Banana Pecan Caramel Sauce

Gooey, sweet and sticky, this banana pecan caramel sauce is perfection over ice cream, brownies or baked apples. Or you can just eat it with a spoon. You won’t get any judgment from me. Seriously, it’s that good. 

I am not a big sweet eater but I do have a fondness for caramel. The caramelization of sugar adds a welcome slight bitterness that I find very appealing and I know I’m not alone in that. Some of the most popular candies in the world have caramel as an element. Think Snickers, Milky Way and Twix to name just three.

As a kid, my movie candy of choice was always a big box of Milk Duds and I loved Sugar Daddys which were basically a solid rectangle of caramel on a stick. Those would pull your fillings out if you weren’t careful! Totally worth the risk. 

If you feel the same way as I do about caramel, you are going to love this sauce. 

Banana Pecan Caramel Sauce

This recipe makes a little more than two cups of sauce. Because of the bananas, I recommend you store any leftovers in a refrigerator, which means it will turn solid but spoon-able. Gently rewarm it back to sauce consistency before using. This recipe is adapted from one on Marsha’s Baking Addiction.

Ingredients

1 cup or 240ml water

2 cups or 400g sugar

1/2 cup or 57g chopped pecans

2 medium bananas (about 180g), pureed until smooth

1/2 cup or 120ml heavy cream, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the water and sugar. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.

Turn the heat down to medium and allow the mixture to come to a light amber color without stirring. 

Instead, swirl the pan around occasionally to make sure the mixture caramelizes evenly. (This can take a while. Be patient, and don't be tempted to turn up the heat!)

Remove the pan from the heat, and add in the chopped pecans. Stir well.

 Add in the pureed banana. Stir constantly until combined and the bubbling has stopped.

Place back on the heat, and keep stirring until the mixture becomes a deep, rich amber color.

Remove from the heat and gradually pour in the heavy cream, stirring constantly until combined. The sauce might sugar up at this point if your cream isn't room temperature but just keep stirring and all will be well, as the sugar melts again and it turns back into a sauce. 

Take the pot off of the stove and stir in the vanilla.

Pour the caramel into a heat-proof jar and allow to cool completely before using. Serve over ice cream or even spread on toast or pancakes. 

Or eat it with a spoon. 

Again, no judgment from me.

Enjoy!

It’s Sunday FunDay and my blogger friends and I are celebrating National Banana Lover’s Day, which is today! How will you celebrate? We’ve got a list of great recipes you might like to try. Check them out below: 

• Banana Chip Cookies with Melted Caramel from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Banana Mousse from Culinary Cam
• Banana Pecan Caramel Sauce from Food Lust People Love
• Banana Zucchini Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Chocolate Coated Banana from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Double Chocolate Whole Wheat Banana Bread from Cook with Renu
• Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Pretzel Bites from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Sourdough Banana Appe from Sneha’s Recipe

 

We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.

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Orange Glazed Pecans

Super easy to make but addictively delicious, these orange glazed pecans are a delightful snack, muffin ingredient or dessert topper. 

I made these orange glazed pecans specifically to use in an orange muffin recipe, an idea that came to me in the middle of the night last night. My brain is weird and wonderful like that. Orange muffins with pecans would be good but what if I kicked them up a notch with orange glazed pecans? 

It was a good decision and you’ll find that recipe here on Monday. Meanwhile, make some glazed pecans and try not to eat them all. You’ll need about half of them for the muffins, if you can manage to save that many. 

For years my mom has been telling me about some orange glazed pecans that were a specialty of my aunt Karen’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Ayo, but I’ve never made them. I think she used frozen orange juice concentrate. This version is much easier and I look forward to making some for Mom soon. 

Orange Glazed Pecans

A few of my pecan halves were broken but I carried on anyway because, as mentioned above, my plan was to chop a lot of them up to use in a muffin recipe. If you are serving these to guests and need them to look pretty, you might want to choose all whole halves. 

Ingredients

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons orange juice

Zest from 1 Mandarin orange or tangerine

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups or 150g pecan halves

Method

Add pecans, brown sugar, butter, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon and salt to a medium skillet over medium heat. 

Stir regularly while the butter and sugar melt into a syrup. 

Once mixture is bubbling, stir frequently, until pecans are golden brown and all of the orange-sugar mixture has evaporated and the pecans are well coated with the glaze. 

Spread the pecans out onto a silicone pat or piece of nonstick baking parchment paper, separating them right away. 

Cool completely then store in an airtight container someplace cool. 

Enjoy! 

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Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites #FoodieExtravaganza

These caramel stuffed brownie bites combine the chewiest fudgy brownies with a big square of chewy caramel in the middle. 

I’m one of those kind of people: The kind that buys ingredients with no plan in mind, you know, just in case someday I might need them. A perfect example is the bag of Kraft caramel squares that I’ve been storing in the door of my freezer for going on three years now.

Sure of course they are expired by now, but they’ve been frozen all this time! And I’m pleased to tell you that frozen caramel doesn’t change texture or flavor. You are welcome. 

Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites

Be sure to liberally oil the mini muffin pan inside the cups and on the tope between them as well. The brownie bites expand over the top and you do not want them to stick. 

Ingredients

2 cups or 400g granulated sugar

1 cup or 125g flour

1 cup or 120g Dutch process cocoa powder

3/4 cup or 94g icing sugar, sifted if lumpy

3/4 cup or 75g semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup or 180ml canola oil or other light oil, plus extra for pan

3 tablespoons full fat plain Greek style yogurt

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

24 caramel squares (I used the individually wrapped Kraft ones)

Method

Preheat the oven to 325°F or 163°C. Prepare your 24-cup mini muffin pan by brushing it with oil. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar and salt. Now add in the chocolate chips and stir to distribute them well. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, yogurt and vanilla.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until barely combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Don’t over mix.

Spoon half of the thick batter into the muffin pan then poke one (unwrapped!) caramel in each muffin hole.

Cover with the second half of the brownie batter. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are slightly cracked and shiny.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool on a wire rack for about 25-30 minutes.

Use a heat resistant silicone spatula to carefully release the brownies from the muffin pan.

You may end up deforming them slightly but you can press them back into shape. 

Place them on the wire rack to cool completely. 

Enjoy!

This month my Foodie Extravaganza friends are sharing recipes featuring caramel. Many thanks to our host, Kelley of Simply Inspired Meals. 

• Caramel & Orange Cake Pudding Trifle by Sneha's Recipe
• Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Caramel Butter Bars by Making Miracles
• Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites by Food Lust People Love
• Disney's Caramel Shortbread by Simply Inspired Meals
• Easy Caramel Modjestkas by Palatable Pastime
• Galaxy Cake by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Hopjesvla (Dutch Coffee Custard) by Tara's Multicultural Table
• Salted Caramel Mudslide by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Foodie Extravaganza is where we celebrate obscure food holidays by cooking and baking together with the same ingredient or theme each month. Posting day is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you're a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board.

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Sweet Buttermilk Pie #BakingBloggers

Sweet buttermilk pie is a traditional southern dessert with a creamy tart filling, topped with a generous helping of snowy white whipped cream. Add a little fruit too, if you like.

This month my fellow Baking Bloggers are sharing recipes that remind us of snow, you know, the bright white kind that everyone loves until it turns wet and mushy and grey. I almost didn’t participate because I’ve been so busy, but then I remembered this wonderful sweet buttermilk pie, just hanging around in my folders, waiting for a chance to be shared.

You could, of course, serve the pie without whipped cream but why? Everything is better with whipped cream on top!

Sweet Buttermilk Pie

This is one of my mother’s favorite desserts. It’s not just a southern tradition but a southern favorite as well. Best of all it’s easy to make. Mix all the ingredients in one bowl and pour it into your pie crust to bake. I made my own pie crust from this recipe (stop before baking blind) but if you have to use a store-bought one this time of year, no worries.

Ingredients
1 unbaked 10-inch basic piecrust shell
1/2 cup or 113g unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups or 300g granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 rounded tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups or 355ml buttermilk

To serve:
Whipped cream
Fresh fruit like raspberries, blueberries or even sliced peaches

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C.

 In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter and beat until fluffy. Add the eggs in one at a time, beating well in between. Beat in flour, lemon zest and vanilla. Stir in the buttermilk with the beaters on very low.

Pour the buttermilk mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Grate on a little nutmeg or sprinkle on powdered nutmeg very lightly.

 Bake until the top is lightly browned and the center is just starting to set , about 40-45 minutes. It should be just the slightest bit jiggly. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. The filling with set completely as it cools.

Slice the pie into individual servings. Garnish with a small mountain of whipped cream on each piece and a few berries for a pop of color.

Enjoy!

Many thanks to this month’s host, Sue of Palatable Pastime and her group co-organizer, Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Between them they keep this group ticking along smoothly and I am grateful. Check out all the other snow-white recipes my Baking Blogger friends are sharing today:

• Billowy Gingerbread Trifles from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Christmas Cookie Tree from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Eggless Nankhatai from Sneha's Recipe
• Grandma's Meringue Cookies from Our Good Life
• Kourabiedes Greek Cookies With Powdered Sugar from Recipe Pocket
• Mexican Wedding Cookies from The Schizo Chef
• Snow Ball Cupcakes from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Snowflake Cupcakes from Palatable Pastime
• Snowy Mountain Cookies from Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Sweet Buttermilk Pie from Food Lust People Love
• White Texas Sheet Cake from Making Miracles
• Winter Wonderland Cake from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking

Baking Bloggers is a friendly group of food bloggers who vote on a shared theme and then post recipes to fit that theme one the second Monday of each month. If you are a food blogger interested in joining in, inquire at our Baking Bloggers Facebook group. We'd be honored if you would join us in our baking adventures.

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Speculoos Stuffed Brownie Bundt #BundtBakers

Fudgy brownie batter is baked with a filling of cookie butter for a delicious sweet treat I’ve named speculoos stuffed brownie Bundt. It is super more-ish and disappears in a jiffy.

Since my husband retired and we moved from Dubai, I’ve kept baking - because I love it - but I can no longer send my baked goods into his office. Or share with my wonderful taste tester Bible study ladies! I miss them a lot too. I've sent baked goods home with my mom but she can only eat so much.

We are having our almost 100-year-old front porch completely rebuilt so the last couple of days have been a bit noisy. On the other hand, I have a new home for treats I’m baking. I sent most of this stuffed brownie Bundt home with the construction guys the day I baked it, and then, because there was such swooning, they got the last two slices today.

There really is no substitute for appreciative eaters.

Speculoos Stuffed Brownie Bundt

Speculoos is also known as biscoff spread or cookie butter. It used to be quite a challenge to find in normal grocery stories but I bought my jar in Walmart of all places. That said, my porch worker bees had never heard of it so I showed them the jar. It's lovely!

Ingredients
For the brownie batter:
1/2 cup or 113g butter, plus extra for buttering the pan
3 1/2 oz or 100g unsweetened baking chocolate
1 2⁄3 cups, packed, or 332g light brown sugar
3⁄4 cup or 60g natural high fat cocoa
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1⁄3 cups or 166g all-purpose flour, plus extra for flouring the pan
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
3⁄4 cup or 100g chopped pecans (or your favorite nut)

For the filling:
3/4 cup or 210g speculoos spread aka biscoff or cookie butter

For the glaze:
1/4 cup or 70g speculoos spread aka biscoff or cookie butter
2-3 teaspoons warm water

Method 
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan. If your pan has a black interior surface, lower the temperature by 25°F or 4°C so it doesn’t brown more quickly than it bakes through. I’m not sure why but dark pans seem to cook quicker.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove it from the heat and add the chopped chocolate. Let it stand for 30 seconds, then whisk together until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.

Add in the brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and espresso powder and whisk until smooth.

Whisk in the eggs one at a time.

Sift the flour along with the baking powder and salt into the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to fold it in, until all of the flour is almost combined.

Fold in the chopped pecans, which should take care of any visible flour. This is going to become a soft buttery dough.

Spoon half of the dough into your prepared Bundt pan. Press it down with a clean hand or spoon to form a channel in the middle.

Spoon the cookie butter filling in the batter channel.

Use your clean hands to make dough patties to cover the filling.

Tuck bits of dough all around to make sure the top layer is covered, even into the corners of your Bundt pan.

Bake your filled brownie Bundt for 30-35 minutes or until it is a little springy to the touch on top and baked through. The toothpick test is a challenge because of the filling.

If you aren’t sure, err on the side of a little under-baked. These are brownies, after all, and it’s best to leave them chewy. No one, I mean No One,  wants a dry brownie.

Cool the brownie Bundt almost completely in the pan before inverting onto serving plate. It's a good idea to loosen the edges with a toothpick before inverting.

For the glaze, whisk the speculoos with one teaspoon of warm water at a time until it gets thin enough to put in a piping bag. Use a Ziploc bag with corner cut off to pipe the glaze on to decorate the brownie Bundt.

Slice to serve.

I suggest you wait till it cools completely before serving. As you can see in my photos, the Bundt was still a bit warm so the cookie spread dripped out a little. Once completely cold, it was quite a solid filling.

Enjoy!

Many thanks to this month's Bundt Baker hosts, Catherine and Tammy of Living the Gourmet. Check out all the other lovely Bundts made with cookie butter:

• Biscoff Bundt Cake by Living the Gourmet
• Biscoff Lotus Crumble Toffee Bundt Cake by Patyco Candybar
• Biscoff Sock-It-To-Me Bundt Cake by All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
• Brown Sugar Bundt with Biscoff Glaze by The Sweet Sensations
• Gingerbread Bundt with Cookie Butter Frosting by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pumpkin Biscoff Bundt Cake by Making Miracles
• Speculoos Stuffed Brownie Bundt by Food Lust People Love
• Swirl Biscoff Bundt by Sneha’s Recipe

#BundtBakers is a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all of our lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.

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