I don’t know which makes life feel more like an episode of the Twilight Zone right now – living life on lock down because of Covid 19 or my husband & I baking a cake together for the first time in 34 years together. Granted, I had him hooked at Banana Chocolate Bundt Cake, but I digress. And, no matter which way makes it feel more like the Twilight Zone, I’m looking forward to lock down being a thing of the past & really hope that Ralph will continue helping me cook because it was a lot of fun!

Having bananas to use up seems to be the story of my life sometimes. This time, I wanted something chocolate & had a devil’s food cake mix in the pantry. Voila! Banana Chocolate Bundt Cake! The acidity of the buttermilk gives the cake a lighter crumb and allows the bananas to give moisture without making the cake too heavy or dense. Adding cinnamon to the cake and the glaze really takes it up a notch.

For another chocolate and banana cake recipe, try my Double Chocolate Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting!

Baking Tip

When baking a Bundt Cake, be sure to grease and flour or use Baker’s Joy on the entire inside of the pan, paying special attention to the center core portion. Failure to do so could result in your cake sticking to the pan and tearing as it comes out.

Banana Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 oz) devil’s food cake mix – I use Duncan Heinz
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray bundt pan with Baker’s Joy or grease & flour.
2. Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer until blended, scraping as needed.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth evenly. Place pan in oven & bake for 38-40 minutes.
4. Remove pan from oven & cool for 20 minutes. Flip onto a cake carrier or plate, remove from pan, cover with tea towel or bread cloth, & cool for another 30-45 minutes. While the cake continues to cool, prepare the glaze.
5. Once the cake has cooled, pour glaze evenly over cake.

Glaze Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Place sugar, butter, and milk into heavy bottomed saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring, until butter melts and mixture starts to boil. Boil, stirring, for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in cocoa powder and chocolate chips until melted and well combined.
3. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon.
4. Set aside to cool and thicken.