I like digging in our kitchen. Actually scratch that, I love rummaging through our kitchen for my gramma’s old cooking things. It looks like my gramma was quite the baking freak in her day too (although no where near as shall we say, adventurous, as I am. See, that’s why all her stuff turn out perfect! I on the other hand am a recipe junkie hehehe) – I keep finding new old stuff that I can use again. I love finding this new old stuff we always had!

One of the old treasures found were these tiny little cake pans. Around 3 inches in size. I couldn’t wait to use em. With some leftover chocolate cake batter, I put them in the two little trays and sent them straight to the oven without their supper. It was very fun thinking what to use for 20 minutes later! I scratched my beautiful head and creased my gorgeous brows (eunice me oh my getting conceited are we!?) and finally my brain farted Chocolate Banana Cream Cake! Mini-style, of course. This recipe is perfect for you cupcake bakers because as you know, we always have SO MUCH darn buttercream leftover right? And then there’s chocolate – always ready at your disposal…and bananas, lunch to some, snacks to many, freely available. So what’s stoppin ya?

ME! Mwahahah! I withhold the recipe! Oops, I meant, I HOLD the recipe. Cos I’m nice like that, here it is!

2 mini cake pans

Chocolate Cake Recipe
(makes 14 cupcakes, use enough for each pan and then use the extra for cupcakes!)

1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup boiling hot milk (I used powdered milk)

1. Grease the pans and line them
2. Mix the ingredients in order and start beating the oil, egg & hot milk in (slowly).
3. Pour & bake in the preheated oven at 180C for 20 to 25 minutes until cooked. (test with skewer)
4. Take out of pans and let cool

Buttercream

Vanilla Buttercream
100g butter
100g icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla

(you may have extra – if you’re not sure, use 60g of each & 1/2 tsp vanilla. I was using leftovers so I’m not sure of the exact amount. If you’re making this, let me know how much cream you needed so I can update this recipe! THANKS :D)

1. Whip all together until light & fluffy white!
2. We’re now assembling the cake, so take one of the cake bases and spread cream over.

1 Banana
1. Slice this and layer over the cake generously, 2 layers of bananas is yummy! You can spread some more cream over the first layer of bananas then add another layer of bananas so they stick. To your liking. I, was just trying to minimise my cream usage.

Chocolate Buttercream
Leftover Vanilla Buttercream
1 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted

1. Whip together till smooth
2. Spread over the the bananas
3. Sandwich the cake with the other cake base
4. Now, with the rest of your cream, give the cake a crumb coat (not too much cream!) to seal in the crumb and even out the edges. It’ll level the edges for a smooth & perfect application of the chocolate ganache. Put it in the fridge for an hour now, or enough for the cream to set to prepare for the chocolate ganache. We don’t want things melting into each other!

(I was lazy, AND trying to avoid over-creamage so I skipped this step and had a very, very ugly side! So don’t follow my pictures…just cream it!)

Courtesy of Cookies & Cakes. Click to read this article on Crumb Coating
Kinda like this. You can scrape away the extra cream after getting the sides smooth.

Chocolate Ganache
60g chocolate, melted
1/2 tsp milk
1 1/2 tbsp cream

(I honestly just melted the chocolate and skipped the milk & cream! But since I’m writing this recipe..I think a softer chocolate coating is cool. So, here’s the addition! Let me know how it goes, people-out-there-reading-this-blog-who-I’d-love-to-know-of!)

1. Whip all till smooth. Make sure it’s cool.
2. Using a spatula, spread ganache over the chilled cake. Make it as smooth as you can.
3. Put it in the fridge for another hour, at least, to chill some more.
4. Decorate with fresh flowers & sift icing sugar over the top
5. Pig in in moderation
6. Go to the gym for your regular workout
7. Eat tons of fruits & veggies
8. Drink heaps of water
9. Take lots of pictures
10. Link them in the commment section so I can see your beautiful (see, I’m like a proud anticipating mom to this recipe! haha) pictures!

And that’s all for tonight folks. xoxo.