Project Foodie - Coffee Cakes: Banana, Macadamia Nut, and Coconut

Coffee Cakes: Banana, Macadamia Nut, and Coconut

Save Recipe: Banana, Macadamia Nut, and Coconut Coffee Cake

Photography by Maren Caruso

In search of sweet and savory breakfast ideas? "Coffee Cakes: Simple, Sweet, and Savory" by Lou Seibert Pappas provides more than 50 recipes for quick coffee cakes that are perfect for breakfast, brunches and even after dinner desserts. "Banana, Macadamia Nut and Coconut Coffee Cake" combines sweet toasty macadamia nuts, cinnamon sugar, and flaky coconut with well-ripened bananas for a delicious, flavorful and moist treasure that is sure to be a welcome start to your day.

Banana, Macadamia Nut, and Coconut Coffee Cake

From "Coffee Cakes: Simple, Sweet, and Savory" By Lou Seibert Pappas & Photographs by Maren Caruso, Chronicle Books 2006

Toasty sweet macadamia nuts and cinnamon sugar top this flavorful banana cake laced with flaky coconut. It is especially most. Select well-ripened (black-speckled) sugar-sweet bananas for best flavor.

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 ¼ cups mashed bananas (about 2 ½ large ripe bananas)
2 large eggs
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (choose a buttery, mild one) or canola oil
2 tablespoons dark rum or amaretto liqueur
½ cup sour cream
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup sweetened flaked coconut
½ cup (1 ½ ounces) chopped macadamia nuts or pecan halves
1 tablespoon granulated sugar mixed with1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan or round cake pan.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and brown sugar. Stir to blend. In a blender or food processor, combine the bananas, eggs, oil, rum or amaretto, sour cream, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and beat until smooth. Stir in the coconut. Spread evenly in the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with the nuts. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the batter.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack, then remove the pan sides. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.

Make one 9-inch cake; serves 10.

About Coffee Cakes

Bringing comfort to the table is made easy-all it takes is Coffee Cakes! Trust the author of Biscotti (over 200,000 sold) to deliver the secrets of great kuchen in the kitchen. Traditional tastes, delicious new flavors, quick recipes, and more elaborate yeast breads-they're all here in this handy book; and they're all perfect for breakfast, brunch, picnics, parties, and desserts. From sweet morning surprises such as Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cakes or Sticky Caramel Pinwheels to savories such as Ruby Grape Focaccia or Gruyere Cheese Brioche Braid and treats such as French Prune Plum Cake or Dark Chocolate-Almond Cake, here are more than 50 simply can't-go-wrong pleasers. This gorgeously photographed collection also includes helpful baking techniques, preferred ingredients, how to manage dough, and how to store and serve coffee cakes. Gather family and friends for fabulous flavors and fun right at home with Coffee Cakes.