Banana Cake with Lemon Curd Filling

I baked this banana cake on Sunday as a friend was coming for afternoon tea.  It was delicious and the zesty lemon curd helped temper the sweetness of the banana cake and the richness of the whipped cream.  My banana cake is a much requested bake, friends frequently ask if I can bake one for them so I've shared the recipe.  You could use chocolate spread to fill the cake instead of lemon curd and cream or use dulce de leche for a banoffee cake.

My Famous Banana Cake

500g - 600g over-ripe bananas, unpeeled weight
125g butter, softened
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
330g caster sugar
2 free range eggs
375g self raising flour

Preheat your oven to 180C/160C Fan.  Grease and line a 23cm round or square cake tin.

Mash the bananas.  In a large bowl or stand mixer cream the butter, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla until pale and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding a tablespoonful of flour with each egg so the mixture doesn't curdle.  Mix in the flour and mashed banana.  

Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and bake for 50 - 60 minutes, when a skewer comes out clean the cake is cooked.  Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.  Once completely cool, slice the cake in half then fill with whipped cream and lemon curd.

Lemon Curd

150g butter

165g caster sugar

Grated zest and freshly squeezed juice from 3 lemons

4 medium free range eggs, beaten until frothy

Put the sugar, butter, lemon zest and juice in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.  Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.  Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.  Whisk in the eggs then return to the heat, stirring constantly until thick.  Don’t let the mixture get too hot or boil because this will cause it to curdle.   Store in a covered container in the fridge.

I am submitting this recipe to Tea Time Treats, hosted alternately by Karen and Kate.  The theme this month is Layer Cakes and Kate is hosting.

I am also submitting this recipe to Calendar Cakes created by  Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes, the theme this month is Pump Up The Jam.  Dolly Bakes is hosting.