Description
Indulgent banana pecan caramel layer cake brings Southern comfort to dessert tables with rich, moist layers of pure delight. Caramel-drenched pecans and silky frosting create a memorable finale you’ll savor with every luxurious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
Cake Structure and Moisture Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Flavor and Texture Enhancers:
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F and prepare three 9-inch round cake pans by thoroughly coating with grease and flour.
- Mash ripe bananas and mix with lemon juice to prevent browning, then gently fold in roughly chopped pecans.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and airy, then incorporate eggs individually, blending thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, then gradually incorporate into the creamed mixture, stirring until smooth and well combined.
- Slowly pour in buttermilk and mix until just integrated, then carefully fold in the banana and pecan mixture to maintain the batter’s delicate texture.
- Distribute the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans, ensuring smooth surfaces, and bake for 25-30 minutes until a testing skewer emerges clean when inserted into the cake’s center.
- Allow cakes to rest in their pans for 10 minutes to set, then carefully transfer to wire cooling racks and let them cool completely before assembling or frosting.
Notes
- Add overripe bananas for deeper, more intense banana flavor that enhances the cake’s moisture and sweetness.
- Toast pecans beforehand in a dry skillet to elevate their nutty richness and bring out a more complex, robust flavor profile.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smoother batter and more even cake texture, preventing potential lumps or uneven mixing.
- Swap pecans with walnuts or almonds for alternative nut variations that can adapt to personal preferences or dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 467 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 195 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg