Servings: Serves 10 to 12

Banana Cake Banana Cake
⅓ cup vegetable oil plus extra for preparing pan ⅓ cup vegetable oil plus extra for preparing pan
1 egg, plus 1 egg white 1 egg, plus 1 egg white
1 cup sugar 1 cup sugar
1½ cups mashed bananas (about 3 whole) 1½ cups mashed bananas (about 3 whole)
⅓ cup buttermilk ⅓ cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt 1 tsp salt
 
Bavarian Cream Bavarian Cream
1 tsp unflavored gelatin 1 tsp unflavored gelatin
¾ cup skim milk ¾ cup skim milk
2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup whipping cream ½ cup whipping cream
 
2 bananas peeled, for garnish 2 bananas peeled, for garnish

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush two 9-inch round cake pans lightly with oil and line the bottoms with parchment or wax paper. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, egg, egg white and sugar. Stir in mashed banana, buttermilk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flours, baking powder and salt. Add to banana mixture and fold in just until blended. Divide the batter between the pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops spring back when touched lightly. Let cool for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and let cool completely.
To make cream: In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1 tbsp cold water. Let stand for 1 minute to soften. Stir in milk and sugar; heat over medium heat, stirring to dissolve gelatin. Stir in vanilla and transfer to a medium-sized bowl. Refrigerate for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture is the consistency of raw egg whites. Beat whipping cream until it forms soft peaks. Whisk ⅓ of the whipped cream into the milk mixture. Fold in remaining shipped cream. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set.
To assemble cake: Shortly before serving, place 1 layer of cake on a serving plate and spread half the Bavarian cream over it. Slice one banana evenly over the cream. Top with the second cake layer. Spread remaining cream over the cake and slice remaining banana evenly over the top.