To be honest, bananas are my least favourite fruits. I even get upset when my fruit platter is served with bananas because it makes the rest of the fruits smell and taste like bananas. But when bananas are used in cakes, I absolutely love them! It’s one of those strange things where people don’t eat cheese but yet they eat pizza or that they don’t take chilli but they eat curries. I’m definitely one of those contradicting people.

Today I’ve decided to make a chocolate banana cake. I decided to make a healthier option by using grape seed oil instead of butter. You can use olive oil as well if you prefer. To add an “umph” factor to the cake, I’ve made a chocolate ganache because one can never have too much chocolate!

Nutrition per slice (8 servings)

Ingredients

1. 100g plain self raising flour
2. 100g wholemeal self raising flour
3. 80g caster sugar
4. 2 ripe bananas
5. 40g cocoa powder
6. 100ml buttermilk
7. 100ml grapeseed oil
8. 50g walnuts
9. 50g dark chocolate chips
10. 2 eggs

For the ganache

1. 100g dark chocolate – I usually use Lindt 70% dark
2. 50ml full cream milk
3. 15 unsalted butter
4. 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

Preparation time: 15min
Baking time: 40min or when the skewer comes out clean

1. Grease a loaf pan
2. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
3. Mix the flour, sugar and cocoa powder together in a large mixing bowl. Use your fingers to ensure that there are no lumps of flour or sugar in the mixture.
4. Using a fork, mash the bananas
5. Beat the eggs together with the buttermilk
6. Tip the egg mixture into the dry ingredients with the grape seed oil
7. Mix together until a uniform mixture is formed
8. Fold in the mashed banana, chocolate chips and walnuts into the mixture
9. Pour the cake batter into the tin and place it in the oven to bake for about 40min or when the skewer comes out clean
10. Leave the cake out to cool completely
11. To prepare the ganache, chop the dark chocolate up into tiny bits
12. Heat the milk, butter and salt up in a saucepan and remove it from the heat before it boils
13. Pour the heated milk over the chocolate bits and using a wooden spoon, mix the mixture together until a smooth ganache is formed
14. Pour the chocolate ganache over the cooled cake and spread it evenly

There you have it! Delicious chocolate banana cake with a rich chocolate ganache!