helping yourself out any) it is still good and my kids are both eating it up. My fridge is WAY too full from Christmas cooking to house the cake so it has been living in my garage, and it is still in fine shape about 36 hours after baking.
Lisa Loeb was one of the first concerts I saw when I was 14 and she was just getting started, and it has been so fun to evolve right along with her into a mom and have my kids seeing her on Sesame Street. What a fun experience I am sure this was for you!
So fun! Love Lisa Loeb, so glad to know she cooks for her kid, just like us!!!!
Super jealous! I'm a HUGE Lisa Loeb fan! Looks like a fun day!
[...] banana layer cake would make a delicious and fun dessert to share with friends (@ Cooking with My [...]
[...] to Lisa Loeb’s Hello Lisa on the iPod (RIP Steve Jobs) while we cook Lisa Loeb’s Banana Layer Cake! She’s just the cutest and her Banana Layer cake is the [...]
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just
so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is
now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely
off topic but I had to share it with someone!