Sunday, January 29, 2012

Chocolate Banana Shortcakes - Sunday Treat!

My husband and I love dessert.  The thought of baking - and eating - a four layer cake, oozing with gooey chocolate and carmel and richness sets my mouth watering.  But sometimes that's a little much for a week night.  What's the alternative that still satisfies a rampant sweet tooth?  These chocolate shortcakes with banana and carmel sauce.  The recipe is from Cooking Light magazine, so it is (essentially) guilt free, and super easy to make.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • Shortcakes:
    • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
    • 1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk
  • Filling:
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 2 tablespoons whipping cream
    • 1 teaspoon butter
    • 1 cup frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
    • 1/8 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
    • 2 medium bananas, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare the shortcakes, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in 1/4 cup butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk; stir just until moist. Knead lightly in bowl 5 to 6 times. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut dough into 8 wedges, cutting into, but not through, dough. Bake at 375° for 18 minutes or until just firm to the touch. Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack. Place shortcake on a cutting board or work surface; cut along score lines with a serrated knife to form 8 wedges.

To prepare filling, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; stir gently just until sugar dissolves. Cook, without stirring, until pale golden (about 4 minutes), gently swirling pan if needed to cook sugar evenly. Remove from heat; add cream and 1 teaspoon butter, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Cool 5 minutes.

Place whipped topping and 1/8 teaspoon cocoa in a medium bowl; fold just until combined. Split shortcakes in half horizontally using a serrated knife. Arrange about 1/4 cup bananas over bottom half of each shortcake; top each serving with about 1 teaspoon caramel sauce, about 2 tablespoons whipped topping mixture, and top of shortcake. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon caramel sauce over top of each shortcake.

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