Banana-Pecan Streusel Pound Cake
I have a two year old niece. She’s great. Really great.
She can count up to thirty by herself. She knows her all of her ABCs and colors.
She LOVES eating vegetables. She’ll eat fresh picked green beans like they’re potato chips. Broccoli? Brussel Sprouts? Cucumbers? No problem. She’ll eat them with a smile on her face.
She sings the “Farmer in the Dell” as the “Farmer in the Cheese”. I don’t know why, but it’s friggin adorable. I videotaped it. I watch it often whenever I need a smile.
Her hair goes down to her butt when it’s straightened. (Note, that makes it longer than mine- her 26 year old aunt)
She is an expert at working a cellphone and a tablet. I’m serious: this 2 year old knows how to find contacts and dial/Facetime numbers, surf Youtube, find the cartoon videos she likes, skip the ads, rewind/fast forward and repeat the videos over again. It’s CRAZY how tech savvy she is.
She’s very articulate for her age. For instance: when I recently announced to her that it was time for bed, she replied, “What? But that’s impossible and so silly!” (Verbatim. Those were her exact words. Where she learned how to say ‘impossible’, I have no idea.)
All I know is, I’m a mighty proud auntie.
I mean, she’s two: so that means that she does love Cheetos, apple juice, and ice cream.
She asks A LOT of questions, REPEATEDLY. (“What are you doing?” followed by “Why”? being her favorites right now)
She doesn’t like going to bed at night.
And hearing the word ‘No’ sometimes makes her….upset.
But regardless of those trying times that come with living with a toddler, I gotta say that my niece is one of the biggest lights of my life and I’m so glad that I get to help raise her and watch her grow. Even if I never have any kids of my own, she’ll always be my baby.
Come to think of it, I just remembered something. Something important.
I know what you guys are all thinking.
“Jess…what on Earth did you bake that monster of cake for?”
Well, today’s a pretty special occasion guys. So I baked a pretty special cake.
Today’s the second anniversary of Cooking is My Sport. I’ve been both an aunt AND a food blogger for two years now and although being an aunt always takes precedence for me, I will say that being a blogger’s been a pretty great part of my life too. It’s given me the opportunity to share what I love to do with a whole bunch of friends, strangers, and strangers who have become friends. It’s also one of the better decisions I’ve made and I couldn’t let the day go by without whipping up something great to commemorate the occasion.
And God, is this thing great.
Let me tell you guys something. There’s pound cake….and then there’s POUND CAKE.
Those who know what’s up, can tell the difference.
You guys should know how serious I was about celebrating my blogs second birthday. This recipe was originally, just for a plain banana pound cake with pecans sprinkled on top. But that wasn’t good enough for me. I wanted more.
So not only did I add a buttery pecan streusel topping to this ginormous cake, I went a step further and made a caramel sauce from scratch to drizzle on top of the finished product.
I took an ordinary pound cake, and brought it up to…a higher level. It’s just what I do.
And I’m also feeling rather generous, so to celebrate Cooking is My Sport’s birthday, I’d like to invite all of you to take one great big slice of this cake. Eat, get your mind blown, and smile.
Then repeat.
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Banana-Pecan Streusel Pound Cake
Recipe Adapted from The Southern Cake Book
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. table salt
- Shortening
For Pecan Streusel:
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. table salt
For Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1/4 cup honey
Directions
For Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition.
Combine mashed bananas, milk and vanilla
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to batter alternatively with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour into a greased (with shortening) and floured 10-inch (16 cup) tube pan. Sprinkle with pecan streusel.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on wire rack.
For Pecan Streusel: Stir together flour, pecans, melted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt until blended. Let stand thirty minutes or until firm enough to crumble into small pieces.
For Carmel Sauce: Bring light brown sugar, melted butter, whipping cream and honey to a boil in a medium saucepsn over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 15 minutes before serving. To reheat, microwave at HIGH 10 to 15 seconds or until warm, stir until smooth.
Looks so decadent and inviting! Love pecans!
Happy 2nd! And your niece sounds beyond adorable! Farmer in the Cheese! LOL
Thanks Dave- she’s a handful, but she’s amazing at the same time. 😉
Happy 2nd Blogversary! And DANG that cake looks GOOD!!
Oh trust me, it tastes just as good as it looks lol Thank you!
Your niece is so adorable and my mouth waters just looking at this divine pound cake. It really is worth to serve it in a special occasion such as today. Happy 2nd Blogversary! 😀
Thank you Anna 😀
My pleasure. 🙂
LOve it ! Love it 🙂 and congrats on your 2 yr blog birthday
Thank you very much!
Love this post. 🙂 Congrats on your blog birthday!!
Thanks Josette, it’s been a great two years 🙂
This looks amazing!! Happy Anniversary! I adore your blog!
Aw, thank you Abby. That means a lot to me 🙂
Congratulations on your blog anniversary, Jess! What a perfect cake to celebrate. I love that it has streusel and caramel sauce. I really enjoy your blog and am glad you started it!
Thanks Shari- your comments always make me smile, so hearing that you enjoy the blog makes me very happy 🙂
Congrats! Happy blogiversary! Looks wickedly sinfully delicious.
That’s a perfect description for it Gretchen lol, thank you!
Congratulations on your anniversary! This cake blows my mind. That streusel is teasing my tastebuds! Your niece is an amazing little girl. I think that children are so much smarter that we give them credit for. You must provide her a great environment that allows her excel.
Thank you so much Julie- my niece is CRAZY smart….and cute. The “problem” I think is that she knows it and sometimes uses that to her advantage lol Ah well. 😉
Congratulations Jess! And OMG the pics are insane. Whoa!! Amazingly delish! I wish I can dig my spoon into the screen. And your sweet little neice looks like one whiz kid in the making!!!
Thank you- I’m really happy with how the cake turned out 🙂
Can I have some for my coffee break right now?
If I could, I DEFINITELY would give ya some. lol Thanks 😉
This pound cake looks amazing! And your niece sounds so adorable! 🙂 Congratulations on your 2nd blogaversary, too!
Thanks Nancy- the cake WAS amazing. And my niece IS VERY adorable lol so I appreciate that 😉
I love anything with streusel on top. Yours looks spectacular! Just want to sink my teeth into that piece!