Monday, March 30, 2009

Banana Chocolate Cake

Banana Chocolate Cake
This is a "jump queue" posting. I still have many recipes lined up to post. But my friends - Lay Yin and Amy - were so excited about this recipe when they heard I made this cake. So I'm posting it first.

Banana Chocolate Cake

The first cake I had at Secret Recipe (about 8~9 years ago) was Banana Chocolate Cake, I chose this cake because I'm a big fan of chocolate (dark one). I swore that I would make this cake one day. Now I made it happen.

Banana Chocolate Cake


This is a "big" project, trust me, you got to be very patient and careful with the processes, then clean up the messes (Tom: "Or have someone to clean up for you!) But, all these are worthwhile and gratifying when it turns out satisfying. Isn't that feel amazing when you are able to make your favorite cake to your preferred taste? I am so happy now!! LOL!!!

Banana Chocolate Cake

OK, here are the ingredients and steps. HAPPY BAKING!!

A. Chocolate Chiffon Cake
1. 3 egg yolks
2. 98g cake flour - sieved
3. 60g sugar (original recipe - 75g)
4. 25g cocoa powder - mixed with 90ml water
5. 45ml vegetable oil
6. 1/3tsp baking soda - sieved
7. 1/3 tsp baking powder - sieved
8. 3 egg whites
9. 30g sugar (original recipe - 45g)

Steps :

1. Preheat the oven at 350F/180C.
2. Line the bottom of a 8" spring form cake pan.
3. Whisk ingredient # 1~ #7 until smooth. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add in sugar and continue to whisk until stiff.
5. Fold in mixture # 2 into #3. Lightly stir with spatula to mix well.
6. Pour the cake mixture into lined cake pan.
7. Bake for 40~45 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven, invert the cake and leave for completely cool on the cooling rack.
9. Slice the cake to 3 layers horizontally.

B. Filling
1. 4 ripe banana - slanting cut to 4~5mm slices
2. 450ml whipping cream
3. 3tsp cocoa powder
4. 1 1/3tbsp instant coffee powder
5. 1 tbsp gelatin - dissolved in 35ml warm water
6. 2 tbsp powdered sugar
7. 1 tsp vanilla extract

Steps :
**ONLY PREPARE THE FILLING WHEN THE CAKE IS COMPLETELY COOL**
1. Mix the cocoa powder and coffee powder with 2 tbsp boiled water, stir to mix well.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cream until stiff.
3. Add in the coffee and cocoa mixture, gelatin, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Lightly stir it to mix well.

4. Spread the filling onto the first layer of cake.
5. Place the banana slices on top of the filling.
6. Spread the filling again on top of the banana slices.
7. Repeat the same steps for the second layer.
8. Cover the top layer and circumference with the filling.
9. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before proceed to next step.

C. Chocolate Glaze
1. 300g semi-sweet chocolate chips
2. 100ml whipping cream
3. 30ml evaporated milk
4. 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Steps :
1. Heat the chocolate, cream, milk and butter in microwave for 4~5 minutes or until it completely melted. Stir every 1 minute.

or

1. Heat up the ingredients with the doubled boiler until completely melted.

2. Lets the chocolate glaze slightly cool off.
3. Slowly pour it on top of the chilled cake.
4. Quickly clean up the mess on the edge and return to chill immediately.
5. Decorate with some fruits.
6. Serve chilled!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

Freshly baked chocolate chiffon cake ---> Filling layers
PhotobucketBanana Chocolate Cake

Cake covered with filling --> Pouring chocolate glaze
PhotobucketPhotobucket

15 comments:

  1. Wow..are you a magician??? Everything seems so easy for you...hahaha!!! I don't when I can become a magician one day :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. tin tin...i'm not magician, just have a lot of passion on cooking. You know what??? Tom asked me to make it again on this coming Saturday for his friend dinner party!

    ReplyDelete
  3. hi dear, I agreed yr fren Tin Tin word. U look very easy to handle even the baking or cooking.
    When i can become like u so "keng"....
    "Esther Cheers"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Forgot to tell you, Doreen said yr cakes yummy yummy, she said she "pei fu" to you. The cake look like hotel standard and when can try it the taste...heheheh :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. i want 2pc, when u back must bake for us ok!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Esther, Lay Yin.....ok!ok!! will bake for you guys when I'm back!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It was delicious. I wish I could have eaten more, but all this cooking is making me get fat! LOL!
    So I had to settle for veeeeery small slices.
    I get more this weekend though. We'll leave whatever is left at our friends' house, so they can eat it and get plump. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. FAD MOM...thank you!! thank you!! you may try to make it one day. My Chinese friend told me it is "very not sweet" suite for those people without sweet teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a very delicious cake.I also like it very much.Look, you can handle it very easily, especially the ganache pouring!

    ReplyDelete
  10. hi cherry potato, thank you! the trick to for the ganache pouring is pour it when it is still warm and runny, it will be thicker if you let is cool off too long.

    ReplyDelete
  11. How do you make sure the ganache covers the side of the cake?

    ReplyDelete
  12. hui wen, first - you have to make sure your ganache is runny (means can not be completely cool). Second, make sure your cake with filling (whipped cream and banana) is set (chilled in the fridge overnight is better), thicker cream surrounding the edge. When you pour the ganache around the edge from the top, it will melt the edge a little bit, but still good enough to cover the care. You may have to let your cake sit on top of a glass or something to support it, then place a bigger plate underneath the glass/support, this will allow the ganache drip off smoothly to the plate. This ganache pouring has to be done in fast action though, if not, the whipped cream will melt. Refrigerate it as soon as possible (I will keep the cake in the freezer for about 2 minutes) then transfer it to the refrigerator. I hope this information help! Let me know your result, ok?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi, Wendy!
    I made the cake. I should have waited a little bit longer for the ganache to cool off more. Anyway, I still manage to patch the cake up with the remaining ganache. I will be more patient and wait longer next time I make the cake.

    Thanks for your tips.

    ReplyDelete
  14. hui wen, you are welcome. I hope you like it! :-)

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin