Banana Skin Cake. Yes, really!
5. Bake in a moderate oven (180C, 350F, Gas Mark 4) for 40 minutes or until it looks ready and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
The sauce boiling and reducing
To become a thick syrup
6. Meanwhile use the strained liquid part to make a glaze. Measure the amount in a cup, then for every cupful, add a cup of sugar into a pan with the liquid. Add cinnamon and a pinch of salt and heat. Stir to avoid sticking until thickened enough to spread on the cake. It will become quite viscous and I boiled mine for about 25 minutes. Cool slightly.
Page 2 of 2 | Previous page
Maria @ Scandi Foodie:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:07 am
I’m with you Lorraine, I can’t believe how some people don’t seem to care at all when it comes to consuming and waste! I’d most definitely eat this cake, but preferably would use organic bananas
Thank you for this inspirational recipe! x
Xiaolu:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:19 am
What a fascinating cake and I love the idea of making “luxury from rubbish.” Thanks for testing this, Lorraine!
tasteofbeirut:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:21 am
I love experiments and this one is terrific! Hating waste like you, what a great excuse to try this cake! It looks so stylish too! Really Lorraine, this is a cake that I can see a creative person like you producing. Hurray!
Heavenly Housewife:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:38 am
Wow, banana skins, thats a new one, but it sure looks delicious, so I’d totally eat this
*kisses* HH
Ann:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:45 am
Oh dear heavens. I’ll be honest, probably not!
pigpigscorner:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:47 am
wow really?! I have to try this. Do we have to use the “black” skin or just the yellow one will do?
Lisa (bakebikeblog):
October 5th, 2010 at 7:17 am
oh my – how wonderful is this cake!!!
Barbara Bakes:
October 5th, 2010 at 7:44 am
“luxury made from rubbish” cracked me up. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to make one, but you did it proud! xoxo Mum
Sian:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:16 am
How fascinating! I always like looking for ways to reuse things and this is a great example. I’m not sure if it would make me eat it but I might give it a go!
Gourmet Chick:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Wow this is very virtuous use of leftovers – I usually feel good enough about using a browned banana in banana loaf. You have really gone one step further here!
holly:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:41 am
how cray cray!
i usually just put my banana skins on my plants but this sounds promising.
Cakelaw:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:54 am
That is pretty cool Lorraine – who would have thought something as gross as banana skins could be a pudding ingredient? Love the sauce – it makes the cake!
Nat Kringoudis:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Wow! This is awesome.
At a Dr of TCM… I might not tell you what we use banana skin for. You might want to eat first and I can get back to you.
But these look delicious!
Anh:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Very very interesting~! Who would have thought?
leah:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Wow how cool is this cake! I never thought about using skins!!
fatima:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:36 am
mmmmm amazing i must make this one..what a great way to start my day ta!!!
A Girl, A Style:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:38 am
My gosh Lorraine, you’ve succeeded in completely surprising me!! I’m curious – you say it resembles a sticky date pudding in taste – but does it taste like a banana cake at all or more just bready (with the flavour coming from the sauce)?
And I rarely refuse to try anything, but trying it with enthusiasm would depend entirely on context. If my stepmother served it (she’s a bit like the badly adventurous cook on the Vicar of Dibley) I’d have to force an enthusiastic smile, but if it was you I most definitely would (I trust your taste entirely).
Briony xx
Lesley:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:38 am
To be honest I would rather make the cake from the bananas and give the worms the banana skin which they love.
Theresa:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I love this idea. It is so strange that I just have to have a go. And I am inspired by the idea of using something I usually think of as rubbish.
Love it!!
Paula:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Lorraine,
Do the banana skins have to be from ripe bananas? Can you use over ripened bananas usually reserved for banana bread? Thanks and sorry if it’s already been asked, reading on my phone!
P
margie:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Now this is right up my alley – I have organic bananas ready to be made into banana bread, so now I can also use the skins! Thought I might add some grated orange or lemon peel.
Maidenhair ferns also love chopped banana skins
Leah:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Wow – I’ve never heard of this before! What a fantastic use of a waste product. Will have to give it a try next time I have some bananas to use.
Anna @ M&M:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:14 am
of course i’d eat it. try everything once i say!
Cate:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Very interesting concept! For me though I think we would be on banana overload – I usually rescue the bananas when they are on their last legs to make a cake – but then to make a skin cake afterwards – they would all be going ape on me!!!! LOL
Fiona:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:39 am
I don’t think I can do it
Gianna:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
NQN has gone banana’s!
I was very curious to read this because our compost heap is always full on banana peels and once again you have made it sound deliciously chic! “luxury made from rubbish” indeed.
I would try it of course, but it may bring back memories of mushy banana’s left in my lunchbox over the weekend from when I was an irresponsible primary schooler.
Betty@TheHungryGirl:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this before! I’m so intrigued that it actually turned out well and tasted great too!
Ladybird:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Wow! Now there’s something different! Great use of something that would otherwise be tossed
Mon:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Am very curious what it would taste like, will def try next time buy some bananas!
Brenda:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
I would not eat it if I knew banana skins were the main ingredient. I’d have to be kept in ignorance until AFTER I’d tried it! My husband knows this, and has gotten me to eat MANY, MANY things in our foreign travels which, had I known what they were, would have stayed on the plate.However, this has so intrigued me that I think I’ll be the one with the secret,because I have GOT to try this recipe!
Vivian X:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Oooh I must try this out! Do you think it matters on the ripeness of the banana/banana skin?
Trissa:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Very interesting idea… I don’t know why I should be surprised when orange cakes make from peel are delicious.
sia:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I would absolutely bake and eat such an intriguing cake! All i would do is call it “banana de peau”( skin of banana)-anything french sounding is always good enough to eat!
thecoffeesnob:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I would definitely think twice knowing it had pureed banana skin. If I didn’t know any better though, with a cake this gorgeous and caramel sauce, you can’t hand me a fork any quicker! : D
InTolerantChef:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
I trust your judgment Lorraine, and if you say it tastes good then it must be awesome! I think it’s a great idea. I make a cake that uses whole oranges, peel and all, so don’t see how this would be any different. Just one question, should the soaking skins be in the fridge, or will that slow down the effect, or will they ferment on the bench in warm weather?
Loll:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
What a great idea, I’d definitely give this recipe a try. YUM!
Sara @ Belly Rumbles:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Well I just learnt something and I like it
How did the taste compare with normal banana cake?
Caz:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Interesting! I’m like you in disliking and avoiding waste as much as possible, but I admit I always thought of banana peels as a good item for the compost bin, not something that’s (rightfully) considered ‘waste’. I may try this cake once or twice, but am not sure the effort (3 days of soaking and changing) + straining & measuring is worth it for something that benefits my veggie garden anyway.
Tenina:
October 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Would definitely try it…and would be interested to try other skins…wow…I can hear my compost crying out in horror already!
Heidi:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I so want to try this! Love the lack of wastage. How fabulous! It looks super moist. Love the spoon too, so sweet.
Heidi xo
Chantel:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
This is great! I’ll have to try it.
Fig and Cherry:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Wow, this is so clever! You really are a domestic goddess miss NQN
Moya:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I’d eat it definitely! We eat citrus peels, pickle watermelon peel and potato skins are a popular bar menu item so if we add enough sugar, why not? Though my two worm farms would be deprived of their fruity repast,citrus being the only fruit they won’t eat, hehe!
Sarah:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Wow… at first I thought you had gone a little nutty on us, but this is absolutely tempting!
Chanel:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Wow. My first reaction is “bananas skin = gross!”. But I would try it, feeling a bit weird until after the first bite
The Nervous Cook:
October 5th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Wow! I’m so impressed that something so lovely can come from what we normally just toss away without thinking about. One man’s rubbish is another man’s dessert, indeed! This little cake is gorgeous — I’ll have to try this out.
Jen:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
I’d have to try this out of curiosity. I wonder if I can include the skins with the flesh in my usual banana cake or just in this particular recipe?
Hannah:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I absolutely would! Love desserts and cake, and I think this is a brilliant idea! I almost never buy bananas but next time, I might have to try this
shirley@Kokken69:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
How interesting! Yes, I would definitely give it a try!
penny aka jeroxie:
October 5th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Banana skin – I will eat it since like you said, it is delicious! No wastage on bananas!
Aliza Shehzad:
October 5th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
This gives new meaning to “going green”
Love the idea
OohLookBel:
October 5th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Good on you for trying this (better you than me!). I’m not sure about it, though the finished cake looks really nice
Amanda:
October 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I’d certainly give it a try just to satisfy my curiosity, too. Not sure about waiting 3 days for a cake though. With 3 teenagers in the house the need for cake can be somewhat urgent at times!
Midge:
October 5th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I did a double-take when I read the title of the post. Looking at the cake, you would think it was just a classic banana cake with caramel sauce! But what a way to use up something that usually ends up in the rubbish bin. Bananas are practically a staple at our house, so I now know what to do with all those skins! Thanks for the idea!
Anna Johnston:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Wow.., I have never seen anything like this but love your description ofbread and butter pudding in texture crossed with sticky date pudding… Wonderful…, I’m in
Winnie:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
wow. Really got me curious, but I’m just not quite ready with the idea yet….. Hmmm reminds me of a story about someone making sweet soup from durian pips….!!
Rosa:
October 5th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Well that is very original! I wonder how it tastes… That cake looks mighty delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Hanna:
October 5th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I’ll eat anything that smells good and tastes good. But does it taste of bananas at all? Not a fan of them.
Gummi Baby:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I’d probably try a little for the novelty of having done so but I probably couldn’t eat a lot. Besides which, our worms love their banana skins (yes they’ve become pet-like so we think about what we feed them, he he) and I just couldn’t deprive them!
Nuts about food:
October 5th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
What a brilliant idea! I hate wasting food. If it weren’t for the not very practical part of soaking the skins for days I would probably never throw away another banana skin.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Wow, a non-comedy use for banana skins. Excellent. Love the idea and would love to see the looks on people’s faces when they are told what it is!
Peggy:
October 5th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
What an interesting recipe! At first, I would probably be a bit intimidated, but I’ve always lived by the motto “to try everything once” and so I definitely wouldn’t shy away from eating this!
SuperShan:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
I’d have a taste – but a kitchen with soaking banana skins sitting in it puts me off a bit!
deana:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I love this idea, Lorraine. I don’t have a compost pile of my own these days so I take it to the green market on Saturday ( it lives in a giant antique pottery bread jar as it collects). This way I feel slightly righteous about all the stuff I throw away as a mad chef. Using the peels ( although they do make your rosebushes happy!)is an amazing idea. Thanks for the tip and for being brave enough to try it!!!
Debra Kolkka:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
It has to be worth a try!
Katie:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Wow how unusal. I’d try antyhing once. It looks delicious. You’re only using the essence of the skin, but the whole thing so I don’t see it as being a problem. Especially if it tastes as good as it looks
Vivienne:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Haha one man’s garbage is one man’s treasure. Or something like that. Looks divine and I’d eat it any day!
Sasa:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:37 am
I’ll eat pretty much anything, so yes! Tis the cake for me – I hate waste with a vengeance too ^_^
diva:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:52 am
NO WAY. i’m not sure if i could stomach it really. am not a fan of bananas unless it’s been mashed and then cooked beyond recognition. or doused in so much rum and ice cream (in my version of a banana split) that i’m too heady to realize. But nevertheless, i might try this! too beautiful to resist x
Phunk:
October 6th, 2010 at 1:02 am
I would definitely try this cake! And want to! Even better if I use the bananas to make banana bread & the skins to make cake – it’s like two cakes from one
Oh & I have the exact same spoons as you! Handed down from my Nan
sweetlife:
October 6th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Oh goodness, what a great idea for a recipe!!! I love that nothing is wasted, eat your banana in oatmeal for breakfast, soak the skins for a cake the next day..brillant, I would totally devour this..
sweetlife
bookmarked
christelle is flabbergasting:
October 6th, 2010 at 2:51 am
This looks absolutely delicious! Must try it!
Sue:
October 6th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Wow, this is so unique! I will try it for sure because you already tried it and I trust your taste buds!
It will be fun to see how people react when they find out what it is:) Thanks, Lorraine!
blackbookkitchendiar:
October 6th, 2010 at 3:23 am
i will love to give this a try.. it looks really amaizing.
Patricia Scarpin:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:00 am
Lorraine, this is such an interesting recipe! I definitely would try the cake, even knowing the “secret” ingredient – my grandmother (who took care of us for a few years after my mom died) used to make breaded banana skins for dinner.
One of my friends had dinner in my house once and thought it was breaded fish fillet.
Faith:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:42 am
I absolutely love this, Lorraine! I love how I always find so many unique recipes on your blog. I also hate wasting, so to me the idea of being able to use banana skin is really fantastic! Bookmarking. And adding bananas to my grocery list.
joudie's Mood Food:
October 6th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Lorraine this is such a genius cake. Who would have thought….
I would definitely make this and think i will. Sounds yummy! What a great result!
MaidInAustralia:
October 6th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Wow … I don’t like the sound of this cake, but the fact that Mr NQN’s family have given it the thumbs-up will make me try it. I’d like to make one from orange skins too ….
Phuoc'n Delicious:
October 6th, 2010 at 10:07 am
That’s so interesting! Who would have thought of using banana skins in a cake, I’ll have to keep it in mind for next time..
GOdi:
October 6th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Did you know that in the Phihlippines. all the local brands of catsup is made from raw green banana and banana peel?
Roz:
October 6th, 2010 at 11:13 am
What a lot of comments too many to trawl through to read if someone else has already responded like me – very kooky idea but not sure if I will ‘enjoy nurturing’ banana skins on my bench for three days but if you think the taste is far superior to real banana let me know or if you really think it is all about the texture, I am a devout texture person
Betty:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
How unusual to use banana skins in a cake! I usually just put them in the compost heap or bury them around my roses. I’ll look at them in a different way from now on!
Danielle:
October 6th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I would try it actually, banana cake is my favourite, I’d try it just to satisfy curiousity, and when i get some ‘spare time’ I WILL try it! Thanks for the recipe!
x
5 Star Foodie:
October 6th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Wow, that’s definitely a new one for me! The cake does look terrific – I would love to try it for sure!
Bubble and Sweet:
October 6th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I’d try it if it was offered, much more palatable than some delicacies when you think about it. How very Enviro of you.
Celeste@Berrytravels:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I am puzzled and yet really excited by this cake. Banana skins? In cake? I must try this now!
Matilda:
October 6th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
You make it look good Lorraine but I’m sitting on the fence for this one. ;-0
Johanna:
October 6th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
that cake sounds so bizarre that I am trying to get my head around it – don’t worry will come back and puzzle over it again and I hope eventually I might try it – it is too strange to not try!
Sarah, Maison Cupcak:
October 7th, 2010 at 8:33 am
I had NO IDEA banana skins were edible never mind that you could make cake with them. I’d definitely try it!
Su-yin:
October 7th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I am very, very intrigued. Will bookmark this for future use. Might just have to do a direct comparison of banana vs banana skin cake. Lol.
clearlytangled:
October 7th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
interesting recipe, lorraine! it had never occurred to me to ever use banana skins.
and yes, YES i would try it!
Jamie:
October 7th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
This is funny actually! I would try it if, when I broke it open I saw no visible chunks of skin. Intriguing indeed!
Erin:
October 10th, 2010 at 2:56 am
This is sooo cool!! I also hate waste. When I lived at home, I used to throw banana peels into the woods behind my parents house.
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes):
October 11th, 2010 at 6:06 am
I don’t think I would be able to. I’m pretty non adventerous when it comes to food. Totally opposite in real life though!
grace:
October 15th, 2010 at 4:41 am
i eat a banana a day, and it has NEVER occurred to me to make use of the peels. bravo to you, and thanks for the idea!
Anaree Nelson:
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Wowee – a link from Dateline – you go girl!
lindylou:
October 22nd, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Love to hear from those who have actually cooked and eaten this please
EVA:
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 pm
FANTASTIC AND interesting recipe, Lorraine! it had never occurred to me to ever use banana skins.
and yes, YES i would try it!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Waste Not, Want Not: Stop Throwing Away Your Food! | Misermama Coupons and Freebies:
October 30th, 2010 at 2:32 am
[...] which combines banana peels with black eyed peas. One enterprising chef and writer even made banana peel cakes. Banana peels can also be used, like many fruit peels, to create homemade [...]
Anna:
November 28th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for this recipe. I saw it a while ago and have been wanting to try it since then (I have four kids and they all love bananas, so our compost is always full of peel). Finally today I cooked it. YUM! The syrup is what makes it so amazingly yummy, but the cake is lovely and moist. I used a combination of banana peel and rockmelon skin. It turned out great. And my family loved it. Thank you.
Actually as I was eating it, I was wondering if you have tried watermelon rind pickle? I love it – both because of the taste and because it uses something that would otherwise be thought of as scraps.
Thanks again for a great recipe
Marya:
February 20th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
This is a fantastic recipe . I love the format , for one cup of puree, add one cup of etc. It makes the amounts so much easier to control .I usually measure everything by the gram as this is the norm where I live and the cup size is different,too ,200 c.c.s but I just followed the recipe using my own cup and it worked out perfectly .
We dont have self raising flour either so I had to add baking powder .
I never would have thought it was possible to make a cake from banana skins ,it amazes everyone I know .
You have made me a real convert to ‘Eco recipes’ !
JP
Banana Peel Cake | The 4th Street Food Co-op:
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 am
[...] recipe is featured on Dateline’s site, and an Australian food blogger took an extra step and blogged her version in greater detail with beautiful photos. I googled and found other instances of banana skin cakes [...]
Kristi:
April 5th, 2011 at 3:48 am
That is definitely one way to use up banana skins. I never would have thought of it! How interesting for sure. Nice pictures as well.
Link smörgåsbord for May 11, 2011 | Rum & Reason:
May 12th, 2011 at 12:52 am
[...] Banana Skin Cake. Yes, really! [...]
apple skin cake with apple cream cheese frosting « mmm… needs more sugar:
October 11th, 2011 at 9:28 am
[...] a pile of apple skins left on the bench I had an idea! I remembered a little while ago Lorraine over at NQN baked a cake using banana skins. Cake & tea? Great – get me one while you're [...]
B is for Banana! | Delish Ice - Delicious, gourmet popsicles:
November 28th, 2011 at 12:14 am
[...] can read about the rest of the recipe over here. To use the banana skins you cut the ends off, and put the rest of the peel in a container and fill [...]
Watermelon Rind Jam Slatko @ Not Quite Nigella:
February 6th, 2012 at 5:00 am
[...] of making something out of something that would have been discarded. I hate to waste food (see banana skin cake) and if it is perfectly edible I’m willing to try and see what it tastes like. The sample [...]
marion:
February 6th, 2012 at 11:39 am
thanks to nun for the recipe and commenter 99- anna. I had wondered if anyone had finally made the cake. will give it a try
Patricia:
February 6th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
For God’s sake only use organic bananas – or any other fruit for that matter – for this recipe. The things they spray on fruit these days are terrible.
thebakingaddict:
February 19th, 2012 at 2:31 am
I made this recently and it tastes amazing! Thanks for sharing
http://themorethanoccasionalbaker.blogspot.com/2012/02/banana-skin-cake.html
Mi Vida en un Dulce:
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:05 am
Hi Lorraine, I’m planning to make this cake on the weekend (I will make some banana muffins today), but I have a couple of questions. There is yeast in the recipe, is it the dry yeast that we normally use when making bread? The other question is about flour, it should be Self-raising, even though we are using yeast?
Queque de Cáscaras de Plátano « Mi Vida en un Dulce:
August 8th, 2012 at 11:28 am
[...] sólo porque no me terminaba de convencer, pero finalmente me dije, bueno, si está en el post de Lorraine, de Not Quite Nigella, entonces no debe ser malo, y no lo [...]