Have you ever had someone rave about a book or movie to you only to be completely let down when you finally read or watched it? This friend (or in my case a family member- you know who you are) means well, but you can’t get back those precious minutes of your life. It’s a hit or miss out there in the review world. We all have our own tastes and interests, but every now and then you’ll encounter something truly magical. Something that’s excellent, across the board, and that all people will love. That’s what today is about. Something excellent. In this case a cookbook: The Clever Cookbook.
Emilie Raffa is the incredibly talented creator of the popular food blog The Clever Carrot. Her work has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Food & Wine, Saveur, The Huffington Post, Food52, and she was a finalist for ‘Best Food Photography’ in the annual Saveur Blog Awards. She is also the author of The Clever Cookbook that is officially released in stores today! I’m honored to have been invited to help her celebrate this happy occasion and to share it with you. This book is stunning. It’s stuffed full of delicious and beautifully photographed recipes. A cookbook deserving of the phrase “drool-worthy.” One of my favorite aspects of this cookbook is how flavorful the dishes are, yet they’re completely stress-free to make. Plenty of pro-tips on planning ahead and short-cuts to simplifying the cooking process. Which I fully appreciate since I tend to be a bit of a lazy cook. We’re all tired after a long day at work, right? Knowing that this book is now a “go-to” resource for me every day is exciting and a relief. I’m looking forward to all the fantastic meals that are in our future, such as Spring Tortellini Minestrone, Make-Ahead Garlic Bread, Market Vegetable Baked Ziti, Asparagus and Goat Cheese Fritatta With A Crispy Rice Crust, or Honey Roasted White Peaches. It’s not often that one comes across a cookbook where they’ll want to make every single recipe. You will with this one.
It took me days to decide on what I wanted to make and share. In the end, the Banana Cloud Cake won. Oh this banana cake. The name says it all. It’s moist, tender, fluffy, and bursting with bananas and crunchy walnuts. It’s also simple and quick to make so you don’t have to wait long to dig in. The perfect snacking cake. You won’t be disappointment when you buy this book for yourself. Don’t just take my word for it, check her out and give her a follow on Instagram, Facebook, or visit her blog at The Clever Carrot. The Clever Cookbook is available in stores and also on Amazon. Not only is she brilliant, but she’s also the sweetest (and funniest) woman you’ll ever meet. A true beauty inside and out. Just like this cookbook.
Banana Cloud Cake
Makes 12 snack squares
1 1/4 cups (156g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
2 very ripe, brown-speckled bananas
2 eggs
1/3 cup (78ml) oil
1/2 cup (100g) sugar
1 1/2 tsp (7ml) vanilla
1 heaped cup (117g) walnuts, roughly chopped
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Line an 8×8-inch (20 x 20-cm) square baking pan with parchment paper. Leave excess paper to hang over the sides for easy removal.
In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients and whisk well to blend.
To a food processor, add all the wet ingredients. Run the processor until the bananas are creamy and smooth. Add the dry ingredients (don’t dump) evenly around the bowl. Pulse in quick, short bursts, only 2-3 times. Resist the urge to over-pulse or the mixture will toughen up and become dry when baked.
Pour all the batter into the lined baking pan. Scatter the chopped walnuts over the top. Bake, on the center rack, for about 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted. The cake will be golden, puffed, and deliciously fragrant.
Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Using the over-hanging parchment paper, transfer the cake to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Dust with powdered sugar, cut into squares, and enjoy!
Recipe reprinted with permission from The Clever Cookbook by Emilie Raffa.
Teresa, I always look forward to your work; it’s such a treat! Thank you for taking the time to share this recipe- it’s just stunning. And what an incredible opening shot! I just want to grab a piece 😉 I’m delighted that you like the book and hope it brings you joy in the kitchen (even on those lazy days!). Your words are much appreciated, more than you’ll ever know. I will cherish this. xoxo
It’s my pleasure, Emilie! Thank you for allowing me to share this special cookbook with others. I’m an avid pastry cookbook collector, but only have a handful of great savory cookbooks in my collection. The Clever Cookbook fits right in and will remain a staple in our home. It’s feeding us well and has made deciding what to eat so much easier. Everything tastes spectacular! Congratulation and soak up all this love. You deserve it!
I could really use some of this with my coffee right meow!
Hi Yara! Yes, we could ALL use some of this banana cloud cake right meow. It’s so good! Super quick and easy to make. You should try it soon.;)
This looks remarkable! A must add to my list of Spring desserts; but, who can wait?! I may try this out sooner. Great pick.
Thank you, Diane! You will love this cake and so will the boys. Definitely pick up this book when you can. Thanks for stopping by!:)
Oh my goodness, this looks glorious. So beautiful, Teresa! I can’t wait to check out Emilie’s book!!
Thank you, Tessa! Emilie’s new cookbook is a stunner. Great recipes and beautiful food. What more could you ask for in a great cookbook? Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!
So gorgeous, and Emilie’s book looks amazing! Must get my hands on it!
Thank you, Betty! You’ll love it. Have a great weekend!:)
You take such incredible shots, the clarity in every one of them is beautiful. I love how this cake defies norms of banana things – mainly, it looks so fluffy! I’m dying to buy the cookbook even more now.
Thank you! This cake is super fluffy and the word “cloud” is no exaggeration. You’ll love this book. Emilie has the most brilliant and creative recipes. Always love it when you stop by, Erica! Enjoy the rest of your week.:)
I became your silent reader for a while until I see your banana cloud cake today. yeahh.. finally I couldn’t resist to say how remarkable all your works for your beautiful page… this yummy looking banana cloud cake is now on my waiting list recipe to try.. thx for sharing with us 🙂 rgds.
Hi Citra, thank you for the compliment and for stopping by to say hello! Very happy to know that you’ve been enjoying Now, Forager. This banana cake is fantastic and you should definitely try making it sometime. The Clever Cookbook is a great one.:)