Tropical Banana Cake

Ingredients

Cake

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed banana (, about 3)
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs

Topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Directions

1. 1

   Mix the dry ingredients for the cake in a large bowl.

2. 2

   Add the banana, buttermilk and shortening, mix on medium with an electric mixer.

3. 3

   Add the eggs and vanilla, mix until well incorporated.

4. 4

   Pour batter into 1 9x13" pan which has been greased and floured, or 2 8" pans that have been greased and floured.

5. 5

   Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

6. 6

   Remove cakes from oven and cool.

7. 7

   For 8" layers, cool 10 minutes in the pans, turn out onto racks and cool completely.

8. 8

   Frosting----------.

9. 9

   Mix the brown sugar with the butter until combined.

10. 10

    Add milk and mix until combine.

11. 11

    Add pecans and coconut.

12. 12

    For a 9x13 cake-------.

13. 13

    Cover the cake with the frosting mixture and put under a broiler for 3-4 minutes.

14. 14

    For the layer cake: Put the layers on a cookie sheet and spread each one with half of the frosting.

15. 15

    Broil for 3-4 minutes.

16. 16

    Let cool completely before assembling the cake.

17. 17

    This makes a very good, rustic looking layer cake.