FLUFFY BANANA CAKE

 

My Dad with our banana wedding cake, as I signed our marriage certificate.

Fluffy Banana Cake
 
Put into small bowl of mixer:  2 large or 3 small bananas broken into chunks.  Beat on No 3 speed until mashed.  Measure out one cup.
 
Sift together:  2 cups flour sifted
                      1/2 teas. baking powder
                      3/4 teas. baking soda
                      1/2 teas. salt
 
Put in large bowl of mixer:  1/2 cup soft shortening
                                           1 1/2 cups sugar
                                           2 eggs unbeaten
                                           1 teas. vanilla
 
Beat on No 8 speed for 1 1/2 minutes, scraping the bowl while beating.  Stop mixer.
 
Add 1/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk.
Add sifted flour mixture alternately with mashed bananas while beating on No. 3 speed.  Scrape bowl while beating.  Beat only until blended.  Pour into well oiled pan.
 
Bake 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes
 

Fluffy Boiled Icing
 
Combine in saucepan:
 
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt.
 
Stir until well blended.  Boil slowly without stirring until mixture will spin a long thread when a little is dripped from a spoon  Hold spoon high above pan. (238 - 242 degrees)
 
Meanwhile put into large bowl of mixer 2 egg whites.  Beat on No 10 speed until stiff but still moist.  About 2 1/2 minutes.  Scrape bowl while beating.  
 
Pour hot syrup slowly over egg whites while beating on No. 10 speed.  Continue to beat until mixture is very fluffy and will hold shape.
 
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
 
Beat until blended.  If icing does not seem stiff enough, beat in 2 or 3 Tablespoons of powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time.  (I always have to do this).

 

 

Mom made Micki and me a three-tiered version of this cake for our wedding.  It was great!