Banoffee Traybake Recipes

Steps:

• Butter and line the base and sides of a 23cm square loose-bottomed cake tin. Put the biscuit crumbs in a bowl with the butter, cinnamon and a small pinch of salt, and mix until it resembles wet sand. Tip into the base of the tin, then level off and press the mixture down using the back of a spoon to compact it. Put in the fridge while you make the filling.
• Heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas 1. Mix the icing sugar, cocoa and cinnamon in a bowl, then stir in the banana to coat. Set aside.
• To make the creamy filling, put the soft cheese, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs and flour in a bowl. Beat using an electric whisk until smooth, about 3-4 mins. Gently fold in the banana mixture.
• Take the base out of the fridge and pour over the filling. Level off the top using the back of a spoon, then drizzle the 100g caramel on top.
• Bake in the oven for 1 hr with a tray placed underneath the tin to catch any drips of butter. Turn the oven off and leave the door ajar, using a spoon or spatula to prop it open. Leave inside until the oven is completely cool. Remove from the oven, then transfer to the fridge to chill overnight.
• When ready to serve, make the sweet cream topping. Beat the cream and sugar in a bowl until it forms soft peaks. Remove the cheesecake from the tin and spread the cream over the top, drizzle with the 2 tbsp caramel, dust with cocoa and scatter with the banana chips, if using. Cut into nine pieces or 16 bite-sized squares to serve.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and salt. Stir until fully incorporated and sandy. (When you pinch a bit of it between your fingers, it should hold together.) Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Using your fingers or a flat-bottomed cup, press the mixture into the pie plate and up the sides. Make sure it is well packed. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days.
• Spoon the dulce de leche into the pie crust and spread into an even layer. Pile in banana slices into a relatively even layer (they should overlap). Transfer the pie to the refrigerator while you make the whipped cream.
• Make the whipped cream: Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract and instant coffee, if using, on medium-high speed until firm peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread the whipped cream on top of the bananas, making sure to spread the whipped cream to the edge, totally covering the bananas (this will help prevent them from browning). Chill the pie, uncovered, for 2 hours and up to overnight.
• To serve, sprinkle the pie with chocolate shavings or fresh coffee grounds, if desired. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days. The whipped cream may lose some height, but the pie will be no less delicious.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Butter two 20cm sandwich tins and line with non-stick baking paper. In a large bowl, beat all the cake ingredients together including the vanilla extract and 2 mashed, ripe bananas, until you have a smooth, soft batter.
• Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon, then bake for about 20 mins until golden and the cake springs back when pressed. Turn onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
• For the filling, whip the double cream and fold through the Banoffee toffee. To serve, spread half of the cream over one of the cakes, then top with another sliced banana.
• Sandwich together, then cover with more cream then decorate the cake with an elegant drizzle of Banoffee toffee. Keep in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.