If you’re constantly finding yourself with bananas that need to be used up before they go bad, this Banana Nut Slice With Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is for you. Before you know it, you will be letting bananas over-ripen on purpose!
Banana Nut Slice
This Banana nut slice on its own is so soft and moist and also great for using up leftover bananas. But adding the lemon cream cheese frosting takes it to another level.
The sweet and tangy frosting matches perfectly with the rich banana flavor in the slice. Just as importantly, it’s easy to make and perfect for not just a sweet treat but as a dessert as well.
We have been eating different versions of this banana nut slice with lemon cream cheese frosting almost non-stop for the last few weeks and think we have nailed a recipe that everyone will enjoy!
Ingredients for Banana Nut Slice
- All-purpose flour: Just all-purpose or plain flour for this recipe. We didn’t find the right combination to use self-raising as a substitute.
- Bananas: It’s always a matter of preference, but we think overripe bananas are the best for this recipe, close to black, but not completely.
- Walnuts: Raw or roasted is fine.
- Buttermilk is thick and creamy fermented milk; the taste is tangy and sour. You won’t taste it in the recipe; it will help the slice become light and fluffy. Like the eggs, the buttermilk should be brought to room temp.
- Bi-carbonate soda: Bicarbonate soda in the recipe works with the buttermilk to help the slice rise.
- Vanilla extract: Go ahead and use extract in this recipe. You can use essence if you’re desperate.
- Eggs: We used large-size, room-temperature eggs, which weighed 4oz (116g), including the shell.
- Light brown sugar: As the name suggests, light brown sugar is more delicate in taste and color than dark brown sugar. This is due to it having less molasses added.
- Granulated sugar: Yes, more sugar; you could try substituting for Splenda here; we haven’t tried replacing it in the slice, so do so at your own risk!
- Unsalted butter: Butter should be at room temperature.
Ingredients for Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese: Full-fat cream cheese was used in our frosting.
- Granulated sugar: Splenda replaced granulated sugar in our frosting at a ratio of 1:1. It’s hard to taste the difference between the two when it comes to frosting.
- Heavy cream: The heavy cream helps keep it thick, giving it enough body to stay on the slice.
- Honey: Adds another layer to the sweetness; it’s noticeable if you omit it.
- Salt: Only a little; it helps bring out the flavors.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon is best. Concentrates don’t taste right, in our opinion.
How to make Banana Nut Slice With Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Add butter: Place the softened butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Melt butter: Stir the butter and water continuously until smooth.
- Place aside: Place the butter in a warm place, not back into the fridge.
- Sift flour, bi-carbonate soda, and mixed spice into a large mixing bowl.
- Free of lumps: Check that the sifted ingredients are free of lumps or bumps. Run through the sieve again if need be.
- Combine: Sifted flour, granulated, and light brown sugar, mixing well.
- Make a well: Once mixed, push a well in the middle, ready for the wet ingredients.
- Add wet: Pour the banana, buttermilk, and eggs into the well.
- Batter: Mix the dry and wet ingredients to form the batter.
- Butter: Pour the butter into the batter.
- Combine: Mix the butter into the batter thoroughly until you can no longer see any yellow.
- Walnuts: Drop in the chopped walnuts.
- Stir the walnuts into the batter, making sure they are evenly distributed.
- Prepare the baking tray: Grease and line the baking tray with baking paper. Leave some overhanging, so it’s easier to remove.
- Pour the batter into the tray.
- Bake: Place the tray in a preheated oven on the middle rack and bake for around 25 minutes.
Now for the lemon cream cheese frosting.
- Cream cheese and sugar: Place cream cheese and sugar into a mixing bowl.
- Whisk together: Mix the cream cheese and sugar with a hand mixer.
- Mix in the lemon juice, salt, and honey.
- Heavy cream: Add the heavy cream and continue to whip.
- Silky smooth: Whip the ingredients until it is thick and silky smooth.
- Spoon the frosting: Place it in the middle of the slice and push it out to the sides.
- Smooth it out: Once the frosting has been pushed to the edges, use an angled spatula to level it all out. It’s up to you how fussy you get!
More great recipes!
We have more recipes for those unused bananas right here:
- Banana Muffins Recipe: These are banana only muffins that are moist and delicious.
- Banana Muffins With Chocolate Chips: Taking the standard banana muffin to the next level with the addition of chocolate!
- Thai Steamed Banana Cake: If you want something completely different to use up your bananas, try this great Thai dessert.
Banana Nut Slice With Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Soft and moist banana slice covered in a sweet and tangy lemon cream cheese frosting
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Servings: 12 Serves
Equipment
- 1 Baking tray 33 x 23 x 4.5 CM (13 x 9 x 2 IN)
Ingredients
Banana and Nut Slice Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar or sugar substitute
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 tsp bi-carbonate soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1/2 cup walnuts roughly chopped
- 8.8 oz unsalted butter soften
- 1/2 cup 125ml Water
- 17.6 oz bananas (approx. 3 bananas) medium size, ripen, mashed
- 2 fresh eggs room temperature, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Topping Ingredients
- 250 g cream cheese soften
- 1 cup sugar or sugar substitute - we used Splenda 1:1
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp honey
- 250 ml heavy cream cold
Instructions
Banana and Nut Slice
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F ) and adjust the shelving so the middle can be used. Grease the baking tray with unsalted butter and line it with non-stick baking paper with some overhanging for easy removal later. We used 33 x 23 x 4.5cm (13" x 9" x 2") size.
- Melt butter: Add the butter and water in a small saucepan and constantly whisk over low heat until the butter is melted and mixed into the water smoothly. Bring to a boil for 15-20 seconds, then set aside to cool down slightly.
- Sift flour: Using a sieve, sift flour, bi-carbonate soda, and mixed spice into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the light brown and granulated sugar and salt; once stirred, make a well in the middle.
- Add mashed bananas, eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk, and mix well until all are combined.
- Add butter: Gently pour the melted butter into the batter and mix well, then add in the chopped walnuts, again mixing through. Once smooth, pour the batter into the lined baking tray.
- Baking: Bake the slice for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Cooling: Leave the Banana and Nut Slice in the tray for 10 minutes before transferring them onto the cooling rack upside down for a flat surface result. Leave to cool completely on a rack for approximately 1 hour.
Cream Cheese Topping
- Cream the butter and sugar: Add the cream cheese and sugar into a mixing bowl, then mix well using an electric beater or food processor. Once the cream forms, add in the lemon juice, salt, and honey and continue to whisk well until they have combined.
- Add heavy cream: Lastly, add the heavy cream and whisk until it's rich and silky; ensure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Topping the slice: Once cooled completely, add a large dollop of the lemon cream cheese frosting to the center of the banana and nut slice. Gently spread the topping outwards, starting from the center and working the frosting to the outer edges.
- Cool: Once the topping has been applied, place it in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Cut into slices: Remove from the fridge and the tin, then cut into squares; you should be able to get around 12 from this tin size.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serve | Calories: 636kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 1192IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg
