squashed bananas

Wasn't a banana week for me so my fruit went to the black spotted stage, only one thing for it BANANA CAKE with caramel pieces.

Got my things together

along with Jacob and we produced this

The best bit of experimenting today was this

Making caramel for the first time ever. Very tricky, it took me 2 attempts as getting the heat of the stove right was crucial to a good tasting caramel. I had the heat to high on the 1st attempt and before I knew it the sugar had melted and went smokey and burnt in seconds.

Second time I heated it gently, stirred it gently and poured it quickly onto the baking paper. I think still a little too dark but it tasted lovely so I went with this one.

This gets broken up and added into the cake, fine bits into the creamed topping and a few big shards on top for a little decoration.

Cake

soft butter 175g
2 old bananas, break into chunks

golden caster sugar 150g

self-raising flour 140g

eggs 3

ground almonds 75g

natural yoghurt 3tbsp

baking powder 1/2 tsp

caramel

golden caster sugar 100g

frosting

soft butter 100g

icing sugar 50g         I'm not keen on butter icing so used only a small amount

Oven 160 degrees centigade

cooking time 45mins - 1 hour

Butter a 900g loaf tin.

Make the caramel by melting the sugar in a frying pan and gently, gently heating and gently stirring as it starts to melt. When melted pour quickly onto a piece of baking paper, spread out and cool. Break into pieces.

For the cake beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and then add all the other ingredients and beat until smooth.  Stir in about half of the broken caramel pieces and put the mixture into the loaf tin. Add to the oven and bake for 45mins - to an hour. Check at 45 mins with a knife.

When done, remove from the tin and when completely cool add the frosting.

Frosting is simply the butter and icing sugar beaten together and small pieces of the caramel mixed in. Spread over the cold cake and add pieces of caramel for decoration.

This is a rich, moist, heavy cake and the topping makes it super sweet. Eating this with a cup of tea is a must.

Jacob gave it 8 and a half out of ten (he said the topping was too sweet - that's a first from Mr Sweettooth). Hub loved it and I shouldn't have eaten mine so soon after my dinner or maybe just should have had a smaller piece.

Enjoy.