This handsome cake is moist and has a lovely banana aroma. For best flavor, be sure bananas are very ripe-they should be speckled with brown and feel soft to the touch.

Preparation time:   20 min Baking time:   1 to 1 1/4 hrs Oven temp:   350 degrees F

For 1 cake you will need: 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1 tsp. vanilla 4 eggs 1 cup mashed ripe bananas(about 2 medium) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. each baking powder and ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp. ground cloves Lemon Glaze optional, (recipe follows)

 

1. In a large bowl cream butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in bananas. 2. Mix flour, baking powder and spices. Blend into banana mixture. Spread in a greased, lightly floured 9-inch (9 to 10-cup) tube pan. 3. Bake at 350 degrees F until wooden pick inserted in thickest part comes out clean, about 1 hr. 4. Cool in pan 10 min., then turn out onto a rack to complete cooling. 5. When cool, drizzle with lemon glaze, if you like. Lemon Glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tsp. soft butter or margarine and 1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind. Gradually mix in 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, mixing until smooth and well blended.