20 Sweets in 20 Weeks - #10: Banana Sundae

So I remember saying that this was going to be the ultimate banana sundae - but perhaps it isn't the ultimate - more like an average kinda banana sundae. I had all these hopes and dreams for the most amazing banana sundae ever, but when it came the day to make it - let me just say I had some issues. They weren't food issues that I was having - it was more like screaming children issues. So in the end it was all very rushed - it wasn't as pretty as I wanted, the photos were cruddy and I didn't get to make it all fancy-schmancy. All that being said I did manage to make a banana sundae that consisted of 12 layers of evilness, and while it may not be the ultimate banana sundae I still thoroughly enjoyed eating it.

Not the Ultimate Banana Sundae
Makes 1

Bottle of chocolate topping
One banana, sliced
Mini marshmallows
Good quality vanilla ice-cream, slightly softened
M&M's
Whipped cream
Glace cherry

1. Grab an old-fashioned milkshake glass. 
2. Pour a little bit of chocolate topping into the bottom.
3. Add a few slices of banana.
4. Add a very small handful of mini marshmallows.
5. Add a small scoop of ice-cream and squish it into the glass.
6. Pour on a little more chocolate topping.
7. Add a few more slices of banana.
8. Add a very small handful of M&M's.
9. Add another small scoop of ice-cream and squish it into the glass.
10. Add a few more slices of banana.
11. Add enough ice-cream to nearly fill the glass, again squish it in.
12. Add some more mini marshmallows and M&M's.
13. Top with whipped cream and the glace cherry.
14. Consume.

Slice up your banana.

Grab your glass.

Add chocolate topping and banana.

Some mini marshmallows.

Pack down the ice-cream.

Add chocolate topping, banana and M&M's.

More ice-cream and banana.

More marshmallows and M&M's - why the hell not?

Top with a ridiculous amount of whipped cream and a glace cherry.

Eat it!

And just out of curiousity - if you were making the ultimate banana sundae what would you put in it?

Cake Slice - Mississipi Mud Cake (or cupcakes)

The Cake Slice Bakers have struck again! This time the monthly recipe was Mississipi Mudcake from the book Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott. I wanted to make something that was easy for Mat to take along to his first day at his new job, so I decided to make cupcakes instead of one big cake. As you can see that had some interesting effects on the marshmallow topping. In fact most of the cupcakes had marshmallow oozing down the sides of the paper cases - a huge sticky, delicious mess!

The cake has a Brownie like texture, not muddy like I expected - but it still tasted great. I loved having sweet fluffy melty marshmallows on the top, but that frosting was a bit too sweet for me - and that is saying something, I have a major sweet tooth!


Mississipi Mud Cake (from Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott)
Makes 17 cupcakes

250g unsalted butter
½ cup cocoa powder
4 eggs, beaten well
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups caster sugar
1½ cups plain flour
¼ tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (I omitted these)

For the Frosting: (I would halve the amount next time)
3 1/4 cups icing sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
125g unsalted butter, melted
½ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups mini marshmallows (I used one packet of large marshmallows)

1. Heat the oven to 180C. Line 2 12-hole muffin trays with cupcake cases. In a medium saucepan combine the butter and cocoa powder and cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the butter is melted and the mixture is well blended, about 3 – 4 minutes. Stir in the beaten eggs, vanilla, sugar, flour, salt and pecans and beat until the batter is well combined and the flour has disappeared.
2. Quickly pour the batter into the prepared muffin trays and bake for 20 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched gently in the center.
3. While the cupcakes bake, prepare the frosting so it is ready to pour over the hot cupcakes. (I wouldn't do this until the cupcakes are ready, as the frosting goes hard very quickly!)
4. In a medium bowl combine the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder and stir to mix well. Add the melted butter, milk and vanilla and beat everything together well. Set aside until the cake is done.
5. Remove the cupcakes from the oven, scatter the marshmallows over the top and then return the cupcakes to the hot oven for about 2 minutes to soften the marshmallows. (I did mine for a bit too long and they melted too much - so keep an eye on them!)
6. Place the cupcakes on a wire rack. Pour the frosting all over the marshmallows and eat right away or allow to cool to room temperature.
   

Baking Mondays - M is for Marshmallow Rocky Road Cupcakes

Cherry ripe cupcakes (coconut, cherry and chocolate) with rocky road topping.

So what do you bake when marshmallows are on the agenda? Why, rocky road cupcakes of course! How can you go wrong with marshmallows, cherries, peanuts, coconut and chocolate? It is simply a combination made in heaven. So without further ado I present the recipes that you need to follow to recreate this cupcake awesomeness...

Cherry Ripe Cupcakes from The Australian Women's Weekly - Cupcakes
Makes 12

125g unsalted butter, softened
1/2 tsp coconut essence
2 eggs
80ml milk
40g desiccated coconut
70g red glace cherries, chopped coarsely
50g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely
150g self-raising flour
35g plain flour

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius and line a 12-hole muffin tray with cupcake cases.
2. Beat butter, essence, sugar and eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until combined.
3. Stir in milk, coconut, cherries and chocolate, then sifted flours. Divide mixture among cases; smooth surface.
4. Bake for 25 minutes.
   

Rocky Road Topping from The Australian Women's Weekly - Cupcakes
Makes enough for 12 cupcakes

70g unsalted roasted peanuts
200g red glace cherries, halved
100g marshmallows, chopped coarsely
25g flaked coconut (I used desiccated)
200g milk chocolate, melted

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Putting the Cupcakes Together

70g milk chocolate, melted

Working quickly smear some melted chocolate on the top of each cupcake and then place a chunk of rocky road on top (using the melted chocolate as glue). If desired top with more melted chocolate.


The ratings?

Me - 8/10, the rocky road is awesomely yummy and great for something different. The cake has a great flavour, but was a little dry.
Mat - 8.5/10, good flavour combo :)

And the winner is...

Tune in on Monday to see the marshmallow cupcake creation!