Coffee Toffee Banana Bread Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). 2 Grease a 9 x 5-inch (2 L) loaf pan. In a medium bowl, stir bananas with coffee. 3 In another medium bowl, whisk flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In a large bowl, stir butter with sugar. Stir in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in banana coffee mixture and vanilla. 4 Gradually add flour mixture and half the toffee bits, stirring until blended. Turn into prepared pan, levelling as best you can. Bake in centre of preheated oven 25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits and banana chips. Continue to bake until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean, about 20 more minutes. Let stand in pan 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Banana bread is also delicious toasted.