Banana Cake with Nutella Swirl

Like banana bread on Cloud 9. I took my signature banana bread batter, made it even lighter and airier, and swirled Nutella into the top. Oh, and I baked the batter like a cake, so each square delivers more Nutella in every bite.

The food processor does all the work: This cake batter comes together in a flash thanks to the food processor. First, the machine mashes the bananas, then it blends the ingredients. If you don't have a food processor, you can mix the ingredients together with a whisk or an electric mixer. Just make sure to mash the bananas with a fork first). 

Banana Cake with Nutella Swirl

Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas, about 4 bananas
1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread of choice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well with a fork and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl or food processor, combine the bananas, milk, oil, egg, and vanilla. Mix or process until blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until just blended. 
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth surface. 
Heat the Nutella in a small bowl in the microwave until thin enough to "drizzle" (about 30 to 45 seconds). Using a small spoon, drizzle the Nutella over the top of the banana batter - making vertical lines from one long side of the pan to the other (the vertical stripes will stretch from side to side edge). Starting from one of the shorter ends of the pan, run a wooden pick through the Nutella from one side to the other. Repeat going back the other direction, creating a pattern. 

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean, or with little moist bits clinging to it.
Cool on wire rack before cutting into squares.

Serves 10-12