Preparation Steps

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Mix in the mashed bananas. Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the banana mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in coconut flakes.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Crush the vanilla wafer cookies and sprinkle them over the cake before serving.