King Cake With Banana Caramel Pecan Filling Food

CARAMEL PECAN BANANA CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash 2 bananas and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a bowl. Set aside.
• 2. Slice remaining 3 bananas into 1/2 inch slices on an angle. Pour the remaining tablespoon of lemon juice on top and set aside.
• 3. Beat cake mix, banana pudding mix, milk, eggs, and 1/4 cup butter on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add mashed bananas in lemon juice and beat for 1 more minute. Let batter rest for 5 minutes.
• 4. Meanwhile, spray 12 cup Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange 8 pecans halves in the deep wells of the pan. Top with sliced bananas (overlapping bananas) at the bottom of the Bundt pan.
• 5. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup toasted pecans on top of bananas.
• 6. Mix butterscotch pudding mix and brown sugar together and sprinkle over pecans. Pour remaining 1/4 cup melted butter over pudding mix. Let butter and pudding set for 5 minutes.
• 7. Pour cake mix over top of the butter pudding mixture. Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• 8. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
• 9. Invert onto cake plate leaving pan on top for 15 minutes.

BANANA LAYER CAKE WITH CARAMEL CREAM AND PECANS

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Sift flour, baking powder, and sea salt into medium bowl. Beat butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add 2 eggs; beat until blended. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions. Beat remaining 4 eggs and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar in medium bowl until mixture is thick and pale in color, about 4 minutes. Fold egg mixture into batter. Fold in bananas. Divide batter between prepared pans (about 3 1/2 cups for each).
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks; cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil; store at room temperature.)
• For banana-caramel cream:
• Combine brown sugar, banana, and 3 tablespoons butter in processor; blend until smooth. Add 1 1/2 cups whipping cream; blend. Transfer to heavy medium saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Attach candy thermometer to inside of pan; cook without stirring or swirling pan until temperature registers 218°F, about 10 minutes. Pour caramel into bowl. Cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• Whisk remaining 2 1/4 cups whipping cream in large bowl until cream mounds softly. Gradually fold in cool caramel mixture. Chill until cream is firm enough to spread, about 3 hours.
• Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on platter. Drizzle 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons rum over. Spread 1 1/4 cups banana cream over. Top with second cake layer. Drizzle 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons rum over. Spread 1 1/2 cups cream over. Repeat with third cake layer, lime juice, rum, and cream. Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down; spread remaining cream over top.
• Scatter roasted pecans over top of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.)