Saturday 18 February 2012

Banana Skin Cake


If you don't already know, I love baking with bananas. I've made banana breads, cakes, loafs, cookies, pancakes, muffins and even a hot chocolate drink with bananas! You name it, I've probably tried it. So when I came across this recipe for banana skin cake from one of my all time favourite food blogs Not Quite Nigella, I immediately bookmarked it to make. I have baked with citrus peel previously - oranges, clementines and lemons but never with bananas. I was intrigued and excited to try out this recipe. Note the pictures below are not very pretty so look away now if you have an aversion to brown banana skins in water! 

I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first and not really sure if anyone would eat it. So I offered the cake without telling people what it was made from. Most responses were positive but when I said it was made from banana skin there were a few faces pulled!! I honestly really liked the taste of this cake. I ate a whole mini loaf myself as it was so delicious!! The best way I can describe it is that it tastes like bread pudding. There is no banana taste at all. It also tastes "healthy" if that makes sense and it's full of fibre! Take a chance, give it a try as I have and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have. To quote Edna Toledo , originator of the recipe -  "it is luxury made from rubbish" 

I am submitting this to Made with love Mondays hosted by Javelin Warrior from Cookin w/ Luv, where the idea is to make something completely from scratch. I don't think you can get more basic than banana skin!! 


I am also sending this to No Waste Food Challenge hosted by Turquoise Lemons as the theme for this month is bananas. 


Finally, I am submitting this to Bookmarked recipes hosted by Jacqueline from Tinned Tomatoes.




 soak banana skins in water

 day 1 

 day 2 

 day 3 - it's ready as the water is clear! yes it works!! 

 strain the puree but keep the fluid!

 ready to go in the oven



For the cake
4 banana skins
3/4 cup water
1 egg
170g caster sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
125g plain flour
7g yeast

For the glaze
sugar
cinnamon
salt


  • Prepare the banana skins but cutting off the ends and soaking them in water. 
  • Change the water daily until the water is clear and the banana skins are soft (Mine took 3 days).
  • Blitz the softened banana skins in a food processor with 3/4 cup of water.
  • Strain through a fine sieve and keep the fluid for the glaze. 
  • Measure the amount of banana skin puree into a cup - I got 1 cup for mine.
  • With every cup of puree, add 1 egg, 170g caster sugar, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and mix well. 
  • Add 125g flour and 7g yeast (per cupful of banana puree).
  • Preheat the oven to 180C.
  • Pour the batter into cake tins and bake for approximately 35-45 minutes (depends on size of cake tin used). Check after 30 minutes by inserting a skewer into the middle - it should come out clean.
  • Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack.
  • To make the glaze, measure the strained liquid from the banana puree (I got 1/2 cup from mine).
  • For every cup, add 1 cup of sugar to the liquid in a medium sized saucepan.
  • Add some cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
  • Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue stirring as the glaze gets quite sticky. Mine took about 20 minutes to become a thick glaze.


33 comments:

  1. Wow! Banana skins - you're RIGHT, I did not see that coming! But, I love the idea and I love because it's a great way to use up those bits that otherwise get chucked out. Fantastic post and so happy you linked-up to Made with Love :)

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    1. Thanks for hosting a fabulous challenge. It's great knowing I can make cake with what is often wasted. It's given me new ideas too :)

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  2. Very interesting...you would never imagine that a Banana skin would give you a good cake...but it obviously works!

    I think it was probably wise not to tell anyone before they tried it! :-)

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    1. It was funny watching people's reaction when I told them what's in it. They still ate it though and enjoyed it :)

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  3. I love quirky recipes! A good way of using up the skins too!

    Nom! x

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  4. Must admit that i've always been slightly put off by the thought of cooked bananas, despite loving banana sandwiches and banana custard! Anyway, the end cake does look nice and you would never guess that the skins were in it :-)

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    1. It doesn't taste of bananas or skins for that matter. It's quite a dense, cakey texture. I know a lot of people who don't like cooked bananas either.

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  5. Eww banana skins! Then you made a cake with them - out of the box thinking there my dear that really is something different! Hope it tasted good!

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    1. Thanks, I really did have to think outside the box for this one! It definitely tasted good and I'm sure I'll be making more as I have a lot of banana skins in my kitchen!

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  6. thius look really nice and original!

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  7. Ooh I'm so thrilled that you made this and that you liked it! I was a bit hesitant when I first tried it (especially when soaking the skins) but liked the end result :D

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    1. I really enjoyed it and was similarly hesitant at the start. Thanks for the recipe :)

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  8. Ohhh i remember reading about this recipe on Lorraine's blog ~ she's so creative hehe and good on you for trying! I told Mr Bao about the recipe and he said if I made it, we'll have 'serious' issues hahhaa so i haven't had the time to make it in secret and give it to him to try hahaha ~

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    1. Lorraine is amazing!! I love her blog and have bookmarked lots of recipes from there. When you make this cake, don't tell anyone whats inside until they after they eat it!

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  9. You are brave for trying this! What a unique recipe.

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    1. Thanks, I thought I'd try something a little different and am pleased that it worked out :)

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  10. What a creative idea! So earth-friendly as well.

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    1. thanks, I try to recycle as much as possible including food. I try to keep waste to a minimum and this is a great way as I use a lot of bananas.

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  11. Wow this is very crazy! but I love it, I can't believe they just reduce down to smush! I love you mini loaves - so cute!

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    1. I had to read the title twice when I first saw it and I won't lie - I certainly had my doubts but am very pleased with the final result.

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  12. Wow - sounds gross but looks delicious!

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  13. Wow, that's a really great idea - I love that every now and again I see a really inspirational recipe - this is one of those times. I never would have thought one could even use banana skins to bake a cake with - I'm really curious as to what it tastes like - it sure looks delicious!

    Thanks so much for sharing this!

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    1. thanks for your kind words Charles. I'm glad I can be of inspiration to others :) It taste like a bread pudding and sticky toffee pudding - definitely no banana taste at all and quite pleasant really :)

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  14. I'm having a bit of a problem digesting this recipe, Ros. However, you've never steered me wrong yet and if you say so, I'll take your word for it!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing this unique recipe, banana skins and all!!!

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  15. I would have never thought of baking with banana skins, very interesting.

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    1. I had my doubts but they have been laid to rest. Honestly enjoyed this cake :)

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  16. If you hadn't shown photos, I'd never have believed you ! Never heard of eating banana skins before. How bizarre - but if it tastes good, no point in wasting anything :-)

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    1. It really tasted good (I love bread puddings anyway which is what it tasted like) and I also loved being able to "recycle waste" into good food :)

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  17. How unusual, I would never have thought to do anything with banana skins.

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