Banana and Nutella Cheesecake Cake

Triple-layer, 8" round Banana Cake with a middle layer of Nutella Cheesecake, Crumb-coated in Nutella Buttercream, Frosted with Banana Buttercream, & topped with Lindt BonBons

 

 

 

Finding inspiration can sometimes be a challenge for me.  Making time to write is always a challenge - I've plenty of cakes and baking experiences to blog and I've just not made it a great priority.  Until now (I hope).

 

This Banana Nutella Cheesecake Cake was amazing fantastic crazy delicious.  I got it in my head that I wanted to bake a Nutella Cheesecake, but wasn't quite sure which flavor to pair with it.  I went to my white board and started listing all the possibilities.  As soon as I said, "Banana" ... I stopped writing.  I knew immediately that was the direction for this cake.

 

When it comes to baking this crust-less cheesecake, I'm still working out the kinks.  Timing, temperature of ingredients, ingredient proportions are still being adjusted.  For this cheesecake, I followed my basic recipe and added 1c. of Nutella.

 

 

Baking a Banana Cake is different from baking Banana Bread.  I want the cake to be lighter and more cake-like (that's a legit term, right?) while still having a strong banana flavor.  I love this recipe I've developed and it has enough body to support a cheesecake layer and additional cake layers.  And, it's banana-y...and cake-y.

 

Constructing this cake was pretty straight forward.  I did add a bit of a flavor boost to the cheesecake (just in case it missed the mark); I included a very thin layer of Nutella buttercream between the cake layers.  New motto:  More Nutella can't hurt!

 

 

I love getting a cake to this stage... the baking is completed, the cake is filled, and the second stage of creativity is about to take off - decorating a blank canvas.  I love working with flavors as much as I enjoy the manipulating the buttercream.  "Let's match the insides to the outside."

 

 

Without a doubt, I love incorporating my passion for Fiesta Ware into my cake shoots.  The color and design of one can influence the other. 

 

I know I live an amazing life with my partner of 27 years.  And I'm grateful we weathered the storms that getting sober created.  With so much to be thankful for... maybe a slice of cake is in order.