Showing posts with label caramelized. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caramelized. Show all posts

Chocolate Coconut Upside Down Banana Cake

Chocolate. Coconut. Upside. Down. Banana. Cake. That’s a mouth full to say, but I call it as it is when it comes to cake. In fact I call a lot of things as they are … in my head. This thing called tact keeps me from just saying whatever I am thinking at the moment.

Only children and old people get away with saying whatever they want. Luckily with cake nothing holds me back. If it’s good I shout it from the roof tops. If it’s not good aka bad then you will hear about that too. Mediocre cakes don’t even get mentioned! It’s the thing about being in the middle most of the time you get ignored. I would know I am a middle child.

What I’m getting at is that I am going to tell you straight how it is with this Chocolate Coconut Upside Down Banana cake. No messing about here.

This cake is deliciously interesting.

First you have the super soft cake made with coconut oil that becomes more moist with the caramel topping that soaks into it. Plus nicely baked banana slices to make you feel a little less guilty about the super rich cake.

Recently VitaCoco set me a sample of their coconut oil to try and after a few trial and errors this cake was made and I was pleasantly pleased with it.

Going along the lines of telling someone what is what, I can say that you should make this cake and if you don't you're a bit of a dumb dumb.


Chocolate Coconut Upside Down Banana Cake

110g dark chocolate
240ml boiling water, measure after boiling
225g sugar
195g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
225g light brown sugar
120ml coconut oil
110g sour cream
2 medium eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat the oven to 180C.
Place the chocolate, broken up, in a large bowl and pour the boiling water over so that the chocolate is completely covered and leave to the side. Gently whisk the sugar, flour, salt, and bicarb together and leave to the side.
Weigh out 250g of the coconut oil and gently heat to melt it down (250g is approximately 250ml) leave it to cool slightly.
Go back to the chocolate and water and whisk until smooth. Then add the brown sugar -whisk, coconut oil - whisk, sour cream - whisk, eggs one at a time whisking after each one. Last add the vanilla and whisk until combined.
Then add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture mixing until just combined - repeat two more times until it’s all mixed together!


Upside-Down Bananas 

1 large or 2 medium or 3 small, bananas - sliced
75g butter
100g brown sugar
50g desiccated coconut or flakes

In an 8 inch or 9 inch deep cake tin put the butter and brown sugar at the bottom of the tin and leave in the heated oven to melt. Once melted give a little stir and add the sliced bananas to the bottom in any pattern you like! Sprinkle the coconut (add more or less if you like) over the bananas before very gently pour the cake batter on top. Bake for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the cake tin. If it’s not completely baked bake longer with five minute intervals and cover with tin foil if you are worried about the top/bottom being burnt. Once it’s baked gently put a knife around the edges to release it from the tin and place a plate over the cake tin and tip it upside down.

Eat as soon as it’s cool enough to eat. The caramel sauce will soak in and make the cake very moist (I hate that word, but it’s the only one to describe it) and make it look slightly under baked. Delicious!



notes: VitaCoco sent me a sample of the VitaCoco Coconut Oil to try out, no other payments were made. All opinions are my own. For more information please see my contact/policy page above. Recipe was adapted from various sources one being Bake! by Nick Malgieri and by googling upside down banana cake!


Black Pepper Panna Cotta with Caramelized Peaches & Caramel Drizzle {product review}

After you read the title you may think I am crazy. Perhaps I am, but that is neither here nor there. 

A couple years ago I went to a taste event hosted by the Innocent Smoothie peoples and they served us pepper ice cream with canned peach slices and caramel sauce. 

It really didn't sound appealing to me, however I try everything once. It was good. It was unbelievably good. The combination just worked and I was thoroughly impressed.

I swore I would attempt it at home, but wasn't really sure a whole batch of pepper ice cream would go down well in my family where half of us are little people who only like strawberry ice cream. So, I hadn't recreated it at home.

Then when I had the opportunity to try Sainsbury’s Panna Cotta Mix, the whole pepper/peach/caramel combo just felt right. I did and I was not disappointed. It was very similar to the pepper ice cream that I was happy with it. The Sainsbury's mix had clear and easy instructions. It makes a simple and easy dessert!

I was also correct as in my girls took one taste and went blech. If you think you may be like my girls and think blech at the pepper in your panna cotta then just make it without and continue you on with the peaches!

Panna Cotta
            250ml milk
            250ml double cream
10g Black Pepper Corns

Follow the instructions on the box, but while you are heating and stirring the milk and double cream add the peppercorns. Once the mixture is ready sieve out the peppercorns and discard. Pour the panna cotta mix into desired moulds, bowls, or glasses as I used here. Chill for 4 hours or more.

Before serving make the …

Caramelized Peaches
2 fresh peaches, sliced
50g golden caster sugar
¼ tsp sea salt flakes
4 tablespoons caramel sauce

Combine the sugar and salt and coat the peach slices in the mixture. Fry on a dry skillet/frying pan until the sugar starts to turn amber, flipping the peaches through out.
Divide between each glass with the set panna cotta and drizzle the caramel sauce on top. Enjoy!




notes: In association with Sainsbury’s, all opinions are my own for further information please note my contact/policy page. Fresh peaches in this country are just not up to par with the peaches I had in the states growing up, so please use frozen or canned peaches if that suits. Just be sure to pat dry the canned peaches. 

Find out what else I tried at the innocent inspires event here
I have made panna cotta before here