Thursday, June 4, 2009

Keik me Tahini kai Banana--Tahini and Banana Cake with Chocolate Chip Streusel




There's something about a streusel topping that makes people feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It must be all that brown sugar and cinnamon. Add some walnuts and a handful of chocolate chips ... now you've got a little piece of heaven in every bite.

I made this cake last week and I couldn't stop eating it. Not to toot my own horn or anything ... but neither could my husband; or our children; not to mention my mom enjoyed it too; oh, and a friend who'd stopped by for a quick cup of coffee said it should be selling in a bakery. And do you know what the best part is? Although this cake tasted so rich and flavorful, there was no butter. Instead, I used some tahini and no one was the wiser. Did I mention a friend said it was worthy of selling in a bakery? Just checking!



Tahini and Banana Cake with Chocolate Chip Streusel
(Inspired by a recipe on
Epicurious.com)
Makes an 8-inch square cake

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup tahini
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 large (very ripe) bananas


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8x2 inch square baking pan and set aside. In a bowl, combine the chocolate chips, brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon and stir. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk until well combined.

In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the tahini and sugar and mix on medium high speed for a couple of minutes. Add the egg, then the vanilla and bananas and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir in the flour mixture and mix until combined.

Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle half the streusel topping over the batter. Pour remaining batter over and spread it evenly with your spatula being careful to keep it from combining with the streusel below. Finally, top with the remaining streusel and bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

23 comments:

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

Maria, I'm intrigued by the use of tahini in the cake...sounds ingenious! I'm sure you could sell many of these, no problem!

alexandra said...

amazing. no butter? tahini? l love substitutions like that. I want to grab that cake off the screen so i can enjoy it with my coffee

Anonymous said...

What a neat idea to use tahini here! Sounds wonderful and I love the chocolate chip streusel on top!

Betty's Cuisine said...

I have never tried to use tahini in a cake but I am sure this one is delicious! You can tell from the photo! I love cakes and this is a great idea for our morning coffee!

Janet @Gourmettraveller88 said...

Tahini can be in dessert, very creative!!!

theonikm said...

This wonderful cake would not last a day in our house! Great idea!

gastroanthropologist said...

Thank you for giving me another way to use my tahini! I only use it for hummus and I hate things that only have one use. Looks so delicious and moist.

Ivy said...

Tahini is wonderful in cakes and when my husband bought a tahini with honey by mistake during Easter I had to make it into a cake and it was delicious. The combination of banana, chocolate plus the walnuts makes this cake delicious.

Mariana Kavroulaki said...

i love tahini in desserts! You should try it in biscuits too! It gives them a wonderful flavor and texture and make them extremely high in Calcium and therefore a great healthy snack for children.

Hopie said...

Wow, I would never have thought of using tahini instead of butter! I'll have to give it a try!

Konstantina said...

I am not sure about the banana;) but I love your idea to put tahini in the cake!

Maria Verivaki said...

this looks delicious, i love the chocolat chips you've added - reminds me of the tahini cupcakes i saw in food junkie's blog

Elly said...

Yum, Maria, this looks fabulous! I love the use of tahini and anything with a streusel topping is a winner in my book!

tobias cooks! said...

Tahini and Banana...I like the thought if it!

Jackie @PhamFatale.com said...

I've heard of apple streusel, but never chocolate chip. I'm a chocoholic so I'm definitely running to the stores and get some tahini and bake this wonderful treat

Teanna said...

Ohhh I LOVE anything banana! And with chocolate chips? My heart just skipped a beat!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I make something similar called Crater Cake so I can attest to the power of this way with bananas!!!The addition of the tahini brings it to a new level of flavour:D

Peter M said...

A resourceful use of Tahini...looks so moist inside as well.

Now I have some inspiration for using that tub of Tahini I have.

FoodJunkie said...

I love everything with banana in it! this cake sounds tasty and full of energy.

Thistlemoon said...

I love the tahini in this recipe! What a great idea. I have never baked with tahini and I really want to after reading this!

♥Rosie♥ said...

Maria, this cake looks utterly gorgeous but never used tahini before.

test it comm said...

I have never baked with tahini. It sound good and the results look amazing!

Unknown said...

Maria, I usuall make tahini cake ... like how the Turkish make it but never thought to add bananas and choco. Sounds really nice, going to have to try it.

Love your pix and blog!