Dave's Banana-Filled Birthday Cake

Dave has been having this cake for his birthday ever since he was a kid. Of course, I've updated and improved the recipe over the 23 years we've been married, so it's not exactly the cake his mom used to make ... but don't tell him that ;). It's a sort of Boston Cream Pie, only with slices of bananas in the middle.

Banana-Filled Birthday Cake

Cake:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups of butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
6 eggs

Combine all ingredients in a bowl but eggs. Beat with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in one egg at a time. Pour batter into greased 10inch tube pan. Bake at 350ºF for 1 hour 15 minutes or until done.


Filling:
1 1/5 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 cup milk
3/4 cup salted butter
2 tsp vanilla
3 - 4 bananas

Combine sugar and flour in a small sauce pan. Gradually add milk and stir until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly until thick. Place in a bowl and chill for one hour. Add butter, one tablespoon at a time while beating. Add vanilla. Save bananas for final assembly.


Fudge Frosting:
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup cream
5 oz unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla

Combine the sugar and cream in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 6 minutes. Add the butter and chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Place in refrigerator and completely cool (at least 2 hours), stirring occasionally while cooling.


Assembly:
Split the cake horizontally, lengthwise and spread the filling over the bottom half. Top with bananas. Replace the top half of the cake and frost with fudge frosting.