Passion Cake

Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

This Passion Cake is one of those bakes that fills the kitchen with warmth and comfort — a soft, spiced sponge packed with banana, carrot, coconut, and nuts, all held together with a silky cream cheese frosting. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, perfect for any celebration or slow Sunday afternoon.

Dunowen Passion Cake being made.
Dunowen Passion Cake slice on a sideplate.
Ingredients:
  • 250g self-raising flour, sifted
  • 200g light soft brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 large free range eggs
  • 200ml sunflower oil
  • 2 small bananas mashed
  • 125g grated carrot (approx 2 medium carrots)
  • 50g desiccated coconut
  • 50g chopped pecans
  • 50g raisins
  • 50g chopped cashews
Filling & topping:
  • 100g butter softened
  • 100g cream cheese
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 250g icing sugar, sifted
  • Nuts to decorate top
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 180C / 350F / Gas 4. Butter & line 2 x 20cm sandwich tins.
  2. Mix flour, sugar & cinnamon in a bowl then stir in lightly beaten eggs & oil. Gently fold in mashed banana, carrot, coconut, raisins & nuts.
  3. Divide between the tins then bake in preheated oven for approx 25 mins or until skewer comes out clean.
  4. Leave tins on rack for 20 mins before removing cakes carefully & allowing you cool completely.
  5. Make filling & topping by beating butter, cream cheese & vanilla together until smooth. Add sifted icing sugar & beat until really smooth & thick.
  6. Place one half of cake on plate, cover with half the cream filling then place 2nd cake on top. Smooth remaining filling over the top then decorate with whole or chopped pecans or walnuts or seasonal fresh flowers from the garden.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up