Easy Banana Pineapple Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour (You can also do half and half white and whole-wheat flour if you like.)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup coconut (shredded, desiccated or flaked)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 medium to large ripe bananas (mashed)
• 2 large eggs (whisked)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
• 1/2 cup oil (I often use half light olive oil and half canola (or vegetable) oil, but any is fine.)
• 1 1/4 cups crushed pineapple
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 4 1/2 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups icing / powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts to decorate (optional (or a little toasted coconut))

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven and prepare square pan.: Pre-heat the oven to 340F (170C). Line a 8 – 9 inch square (or equivalent) baking pan with baking paper.

2. 2

   Combine dry ingredients.: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, and salt in a large bowl.

3. 3

   Combine wet ingredients.: Mash the banana in another large bowl, then whisk in the eggs, sugar, oil, pineapple and juice, cinnamon and ginger and vanilla if using.

4. 4

   Add dry ingredients to wet and stir.: Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (take care not to overmix).

5. 5

   Bake for 25 to 35 minutes.: Pour into the baking pan, then bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out more or less clean.

6. 6

   Let cool.: Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

7. 7

   Whisk together frosting ingredients and spread over cake.: Beat the cream cheese with a hand-held whisk, then slowly whisk in the powdered sugar/icing sugar, salt and vanilla (if using) until you have a thick frosting. Pile on top of the cake (nice and thick!) when the cake is completely cool.

8. 8

   Decorate with walnuts or coconut if you like.: Sprinkle over crushed walnuts (if using) or toasted coconut, or leave plain.