Caramel Banana Pecan Cake

Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This will ensure that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and help avoid any clumps of baking soda or powder in your cake batter.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes. Creaming the butter and sugar helps incorporate air into the batter, giving the cake its soft, tender texture.
4. Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, aromatic flavor that pairs beautifully with the bananas.
5. Incorporate the Mashed Bananas and Sour Cream
Add the mashed bananas and sour cream to the wet mixture, and mix until fully combined. The bananas will provide natural sweetness and moisture, while the sour cream adds richness and a slight tang, creating a moist, tender cake.
6. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dense cake.
7. Add Pecans
Fold in the chopped pecans gently with a spatula, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. The nuts add a wonderful crunch and flavor that complements the soft cake.
8. Bake the Cake
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Once the cakes are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool in their pans for about 10 minutes. Then, turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Prepare the Caramel Sauce
While the cakes are cooling, heat the caramel sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until it’s warm and pourable. If you want to make your own caramel sauce, simply melt sugar in a saucepan until golden brown, then add heavy cream and butter, stirring until smooth.
10. Assemble the Cake
Once the cakes have cooled completely, place one layer on a serving platter. Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over the top of the first cake layer, allowing it to soak into the cake a little. Place the second cake layer on top, then drizzle more caramel sauce generously over the top.
11. Garnish and Serve
For a beautiful finish, garnish the cake with banana slices and extra chopped pecans. The banana slices add a fresh, fruity contrast to the rich cake, while the pecans give it an extra crunch and flavor.
12. Serve and Enjoy
Slice into the Caramel Banana Pecan Cake and enjoy the sweet, moist, and nutty layers of banana and caramel. The combination of flavors in this cake is absolutely irresistible!