Banana Cake with Salted Butter Caramel Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 ripe bananas)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Salted Butter Caramel:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup heavy cream, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions:

For the Banana Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the mashed bananas and eggs, one at a time, and mix until well combined.
4. Mix in the buttermilk and vanilla extract.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
6. Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Let the cake cool to room temperature before frosting.

For the Salted Butter Caramel:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
2. Once the sugar is melted and turns a golden amber color, add in the butter pieces and whisk constantly until fully combined and melted.
3. Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking constantly. As the cream is added, the mixture will bubble and may splatter, so be careful.
4. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt.
5. Remove from heat and allow the caramel to cool slightly before serving.

Serving Suggestions and Verdict:

Serve the banana cake topped with the salted butter caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt for an indulgent and comforting treat. The banana cake is soft, moist, and subtly sweet, while the salted butter caramel is rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with a hint of saltiness. This recipe is sure to please your taste buds and warm your heart.