Spring is in the air! Finally. I just love spring for so many reasons. It’s hard to get through all of them, so I will just name a few things that make this season my favorite.
The most obvious reason is that daytime is longer. When spring rolls around, Daylight Savings Time means it stays lighter longer, which means (for most of us), getting more done. Or at least feeling like we do. A sunset run is such a luxury!
You can begin to feel the warm sun on your body and face, and we all want to get out and enjoy the sunlight. Say goodbye to all the winter layers we need to stay warm– out comes our beautiful, brightly colored clothes. As a bonus, you can take your exercise routine outdoors as well!
The earth begins to come to life once again in a burst of color. The trees are budding and the flowers are starting to bloom. So many lovely fragrances hang in the air, and we get such pleasure to be a part of this new beginning.
Butterflies and bees zip delightfully around the garden.The birds, silent during the winter, gleefully sing as they make their nests and raise their young. If you’re lucky, you may see puppies, kittens, or baby bunnies in your neighborhood too!
Let’s not forget the wonderful produce that comes with this outstanding season. I always look forward to purchasing the fresh, delicious veggies and fruits that pop up in all the grocery stores and produce stands.
To sum it up, everyone loves spring. It comes with happiness, hope, and joy at the beauty of so much abundance. It also signals that summer is on the way, another season of fun in the sun and going to the beach. I just can’t wait!
On to the recipe. Few things are better than bananas and honey. Put them both in a cake and the result is a delicious treat for the spring. The honey, bananas, and eggs ensure that this cake is delightfully moist and incredibly delicious. The cinnamon and sugar work together perfectly as spicy and sweet. The nuts give this cake a nice crunch, but you can omit them if you’d like. You are not going to be able to eat just one piece. Take some to the office or a friend and make their day even better.
This recipe is courtesy of Allrecipes and makes 9 enticing servings for your friends and family.
Ingredients for Banana-Honey Cake:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
2 bananas, peeled and mashed
2/3 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 350°F.
Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.
Sprinkle with flour and tap out the excess.
Make the Batter:
In a bowl, stir together the 2 1/4 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamy.
Add the honey and beat until blended.
Add the eggs, increase the speed to medium-high and beat until smooth.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 2 additions, alternating with the bananas and beating on medium speed after each addition until smooth.
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Sprinkle evenly with the nuts, if using.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.
Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Cut into squares and serve.
Makes one 9-inch square cake.
It’s that simple!
