Sweet Potato (or Pumpkin) Banana Cake

I know that pumpkin recipes are all over the place this time of year - and I adore pumpkin like nobody's business.  I refuse to wait for fall to make pumpkin goodies - I make them all year around.

In the past, I have cooked and pureed my own pumpkin and saved it in 2 cup portions in the freezer for whenever I needed it - but in the past couple of years, I've actually started using sweet potatoes instead.

Thanks to my blog friend SnoWhite, I learned that sweet potatoes make an excellent substitute for pumpkin in just about any recipe, and since sweet potatoes can be bought for ridiculous bargains around the holidays, I stock up and make a bunch of puree - for a significant savings over canned pumpkin or even homemade pumpkin puree.

We were cleaning out our freezer recently and I discovered several ziplock baggies of my sweet potatoes hidden away and was inspired to make something.  This cake was the perfect choice.

It's moist and wonderfully spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg - and the banana and sweet potato flavors combine surprisingly well together.  Although it would be very good just plain - or even made into muffins - the cream cheese frosting takes it to a whole new level.

Because, as we all know, cream cheese frosting rocks.

And I love recipes that get extra veggies into my kids - even if it is through cake.

Sweet Potato (or Pumpkin) Banana Cake (adapted from Whipped)

2 eggs

3 small bananas, mashed

1-2/3 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup expeller pressed coconut oil (or vegetable oil)

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (or plain)

2 cups sweet potato puree (or canned pumpkin puree)

2 cups white whole wheat flour (or all purpose flour)

2-1/4 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. salt

1-1/4 tsp. baking soda

Frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup (4 T.) softened butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease a 13 x 9" pan.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, mashed banana, sugar, oil, yogurt, and sweet potato (or pumpkin) until light and fluffy.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and baking soda.

Add the dry ingredients to the sweet potato mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean with most crumbs clinging to it.  Let cool completely before frosting.

Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined.  Stir in the vanilla and mix again.

Spread on cooled cake.


Linked to Crazy Sweet Tuesday and Crumbs and Chaos/ Seasonal Inspiration