Coffee Toffee Banana Bread Food

COFFEE BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Generously grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Prepare 3/4 cup of strong coffee or espresso and allow to come to room temperature. You can also use Instant coffee or cold brew coffee if you prefer.
• Place 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts (unsalted) in a small cast iron skillet on the stove top. Heat to medium-low and toast the walnuts for 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Stir the walnuts occasionally to prevent burning. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Combine ¾ cup (equals 1 ½ sticks) of softened (but not melted) unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar (can also use light brown sugar) in a mixing bowl. Cream the softened butter and brown sugar together with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
• Mash 3 overripe bananas in a separate bowl with a fork or mashing tool.
• Add 2 eggs to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, along with 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Mix all of these ingredients together until completely combined.
• Add the mashed bananas to the wet ingredients and cream everything together with a hand mixer.
• In a separate bowl add 2 3/4 cups gluten free flour blend (or AP flour if not gluten free), 1 tsp. baking soda, and ¼ tsp. kosher salt. Mix together until combined.
• Alternately add the flour mixture and cooled coffee to the banana mixture. Add half the flour and combine. Next, add half the coffee and combine. Repeat with second half flour and coffee. Stir just until combined.
• Add 1 tsp. cinnamon and the ½ cup of toasted chopped walnuts to the bowl and fold the ingredients in until completely combined.
• Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and place on the middle rack in the oven. Bake for 1 hour and 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Baking times will vary depending on the type of loaf pan and oven used. This recipe usually takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes, but a few additional minutes may be needed.
• The bread is done when the top is crusty and the middle is soft, but not mushy. Place a toothpick in the middle of the bread and if it comes out clean, the bread is done.
• Allow the bread to cool a bit before serving.

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.