Chocolate Shortbread Scones With Caramelized Bananas Recipes

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter, using a pastry blender or your fingers. Alternatively, you can pulse the ingredients in a food processor. Mix until mixture resembles coarse meal (uneven pieces of butter in the mixture is good!). Add 3/4 cup heavy cream and vanilla extract and stir with a spatula or a fork until dough begins to form. If dough is too crumbly, add more heavy cream - up to 1/4 cup. Don't overmix. Gently fold in bananas and chocolate chips. The dough will be slightly sticky.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead dough gently, about 5-6 times, until a ball forms. Pat the dough into a 9-inch (22 cm) circle, about 3/4-inch thick. Cut the circle into 8 even wedges.
• Place the scones on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with a bit of heavy cream. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake scones for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. While scones are still hot, sprinkle again with coarse sugar for extra crunchiness.
• These scones are delicious either warm or at room temperature.
• Scones are best eaten the same day they are made, but they can be frozen for up to 1 month.

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE SHORTBREADS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving about a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Spread the coconut in a single layer on a baking sheet and set aside.
• Beat the butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low until just incorporated. Beat in the flour in 2 batches to make a smooth dough.
• Lightly flour your hands and press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake the shortbread until the edges are firm and the top is dry, 28 to 30 minutes. Top the shortbread with the caramels in an even layer. Return to the oven along with the baking sheet of coconut and cook, tossing the coconut once, until the caramels are melted and the coconut is golden, about 10 minutes.
• Spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to spread the caramel all over the shortbread. Sprinkle with the chocolate and let sit until the chips are melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using the foil overhang as handles, lift the shortbread out of the pan and cut into 12 pieces.

CARAMEL SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
• In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
• In a 2 quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cool). Cool until it begins to firm.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, then stir and continue to heat and stir at 20 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and spread evenly to cover completely. Chill. Cut into 1 inch squares. These need to be small because they are so rich.

CARAMELIZED CHOCOLATE, BANANA, AND MARSHMALLOW SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Mix butter and sugar in small bowl to blend. Spread on one side of bread slices. Place 2 slices, buttered side down, on plate. Skewer 4 marshmallows on each of 2 skewers; hold skewers over open flame and toast until marshmallows are blackened in spots, about 10 seconds. Divide marshmallows between bread slices on plate, leaving 1-inch border. Sprinkle chocolate chips over marshmallows, dividing equally. Top with banana. Cover with remaining bread, buttered side up, pressing slightly.
• Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sandwiches; cook until brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer sandwiches to work surface; cool 1 minute. Cut diagonally in half and serve.

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Combine the first 5 ingredients in bowl.
• Cut in the butter until the size of peas.
• Add the yogurt or sour cream, egg yolk, bananas and chocolate chips.
• Combine into ball. Flour a surface and knead gently until it comes together.
• Grease a cookie sheet. Place ball in centre of sheet and pat down to form a disk, about 2 1/2 inches high (approx).
• Cut dough in half and then in half the other way (now you have 4 pieces. Now repeat again. So now you have 8 triangles.
• Pull trianges out from each other so they are not touching too much. This will give you lots of nice crust.
• Bake for about 20 minutes. Time depends on how thick you made the scones. To test for doneness -- check the centres where they touch. If firm, they should be done.
• For Chocolate Glaze:.
• When scones are done, put some mini choco chips on top of the scones. Leave for 5 minutes, then spread over top.
• OR.
• For Chocolate Cream Cheese:.
• Heat chocolate and cream until chocolate is melted.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Stir into whipped cream cheese.
• Serve along side scones. YUMMY!

CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD SCONES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, gently mix together the bananas, agave nectar, cinnamon, and salt until the bananas are completely coated.
• Spread the banana mixture over the prepared baking sheet. Bake the bananas on the center rack for 20 minutes. The edges of the banana slices will be crisp and golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let the bananas stand for 30 minutes, or until completely cool. (The bananas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the chocolate crumb and chocolate chips just until combined; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, and salt. Add 1/2 cup oil, the vanilla, and the hot water and combine until a thick dough is formed. If the mixture seems too dry, fold additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, into the batter until it is moist. Using a plastic spatula, gently fold the chocolate chip-crumb mix into the dough just until it appears marbled.
• Dust the counter generously with flour. Drag the dough through the flour until it is completely coated. Pat the dough gently until it is 1 inch thick, and, using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, make 12 scones. Arrange the scones on the prepared baking sheets with at least 1 inch between them. Brush each with the remaining 1/4 cup oil and sprinkle them with a pinch of evaporated cane juice. Bake the scones on the center rack for 18 minutes, rotating the sheets 180 degrees after 10 minutes. The finished scones will be crisp to the touch.
• Let the scones cool on the sheets for 30 minutes, or until completely cool. Cut each scone in half horizontally and spread 1 tablespoon vanilla frosting and a generous amount of the caramelized bananas on the bottom half. Replace the tops and dust with confectioners' sugar. Store the scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool. Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Sift in flour; mix just until combined. Fold in chocolate mixture., Spoon batter into 8 buttered 4-oz. ramekins dusted with cocoa. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 12-15 minutes. Run a small knife around sides of ramekins. Invert onto cooling rack; let stand 5 minutes. Remove ramekins; place cakes on individual plates., For bananas, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss banana slices with sugar until well coated; arrange in a single layer in skillet. Do not stir bananas until bottoms are golden brown, 4-5 minutes. Turn; cook until second side is golden brown, 4-5 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Place bananas on plates with cakes., For sauce, heat wine and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Whisk in chocolate. Pour over cakes.

CHOCOLATE SOUP WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Prepare the caramelized bananas:.
• Place the diced bananas in a medium-sized mixing bowl with the rum and toss to coat.
• Set aside to let macerate at room temperature while you prepare the caramel.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium-high heat.
• If it starts to smoke, it is too hot and you need to run it under cool water, dry it, and start again.
• When it is warm sprinkle the sugar into the pan.
• Try to keep the sugar in an even layer to allow it all to caramelize at the same time.
• As soon as you see the sugar begin to melt, start moving the pan over the burner to keep the sugar from burning.
• Tilt the pan from side to side so that the melted sugar runs over the unmelted sugar.
• Cook until all of the sugar is a light golden brown.
• Chef Torres usually adds a tablespoon of butter at this stage because it makes the caramel smoother.
• Add the bananas and rum and spread evenly in the pan.
• When cooking with alcohol, there is always the chance of it catching on fire, so be very careful when adding the rum.
• Continue to cook until almost all of the liquid has evaporated and the bananas are soft but not mushy; they should still hold their shape.
• Remove from the heat and pour the caramelized bananas onto a plate.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let cool for about 20 minutes.
• Covering the hot bananas with plastic wrap keeps the caramel from drying as it cools.
• Prepare the Chocolate Soup:.
• Pour the milk into a 2 quart heavy -bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Add the chopped chocolate and stir until well combined and the chocolate has melted.
• Bring the mixture to a boil again, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the pan from the heat and set aside while you prepare the soup bowls (You can use any oven-safe bowls).
• Place one large spoonful of the caramelized bananas in the bottom of each soup bowl.
• The bananas will give texture to the soup, so be generous.
• Cover the bananas with the hot soup, filling each bowl three-quarters full.
• Set the soup bowls on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator until chilled, about 2 hours.
• The soup will set and thicken, allowing it to support the meringue; chill it well before topping it.
• To Finish the Soup:***Chef Torres likes to top the warm soup with meringue to add another layer of texture and enhance the visual appeal; You can skip this step if you prefer.
• Place the egg whites in a medium-size mixing bowl and whip with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and make a French meringue by adding the powered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and whipping the whites to stiff but not dry peaks.
• Place the meringue in a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch star tip.
• Remove the soup from the refrigerator and pipe the meringue onto the tops in a decorative pattern.
• Place the soup bowls in a deep roasting pan or baking dish and fill it with warm water to come one third of the way up the side of the bowls.
• Let stand for about 30 minutes to warm the soup.
• If you do this before you serve dinner, the soup should be ready to be browned by the time you have finished eating.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C).
• Remove the soup bowls from the warm water bath and place them on a baking sheet. Place in the oven just until the meringue begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• The soup should not get hot.
• Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
• Notes****.
• When you cut chocolate, start at one corner and always cut it on an angle. Don't try to cut big pieces, because it is too difficult. If you cut on an angle, it will be easier and safer. This way, you do not have to cut so much surface at one time.
• Congrats - you made it - now ENJOY! :).