Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

Our mission continues to find new ways to use up those brown speckled bananas that are always on the counter top. We have featured chocolate banana breads, banana cake, banana muffins and banana cupcakes to name a few but today, peanut butter enters the mix.

The idea is inspired by the many peanut butter and banana sandwiches I ate as a kid and when my mom wasn't looking, a sprinkle of chocolate chips, silently procured from the kitchen pantry cupboard also made their way into many a sandwich. This cake deliciously combines all three elements into a great dessert cake to end any meal or at a weekend brunch.

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½cup smooth peanut butter
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat sugar, peanut butter and oil in a bowl. beat the eggs well, then fold in the mashed bananas.
Sift together dry ingredients and fold into banana mixture alternately with the orange juice.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour batter into well greased and floured bundt pan or funnel cake pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center which comes out clean is the best indicator that the loaf is fully baked.

Cool completely before topping with chocolate ganache and peanut butter glaze.

Chocolate Ganache

Melt together in a double boiler:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

Pour or spread the ganache over the cake.

Peanut Butter Glaze

1 tbsp peanut butter

4 - 5  tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)

a few drops of milk

Combine the peanut butter and icing sugar. Add a few drops of milk at a time until the glaze reaches a thick but pourable consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the chocolate ganache.