Sticky banana bake

This is a fantastic cake but can be served a small a pudding too. Delicious hot or cold.

Topping
* 50g butter
* 50g soft light brown sugar

Sponge
* 150g butter
* 175g light brown sugar
* 3 eggs
* vanilla essence
* 100g self raising flour
* 75g plain flour
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 2 bananas
* 1 tbsp treacle

1. Grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment and grease again. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. First make the sticky topping. Place the butter and brown sugar in a pan over a medium heat. Once the butter is melted, turn up the heat and let the mixture bubble for a few minutes, until it begins to thicken slightly. Stir it frequently so it does not catch on the bottom.
3. Pour the mixture into the bottom of the lined tin and tip the tin back and forth to spread it out evenly. The mixture will eventually solidify in the tin so make sure to spread it out now
4. Now make the sponge mixture. Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at time and beat well. Then add a few drops of vanilla essence
5. Fold in both flours, the baking powder, cinnamon, treacle and set aside.
6. Slice the bananas into 5mm thick pieces. Arrange them in a single layer in the bottom of the tin. Pack them in tight so they don’t move around once the cake mix goes over.
7. Carefully sprea the cake mix over the bananas and gently spread it out with the back of a spoon or palate knife, levelling the top. Pop it in the oven for about 45 mins.
8. After 35 mins, remove the cake from the oven and insert a metal skewer into the centre (but not touching the bottom). It should come out completely clean. If there is some wet mixture on it put it back in the oven for another five minutes or so.
9. Once the cake is cooked remove it from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes. Then put a large flat plate over the top of the tin and holding the tin and the plate, flip the whole lot over so the tin is now upside down. Gently remove the tin & carefully peel off the baking parchment
10. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold
✔️Top tip: try adding pecans for a different taste!

Check it out on Instagram:sticky banana bake