4-layer Banana Chocolate Cake

Yes, that right a 4-layer banana chocolate cake that is delicious and healthy. This cake is made without refined sugar, and it is still scrumptious! I got this recipe from My New Roots. As you will notices, many of the recipes that I will post will be from this blog. Sarah Britton is the talented nutritionist behind the My New Roots blog. She has inspired me quite a bit, so I suggest you take a look at her blog sometime.

I made this cake for my dad's birthday in January. He loved it!! If it passed my dad's test it will pass anyone's test. I was thrilled when he approved. Much of what I make that is healthy he is very much skeptical about because it is definitely out of the ordinary with ingredients. However, lately I have been impressing him with my odd combinations. Such a good feeling because I am trying to show him that healthy is not always bland and disgusting. Slowly but surely I am winning over his heart to eat healthy...I know it even if he will not admit it.

So as I keep posting recipes, if I mention it was a winner for my father too, you can make it for everybody and anybody, and they will love it. I am a big fan of winning over hearts to eat healthy! It makes me so joyful when someone is very skeptical about a healthy food and then when they try it, they absolutely love it! One recipe at a time I will keep working on getting my family and others around  to enjoy healthy eating. Not only does the food taste much better, but after eating you will feel much better! Hope you enjoy this amazing cake and win over hearts as they indulge in a piece!

Chocolate Banana Birthday Cake with Maple Glazed Walnuts

Recipe from My New Roots

Banana Cake

Ingredients:


¼ cup  milk of your choice

6 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee


6 Tbsp. pure maple syrup


1 tsp. pure vanilla extract


2 ¼ cups mashed ripe bananas (approximately 5 medium bananas)


2 cups light spelt flour 


1 tsp. baking soda


1 tsp. baking powder


½ tsp. sea salt


1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.

2. Lightly oil and dust two 8” round cake pans with flour, shaking out excess.

3. Put the milk, oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and bananas in a blender and blend until smooth.


4. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients. Add banana mixture and combine using as few strokes as possible. Fold in walnuts. 


5. Pour batter into cake pans and smooth the top. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Approximately 30 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:


2 cups light spelt flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder


2 tsp. baking powder


1 tsp. baking soda


½ tsp. salt

1 cup pure maple syrup


1 ¼ cup milk of your choice

6 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee


2 tsp. pure vanilla extract


1 tsp. apple cider vinegar



Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. 


2. Lightly oil and dust two 8” round cake pans with flour, shaking out excess.


3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flours, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.


4. In a separate bowl combine the maple syrup, milk, coconut oil, vanilla and vinegar. Whisk to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk to remove any lumps. 


5. Pour batter into cake pan and smooth the top. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Approximately 30 minutes.

Maple Glazed Walnuts

Ingredients:

1 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast walnuts until fragrant. Add maple syrup to the pan and toss quickly to coat. Remove from pan to let cool.

Dark Chocolate Glaze

Ingredients:


1 cup milk of your choice


200 grams high-quality extra dark chocolate 


1 vanilla bean, scraped

pinch sea salt

Directions:

1. Slice vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and place them in a small saucepan.

2. Add cold milk to the saucepan and warm slowly over medium heat. When hot, remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir until fully melted, whisk in a pinch of sea salt and glaze cake immediately. If the glaze sets, simply reheat to melt again.

Chocolate Banana Birthday Cake with Maple Glazed Walnuts - Assembly

Directions:

1. Bake cakes together, on the same rack if possible so that they cook evenly. Let cool completely. Remove from pans.

2. While cakes are baking, make the Maple Glazed Walnuts and Chocolate Glaze.

3. Start with one half of the chocolate cake on the bottom, spoon on about 1/4 of the glaze, with the majority being around the edge so that it oozes out when you place the next layer. Place a banana cake layer on top of the chocolate layer and spoon on glaze, repeat until the top layer. Pour the remaining glaze on the top of the cake and top with Maple Glazed Walnuts. Serve.