Delightful Banana Cake

Everyone really liked the cake. My favorite part was the drizzle on the cake but even the actual cke had some really good flavor. I left the nuts out of the cake as I don't like nuts in cakes and such. This recipe was a little more work then I prefer but I'd say it was worth the extra work. According to the nutrition facts with this recipe it has only 10 grams of fat, 5 of which are saturated. I found the recipe in Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking November 2008 issue.

2 eggs, separated
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, softened, divided
1 1/2 cup sugar, divided
1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 to 3 medium)
1/3 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or chopped pecans

Drizzle:
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons fat free milk

Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and 1 cup sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolks; mix well. In a small mixing bowl, beat the bananas, sour cream, applesauce, and vanilla until blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; add to the butter mixture alternately with banana mixture. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and remaining butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly; stir in water.

Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold into batter. Fold in walnuts.

Coat a 10 in fluted tube pan with cooking spray and sprinkle with flour; add a third of the cake batter. Drizzle with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat layers; top with remaining batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

For drizzle, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter until lightly browned. Remove from the heat; stir in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cake.