Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Banana Chips

We love bananas and always have some in the house.  I had a bunch of bananas that were very ripe so I decided to use them to make a dessert.  This cake is delicious and since it includes 3-4 whole bananas and a serving of applesauce you don’t have to feel too guilty eating it.

Recipe adapted from Food Network:

Ingredients:

Cake-

3-4 ripe bananas

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs at room temperature

½ cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Grated zest of 1 orange

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting-

8 ounces unsalted butter room temperature

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon banana extract

2 cups confectioners sugar

Candied Banana Chips-

1 cup banana chips

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

Cake-

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9 inch round pan.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment beat the bananas and sugars on low speed until combined
3. Add the applesauce, eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and orange zest mixing on low.
4. Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add in 1 cup at a time scraping down the sides periodically. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Then cool on a rack.
7. Ice with cream cheese frosting and top with candied banana chips.
8. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting-

1. Add butter and cream cheese to a stand mixer.  Beat on medium with a paddle attachment for 3-5 minutes.
2. Add the extracts. Then add the sugar 1 cup at a time on low. 
3. Spread icing over the cooled cake.

Candied Banana Chips-

1. Warm the maple syrup in a nonstick skillet over medium until it starts bubbling. 
2. Add the banana chips and stir frequently with a rubber spatula until chips have absorbed the moisture about 3-4 minutes.
3. Transfer banana chips to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread in an even layer to cool. 
4. Add to top of cake.