Monk’s Favorite Banana Rum Cake & Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart

Don’t let the staring lemon scare you off. In fact, there’s nothing lemon-flavored in today’s recipe. But…there’s a funky supermarket Son A (aka Mr. Monk) sought out and found this pie-eyed citrus. Searching for eccentric and off-beat things is second nature for our first born son. (Poor kid. Just look at who his parents are!). Over the years, we’ve ridden the waves of unique interests ranging from all-things Titantic to model airplanes, and provided payroll to his business ventures around license plate art and lathe turned pens. He even tried to establish his own national park back in the day!

So when our favorite flying monkey told us he was off to Vegas we weren’t surprised. On the site seeing itinerary? Fremont Street Experience, the Vegas Strip and its various casinos, the Sphere, and Meow Wolf. Meow Wolf? Huh?! Meow Wolf was started back in 2008 by a group of Santa Fe artists who wanted to combine their talents into immersive exhibits. Five permanent locations are nation-wide, including Vegas’s Omega Mart.

Using creative and witty story telling, visitors like our Mr. Monk explore the aisles of the fictional Omega Mart. Omega Mart is the epitome of what happens when a mom ‘n’ pop supermarket is bought out by a major corporation. In addition to ironic and glitchy mass produced food items, dazed and confused “store employees” and “customers” mingle with the paying masses.

Bringing home a souvenir or several is always an option. Son A found some witty ones, including the Mammal Liquid and Tattoo Chicken (complete with the phrase “USDA had no choice”). Omega Mart’s clever commercials for their “Mislabeled Lemons” and “Mammal Liquid Weekly Special” are here; as well as employee training videos here.

Monk’s Favorite Banana Rum Cake is inspired by a banana bread we recently found. It was cleverly titled “Zombie Bread” at a local tiki marketplace. Anyone who knows their tiki cocktails knows a Zombie cocktail does not contain banana, but the marketing worked. (FYI…a Zombie cocktail inspired cake is in the works.). In any case, Mr. Monk had browning bananas on the counter that needed some assistance. Add some dark rum, banana liqueur and a touch of cinnamon and wha-la…those ‘nanas got a grand upgrade. Opt to glaze with a quick banana flavored glaze, or not. You’ll definitely know what’s in your food with this cake recipe, and there’s no gimmicks! Enjoy!

Monk’s Favorite Banana Rum Cake

Print Recipe

Bananas, booze and a hint of cinnamon make this Son A’s favorite Banana Rum Cake!

• Author: Erin Thomas
• Prep Time: 15-20 Minutes
• Cook Time: 55-60 Minutes
• Total Time: About 1-1/2 Hours
• Yield: One 12-inch Bundt Cake (About 12–16 Servings) 1x

Ingredients

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For Cake:

1 c. unsallted butter, at room temperature

1–1/2 c. granulated sguar

5–6 medium-sized ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 cups)

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 T. banana liqueur (or 1 tsp. banana extract*)

1/2 c. dark rum (or 4 T. rum extract*)

3 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt (kosher, sea, or table)

For Glaze:

1–1/4 c. powdered sugar, sifted

1 T. milk or cream

2 T. banana liqueur (or 1 tsp. banana extract + additional 1 T. milk)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 12-cup Bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking baking spray (like Baker’s Joy or Pam brand).  Set aside.

Using a standing or hand held mixer and a large bowl, cream butter and sugar for about 4 minutes or until fluffy.  Add mashed bananas, eggs, banana liqueur and rum.  Blend slowly, increasing speed, until liquid is evenly incorporated.  Mixture will look slightly curdled.   Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt to butter mixture.  Blend until no traces of flour remain, scraping sides and bottom of bowl.

Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top of batter with a rubber scraper.   Bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until knife or toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Remove pan to a wire rack for about 5 minutes and then turn out onto the wire rack.  Allow to cool before glazing, if desired.

If using glaze, whisk all ingredients together in a medium size bowl until smooth.  Pour over cooled banana rum cake.  Store for up to 3 days at room temperature in a covered container or top with plastic wrap.

Notes

*Banana liqueur can be purchased in small travel side bottles at your local package store.  This is the best way to purchase specialty flavored liqueurs for baking.  If you don’t want to use alcohol in your cake, opt too use banana and rum flavored extracts.