From top: Banana Split Cake, $6 and up per serving, at Cake Ambition, Detroit; 313-334-7077; cakeambition.com. Chocolate Banana Cake, $35 for 10-12 servings, at Terri’s Cakes Detroit, Detroit; 313-600-3799; terriscakesdetroit.com. Brown Butter Mexican Caramel Banana Cake, $6 and up per serving, at Cake Ambition. Strawberry Banana Cake, $35 for 10-12 servings, at Terri’s Cakes Detroit. Banana Pineapple Cake, $5.25 per serving, at Sweet Delights Cakery, West Bloomfield Township; 248-787- 7766; sweetdelightscakery.com. Caramel Banana Nut Cake, $5.25 per serving, at Sweet Delights Cakery.
WHEN RUMORS WHIRLED that the royal wedding on May 19 between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, an American actress, would feature a banana cake, pastry chefs across the country received overwhelming requests for confections infused with Prince Harry’s favorite fruit. (Turns out, another unexpected flavor fusion made the cut for the nuptials: lemon and elderflower.) Three local bakers share their own banana blends worthy of a regal reception.
REIMAGINING A CLASSIC
Banana Split Cake
“This is our play on a childhood favorite dessert,” says Jessica Bouren, cake artist and owner of Cake Ambition in Detroit. “With the perfect balance of banana, chocolate, cherry, and nuts, it is literally like eating a banana split in cake form.”
A SUMMERTIME SPECIAL
Strawberry Banana Cake
Terri’s Cakes Detroit owner, Garnet Terri, recommends a white chocolate whipped cream frosting “to remind people of a summer favorite: a strawberry-banana milkshake.”
CARAMEL WITH A CRUNCH
Caramel Banana Nut Cake
West Bloomfield’s Sweet Delights Cakery offers an option for a more traditional wedding. “Our Caramel Banana Nut cake is made with ripe bananas and walnuts and is glazed with a caramel syrup,” says Sweet Delights owner and designer, Nisha Fernando, who recommends topping the moist cake with caramel or maple buttercream.
