Banana Cake

From Martha Stewart

A crunchy brown sugar topping is the perfect finish to this moist, sweet cake.

Buttermilk is best for this recipe, but feel free to substitute a combination of milk and plain yogurt, or milk alone. From the book "Lucinda's Authentic Jamaican Kitchen," by Lucinda Scala Quinn (Wiley).

Serves 8
Ingredients
For the cake
        2 cups all-purpose flour
        1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
        1 teaspoon baking soda
        3/4 teaspoon salt
        3/4 cup sugar
        1/2 cup butter, melted (1stick)
        1/2 cup buttermilk, yogurt, or milk
        2 eggs
        1 teaspoon vanilla
        2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

For the topping
        1/4 cup all-purpose flour
        1/4 cup dark brown sugar
        1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)

Method
Preheat the oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Blend in the melted butter, mixing together until moist. Add 1/4 cup of the buttermilk and combine.
   
In a separate bowl, combine the other 1/4 cup of buttermilk with the eggs and blend into the flour mixture. Add the vanilla and mashed bananas. Beat for 1 minute. Place the batter in a greased 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan.
   
To make the topping, squeeze the flour, brown sugar, and butter together with your hands. Crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. When the cake is done, an inserted toothpick or fork should come out clean from the center.