Moorish Banana and Carrot cake

When your bananas start to go dark brown, don't throw them away! That's the perfect time to mash them up and use them in this easy peasy banana cake recipe. I grate in a carrot to add some sneaky veg in for the little'uns too.

You will need: 1 x loaf tin + some baking paper ((1lb /450g -16cm / 6inch long for the size)

or 12 muffin cups and a 12 hole muffin tray

Ingredients: - 150g pre-softened unsalted butter (in the summer you won't need as long to soften it) - 140g light brown, dark, or coconut sugar - 2 overripe (darker the better!) bananas mashed up with a fork - 1 small-ish carrot, grated (whatever size grate you like) - 2 medium-sized eggs - 190g of plain or buckwheat flour (GF choice) - 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda - 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon - Pinch/good sprinkle of mixed spices

- Extra sugar and some chopped nuts for the topping (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 160 C / Gas mark 3 ( I usually leave this until the end as it takes 5 mins to preheat and I dont want to waste energy! - Line your loaf tin (if using) with baking paper / cupcake cases in your muffin tin - Grate the carrot and mash the banana in a bowl and leave to one side - Add the butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and mix with a hand whisk until light and fluffy - Add the eggs and mix in - Add in the carrot, mashed banana, cinnamon and spices and mix in - Sift the flour into the bowl and then stir until blended (I use a whisk to keep the air in) - Spoon into the prepared tin or your cupcake cases. I find this recipe makes enough to do 2/3 of a loaf tin + then the rest as cupcakes.

Bake cupcakes for approx 18-20 mins and /or the loaf version for 30-40 minutes in the preheated oven until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. (if the knife has any cake on it, leave for another 5 mins)

Remove from oven and cool in the tin before gently taking out and popping onto a wire rack to cool completely. TIP: I usually sprinkle the top with some sugar, cinnamon and chopped pecans for some crunch before I pop in the oven

#cake #sweets #quickrecipes #carrotcake #bananacake #toddlersnacks