8tablespoons(1 stick, 4 ounces, 1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
3/4cupsugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2large eggs
3very ripe bananas, mashed
Peanut butter filling (recipe follows)
4strips bacon, browned and crumbled
Peanut Butter Filling:
3/4cupcreamy or crunchy peanut butter
3/4cupunsalted butter, room temperature
3/4cupconfectioners' sugar
pinchof salt
Instructions
Banana Cakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flours, flax meal (if using), baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a mixing bowl and hand-held electric mixer), cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until combined. Add the bananas and beat on medium for about 2 minutes, until completely combined.
Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat on low until combined.
Using a tablespoon, drop batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cakes begin to brown. Remove from oven and let the cakes cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
Once cool, pair similar shaped cakes with each other. Using an offset spatula, spread a generous amount of peanut butter frosting (recipe follows) on the flat bottom of one cake then firmly press the bottom of a matching cake down to make the whoopie pie. Alternatively, you can use a ziploc or piping bag to pipe the filling onto the cakes.
Once all cakes are assembled, roll the edges in the crumbled bacon pieces. Serve immediately.
Peanut Butter Filling
In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a mixing bowl and electric hand mixer), beat together the peanut butter and butter on low speed until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and the salt and beat on low to incorporate. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the filling is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.