Chocolate Banana Cake

I adapted this recipe from one I learnt in primary school. I decided to combine it with a caramel sauce and there are some optional extras you can add in if you want to.

Ingredients:

For the cake

• 250g/9oz plain flour

• 25g/1oz cocoa powder

• 1tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

• Pinch of salt

• 200g/7oz golden caster sugar

• 2 or 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed (if you like a very banana flavour add the third, otherwise stick to two)

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 125g/4 ½ oz butter, melted

Extras:

• 1 tsp cinnamon powder

• 75g milk chocolate chips.

For the caramel sauce

• 250g caster sugar

• 142ml double cream

• 50g butter

• 2tbsp water

 

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C, grease and line a loaf tin.

2. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt, sugar and cinnamon, if using, into a large bowl. Stir until well combined.

3. Mash the bananas in a separate bowl, stir in the beaten egg and melted butter.

4. Fold the bananas into the flour mixture until just combined. Spoon into a loaf tin.

5. Bake for 50-60 mins or until the cake is risen and a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 mins.

6. Whilst the cake is baking begin to make the caramel. Tip the sugar into a heavy based pan, stir in the water and place over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.

7. Turn up the heat and bubble for 4-5 mins until you have a caramel.

8. Remove from the heat, carefully stir in the cream and butter until you have a smooth sauce.

9. When the cake has cooled, pour the caramel sauce over the cake, serve warm.