Caramelized Banana Loaf Cake Food

CARAMEL BANANA UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
• Make the banana topping: Melt butter in a small deep heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once it starts to bubble, add sugar and let simmer for 3 minutes until thick and smooth. Pour into prepared pan.
• Cut bananas in half lengthwise and, depending on the size of the bananas and pan, cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces widthwise. Place bananas over caramel, cut side down.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Occasionally scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. On medium speed, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating it with the sour cream in 2 additions, starting and ending with the flour. Do not over mix.
• Pour batter carefully into pan over bananas and smooth the top. Bake for 40 - 50 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool for exactly 5 minutes on a wire rack, then invert it onto a plate and let cool completely.
• Serve warm or at room temperature. Store cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• chocolate-Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Add 2 sliced bananas and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook until golden and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the bananas with cinnamon and spoon over rum raisin ice cream.
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BANANA, THYME & CARAMEL LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Put the mashed bananas in a bowl and leave out for half an hour to oxidize - this will make them browner and add to the colour. Or if you are in a rush, just mash the bananas and get to baking the loaf.
• Line and grease a 900g loaf tin and preheat the oven to 180°C/ Fan 160°C/ Gas 4.
• Add the butter and caster sugar to the banana and mix till combined, then add the salt and thyme leaves, reserving a few to sprinkle over at the end. Now pour in the olive oil and milk and mix through. Add the sifted flour and fold through until you have a smooth cake batter.
• Pour the mixture into the tin and level off with a few sharp taps, add the two slices of banana, cut-side up, and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, covering loosely for the last 15 minutes to stop the top browning too much. You will know the cake is ready when a skewer inserted comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, make the caramel by adding the sugar in an even layer into the base of a pan, on medium to low heat, and watch as the sugar turns to caramel, stirring it occasionally. As soon as the sugar melts, add the butter. If you find it seizing, don't worry, just keep stirring over a very low heat and the caramel will come together. As soon as the butter has melted, add the cream. Cook on a low heat for two minutes till you have smooth caramel. Take off the heat.
• Remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then take out and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• As soon as it has cooled enough, drizzle over the caramel. If you find it has become too stiff, warm through gently and then drizzle. You will have caramel left over but not to worry, because we all need a little extra caramel and it's perfect served on the side for anyone who wants some more to pour over. Sprinkle with a few thyme leaves, if you like.

STICKY TOFFEE BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter and line a 900g loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment.
• Beat the butter and both sugars in a bowl for 5 mins with an electric whisk until really fluffy. Whisk the eggs, banana and yogurt in a separate bowl until mostly smooth, then whisk this into the butter and sugar mixture. Fold in the flour and baking powder until just combined, then fold in the dates and nuts. Spoon into the tin, smooth over the top and bake for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then lift out using the strip of parchment. You can serve it warm now, or leave to cool completely on a wire rack. Will keep for four days in an airtight container.
• Meanwhile, make the toffee sauce. Put the sugar in a heavy-based frying pan and melt over a medium-low heat until light golden brown and liquid - don't stir, just tilt the pan to melt the sugar. Carefully whisk in the butter until smooth, then pour in the cream slowly and bring to a bubble. Mix until the sauce is smooth and shiny. Pour into a heatproof bowl, cover and leave to cool to room temperature.
• For the brittle, put the sugar in a frying pan with 2 tbsp water over a medium heat, stir briefly, then simmer for 10 mins until the caramel turns amber. Don't stir after the initial mix, just tilt the pan to get an even deep golden colour.
• Meanwhile, line a baking tray with baking parchment. Carefully stir the nuts, banana chips and salt into the caramel, until well coated, then pour onto the tray. Tip the tray (or use a spoon) to make sure the nuts are in a single layer - or they will be harder to separate later. Leave to cool completely before breaking the brittle into shards.
• Stir the toffee sauce to loosen if it's become stiff, or warm for a few seconds in the microwave (add a splash more cream if you need to), then drizzle over the cake so it drips down the sides. Top with the shards of brittle. Will keep for two days in an airtight container.

STICKY UPSIDE-DOWN BANANA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and lightly grease a deep 23cm round cake tin, lining the base with baking parchment.
• To make the topping, put the butter and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over a medium heat until melted and combined. Add the vanilla and mix together. Pour the caramel into the cake tin and spread in an even layer. Cut the bananas in half lengthways and arrange on top of the caramel, cut-side down.
• To make the batter, put all the ingredients in a large bowl with 1/4 tsp salt. Use an electric mixer to beat together on a low speed until the batter is smooth and evenly mixed. Pour the batter on top of the bananas and level out with a spatula. Bake in the oven for 55 mins-1 hr or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the cake begins to look too dark, cover with foil after 45 mins. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a plate. Best served warm but also delicious at room temperature. Best eaten within 2 days.

BANANA LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175C fan forced (for conventional I would recommend about 185C).
• Grease and line (with baking paper) a standard loaf tin.
• Sift flour, bi-carbonate and baking powder together.
• Cream butter and sugar with a stand mixer or hand held mixer until well mixed.
• Add the egg and mashed banana and mix well together.
• Add the sifted flour and baking powder till incorporated and mix well and then add the 2 tablespoons milk and mix through.
• Add sifted flour and baking powder till incorporated.
• Pour mix into prepared loaf pan.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, test with skewer for doneness (should come out clean).
• Would recommend to leave in pan for 5 to 10 minutes before turning out.

BRILLIANT BANANA LOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Butter a 2lb loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
• Cream 140g softened butter and 140g caster sugar until light and fluffy, then slowly add 2 beaten large eggs with a little of the 140g flour.
• Fold in the remaining flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 2 mashed bananas.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for about 50 mins, or until cooked through. Check the loaf at 5-min intervals by testing it with a skewer (it should be able to be inserted and removed cleanly), as the time may vary depending on the shape of your loaf tin.
• Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove to a wire rack.
• Mix 50g icing sugar with 2-3 tsp water to make a runny icing.
• Drizzle the icing across the top of the cake and decorate with a handful of banana chips.