Friday, October 19, 2012

Treat me: Cranberry banana slice

Yesterday morning I woke up and felt the relief I always feel on a Thursday at the thought of not having to go to work. I lay in bed, duvet pulled up to my chin, and savoured my freedom.
Then I remembered the builders were arriving to tear out the windows downstairs, the Small Girl had a friend coming over, there were mountains of clothes to be washed and I had to go to the supermarket. I thought about pulling the duvet over my head and hiding for the rest of the morning, but instead I got out of bed and turned on the oven. Then I whipped together this wholesome morning tea snack (for the builders and three-year-olds to share) and baked it while simultaneously loading the washing machine and unloading the dishwasher, writing a shopping list and having a shower. Who says multi-tasking is old news?


Cranberry and banana slice
This is a new version of something inspired by a recipe I first saw here. It bares even less resemblance to the original than ever, but is still very good - sort of soft and chewy and reasonably good for you. So good, in fact, that I'm waiting for another batch to cook while writing this post. Well, those builders are pretty hungry...

125g unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup wholemeal flour

Heat the oven to 180C. Line a brownie pan (something measuring about 20cm x 20cm) with a piece of baking paper so there's an overhang on two sides that you can use to lift the slice out with when it's cooked.
Melt the butter over low heat, then add the sugar, sesame seeds and banana. Stir over medium heat for three or four minutes, until the banana begins to caramelise and the sesame seeds will smell nutty.
Remove from the heat and let cool for five minutes, then stir in the cranberries, coconut and flour. Mix well, then press into the prepared tin.
Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Leave in the tin to cool, then lift out and slice into bars.

Have a great weekend, everyone x Pin It

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for this recipe, with the rubbish weather this weekend, I'm anticipating a lot of staying inside and baking.

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  2. I will definitely have to make this recipe as I always have ripe bananas lurking in the fruit bowl.

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  3. That is a great bake. A woman's job is never done is it ;0)

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  4. We are amazing us women aren't we?!! A lovely looking bake and I think the addition of bananas is wonderful. Karen

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  5. I love your creativity with recipes! Cranberries and bananas are both winners in this house! I just made that slice again this week (ie the original version) but i think i might have a go at some of your improvements! Yours are a lot healthier after all!

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  6. Oh I know that feeling well, if only we could just hide away for a day or two. Heaven! This is just the sort of slice I would enjoy and all the ingredients that I have to hand. Good one :)x

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  7. i hope the builders did a great job after you baked that tasty treat for them!

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  8. Wow, I wish I could multi task and bake as well as you. Your cranberry and banana slice would be perfect with a cup of tea :-) x

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Hello - thanks for stopping by. If this was real life I'd make you a cup of tea and open the biscuit tin, but in lieu of those things, let's have a chat anyway...