a sweet pick me up

good morning ladies and gents... i hope you are as excited as the weekend finally being here as i am... this has been one tough week for me... and i am just looking forward to relaxing with the hubby when he gets home today... maybe we'll order in some sushi, and pop that bottle of bubbly that has been waiting patiently in the fridge :)

so yesterday was just one of those days, i was feeling a bit blue and down and i was in need of a pick me up... so while i was checking out some of my favorite blogs, i stumbled across a post by the kitchn... and a fabulous sounding cake... a dulce de leche banana cake...

ummm, yes please...

the recipe came from another blog, bakers royale and not only was this cake delicious, it was super simple to make... the cake had a nice moist, tight crumb and was just sweet enough even without the added yumminess of cream cheese frosting...

dulce de leche banana cake (makes one 9 inch round or square cake)
ingredients:
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas (about 1 ½ large bananas)
¾ cup dulce de leche


directions:
1. place sour cream in a bowl and add baking soda; set aside
2. mix butter and sugar until light and creamy
3. add eggs in one at time and beat until combined, add vanilla and beat until combined
4. mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside... then mix together the bananas, dulce de leche and the sour cream mixture
5. add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with banana mixture
6. mix after each addition until just combined
7. pour mixture into a greased and lightly floured cake pan and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean
8. cool cake for 5 minutes in cake pan, then remove cake and continue to cake completely on a wire rack

top the cake with a delicious vanilla cream cheese frosting, and if you're feeling adventurous drizzle with a little more dulce de leche... just go bananas!

and not only did this cake give me a wonderful pick me up, but i got a beautiful surprise from my little sister meggie... this lovely bouquet of flowers... i love her so much, she really made my day :)

happy baking everyone :)