… every week we go down to London and like the good jewish boy I am I go and see my mum. It’s not quite as twee as it sounds for you see she’s not a white haired little old lady – well, she very well may be but that’s between her and her hair-dresser… no, the fact is that between her and the new husband they’re pretty much more out than in… if there’s a new play at some dodgy arts theatre it’s more than likely they’ll be there… or a new exhibition in town… or they’re trying out some new restaurant surrounded by the cool and chic of London… and it’s international too as they were in New York whilst I was in California, in fact I think they’re probably more out that The Viking and I… we really have no excuse…
… when she’s not hob-nobbing with the west end stars she’s playing bridge with her friends and they have almost daily gatherings of cards, tea and cake so this week I thought i’d make her something she could take along and serve to her gal pals… it also gives me the perfect excuse to bake and not eat, although I did make too much batter and was forced to make some mini muffins that I may or may not have tried… a couple of times…
salted caramel upside down banana cake
still on my salted caramel trip I was thinking about how I could use it in a cake that could handle it without being way too sickly sweet and the bananas that were sitting on the bowl opposite my desk were my inspiration… in fact i’ve kept the cake freakishly simple by using my classic banana loaf recipe but left out the sultanas and nuts but added something special slathered on it’s bottom…
this recipe works for 1 regular loaf tin or two mini tins
for the cake
8oz self-raising flour
4oz butter or margarine
4oz soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ripe bananas – mashed
2 large eggs – beaten
for the caramel topping
3 tablespoons salted caramel
2 not so ripe bananas
place the flour, butter and sugar in a bowl and crumble together with your hands, sprinkle in the cinnamon and stir
pour over the mashed bananas and beaten eggs and then beat it all together with a wooden spoon, it will quickly loosen nicely.
line your tin with parchment paper… I simply cut the paper to size and then scrunch it into a ball, then once smoothed out it is easy to fit into the tin
place the caramel into a small pan and gently heat it until it is liquid and bubbly and pour this into the bottom of the lined tin
cut your bananas into slices… I tried both length ways and sideways and they both look good… and place these on top of the caramel, then gently pour in the batter to the tin
bake on 170C for 40 mins or until risen and golden… let the cakes cool slightly before turning them upside down on a plate to reveal the caramel bottoms!
eat and of course, enjoy!
YUM!! I'm sure your Mum's friends loved it – good plan on baking for others too!
OMG I have no bananas! Must try this it looks absolutely divine. 🙂
I have some very ripe bananas in the freezer and have been waiting to make a banana cake – this looks great! Just one thing – how do you make your salted caramel to pour into the tin? Cheers!
I love the bananas cut length ways – a different touch! I have a jar of M&S salted caramel lurking in a cupboard – may have to prise it open for this one 🙂
I just used up my “dead” bananas but there will be other times.
What a lovely recipe…a classic combination and it looks gorgeous too…I want a slice!!! I bet the bridge ladies wish they had a son like you 🙂
Self-raising flour? Don't you wonder sometimes what it would be like if there were self-raising children (or dogs)?
A wonderful banana cake recipe.. I'm sure your mom & stepdad will enjoy this.
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What gorgeous banana cakes! I love salted caramel anything right now so I'll give this recipe a try 🙂
What gorgeous banana cakes! I love salted caramel anything right now so I'll give this recipe a try 🙂
This sounds delicious and I will have to give it a go. I used to make cakes for my mum's bridge games when I was a teenager so this post brought back lots of memories. I bet your mum's bridge group will be wishing that you could send them something every week. Glad you made a couple of muffins too – a baker has to taste!
Nicola, do you suffer from Repetitive Comment Syndrome, or what? Dom, how do you know when a banana is upside down?
this looks so good, sorry I didn't reach out when in Lincolnshire last week was so busy would love to meet you in person one day. how was your trip to America?
DAMN! This sounds like it's right up me alley … and I just posted that banana bread never had it so good … but perhaps I'm mistaken. I shall have to consult the kitchen God, SB, on this one …
Oooh, what a lovely idea! I haven't tried salted caramel yet, but fear it is only a matter of time given how often it seems to be popping up everywhere.
Self-raising children ARE dogs, aren't they? Or am I getting a bit confused with that Romulus and Remus yarn?
What a lovely life your mum has – and what a good sun, baking this for her!
There's this girl I know, lives not too far from your ma, who LOVES BANANAS AND CARAMEL. #justsaying
Dom, I'm not much of a cake person myself, but I do like Banana cake, especially as a breakfast food, (pretending it's “Kek Pisang” therefore served with strong Indonesian coffee) and I just love the idea of it combined with salted caramel. I hope your Mum approved of it too!
Yes please! This is just perfect – I will make this for a family lunch next weekend. Everyone will love it I am sure. Thanks Dom!
Bananas. Caramel. Bananas. Caramel. Bananas. Caramel. Killer combo Dom! How did your Mum's lady friends enjoy it? Loved it, no doubt!
What a splendid cake Dom – due to loving all thing salted caramel, I'd happily polish off a slice or two of this, even with the bananas! Actually, love the look of the caramalised bananas on the bottom / top of the cake and suspect I'd be quite happy with the flavour too.
Those cake look amazing Dom! What a brilliant idea. These are on my to-do list.
The ladies will love it. Your banana loaves always look great. Salted caramel is so delicious. Where has it been all these years.
There's definitely telepathy in cooking. We were obviously thinking along exactly the same wavelength that day, though mine has dates. Nowt like a banana cake.
Now, guess what I'm cooking tonight and maybe it'll appear on our blogs at the same time! x
OMG! I go travelling for a few days and look what I come back too….the most DIVINE cake ever and a WONDERFUL post! It was BRILLIANT to see you yesterday and what a LUSH recipe too. Karen
What a delicious cake recipe – bet your mum was really impressed. Great idea to make cakes and give them away when you are watching the lbs as tough as it might have been 🙂
Stephen C, I have no idea how that happened!
I don't know how I missed this banana cake, but I made it tonight although minus the caramel topping had to use golden syrup, I'll let you know how it turned out.