Chocoate Sauce And Banana Caramel Shortbread
I’ve mentioned before going to boarding school at 11. A small, very old school, rich in tradition; with a parallel language. Almost everything had a nickname. From compulsory activities – Gravel Crunching, Spud Bashing, Squizzing, Sticking And Licking. To teachers, the chalk lobbing Chemi T and the feared threesome, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. Named with the malice only a girl’s school can muster. Food, of course, had comparable names. Flabby tinned peaches and custard became Dead Goldfish, Bullet hard boiled eggs in cheese sauce, became Convent Eggs and the most anticipated rare treat, Chunky rectangular slabs of shortbread, slightly soft in the centre, with jugs of thick chocolate custard were affectionately named Thames Mud And Barges. This is my re-invention of that much loved dessert, using the caramelised bananas from my banana bread recipe.
Delicious Chocolate Sauce And Banana Caramel Shortbread
Caramelised Banana Shortbread And Chocolate Sauce
Thames Mud And Banana Barges
Makes 12
Banana Caramel Shortbread In The Baking Tin
For The Chocolate Sauce (Thames Mud) adapted from The Perfect Scoop
- 500mls double cream
- 85g unsalted butter cubed
- 2 tablespoons of glucose syrup (available in the baking aisle)
- 125g sugar
- 230g good quality dark chocolate, cut small
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla paste
For The Banana Caramel
- 150g caster sugar
- 50mls water
- 250g chopped bananas
- 15g unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla paste
For The Shortbread Barges
- 450g self raising flour
- 375g cold unsalted butter
- 170g caster sugar
- pinch of salt
Dipping Pot Of Chocolate Sauce
Method
- Sprinkle evenly the sugar in a large frying pan, add the water and swill to wet the sugar. Do not stir
- Place on a high heat and bring to a boil, continue boiling until a rich caramel colour is achieved
- Reduce the heat and add the bananas, 15g unsalted butter and vanilla paste, stir until the bananas break up and the butter has melted and combined
- Set aside to cool
- Put the flour, remaining butter, sugar and salt in a large bowl and rub in the butter (like making pastry or crumble)
- The mixture will form clumps, but be sure that the butter is rubbed into the flour and sugar and not left as big blobs
- When all the elements are combined add the cold banana mix and gently fold in. This will be quite sticky and help to combine the dry buttery ingredients. You want it marbled rather than fully mixed in
- Pour into a greased, 20cm (8inch) square baking tray and bake in the centre of the pre heated oven for 45 – 50 minutes until golden brown but still a little soft in the centre.
- Leave to cool slightly in the tin and cut to size, then leave to cool completely.
- Meanwhile Put 250mls of the cream in a medium size pan.
- Add the glucose syrup, and sugar and bring to the boil, boil, stirring, until the mixture combines and thickens
- Take off the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until completely melted, gradually add the remainder of the cream stirring continually
- Serve warm in cups, dipping the shortbread into the chocolate sauce.
Caramelised Banana Shortbread Dipped In Chocolate Sauce
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Believe me, there is NOTHING I would recreate from my school dinners. Love the look back at the lingo and the recipe
This would be the only one that didn’t really need a change, but tinkering is fun. GG
I love the names, especially the dead goldfish. My Archie has so many wonderful memories of his time in boarding school. He met the headmaster of Eton there one day – he was out having a tour of boarding schools in Australia. Love the look of this – I can imagine how excited you must have been to have this appear on the menu in the dining hall (except it wouldn’t have been as good as this!) xx
Looking back is fun and as I’ve said before I did enjoy my time there despite the arcane rules and vile food. GG
Ooh yummy!
I used to work for a trio of not very nice bosses and after I left I found out that they were known in the industry as the lion, the witch and the wardrobe. Still makes me laugh when I think about that xx
There are some trios it just fits. GG
I wondered where all of those terms had come from-are all of those names like Spotted Dick etc from boarding schools too?
This looks divinely decadent and worth every calorie!
I think they are all school or old uni/Oxford and Cambridge names. All a bit strange! GG
I wouldn’t mind a bit of Thames Mud and Banana Barges! They look great. I don’t recall naming foods at my school but then again I wasn’t a boarder. We liked our food at the secondary school but it was totally vile at the convent…ugh. We had the dead goldfish swimming in cream…ugh.
These are delicious.
Nazneen xx
Ugh! I couldn’t have downed dead goldfish and cream either. Banana barges are well worth a try, I took some to the vet, they always look after the Glam Pooch so well. GG
Haha your names were inspired my friend, really very humorous twist on a bad situation! Must say though I would love to devour this nicknamed treat
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Glad you like the names, they are way better than the food! GG
Not only does this dessert look adorable, but it holds special meaning for you! I just love the idea of a banana caramel shortbread…I’ve never heard of anything like it. But then it is topped off with chocolate, I mean thames mud to boot! Wow. That is a great “love” mug as well. I see we share the same passion for dishes!
I love pretty or unusual dishes and I’m always on the look out for them. The banana caramel works in lots of things or just topping off a cup cake. GG
I bet this tastes miles better than anything you ate at boarding school
It certainly looks delicious indeed, yummo!
The original Thames Barges were pretty good. GG
I hate to say this, but we had pretty decent foods during our schooling days. My mom used to pack us meals too, in between.
This looks like a dessert I could go on and on, without stopping! Ooopppsss!!
We only got school food, no goodies from home. It is hard to stop chowing down on these. GG
Wow, this looks amazing!! Yummy!
Thank you, they’re well worth making. GG
Your chocolate cream looks incredible – I love that thick, semi-solid texture… Thank you for sharing!
It is a chocolate cream for sharing. try it. GG
Yum! Sounds so good and the photos make it look delectable. What school did you go to? Sounds fun! I went to an girls boarding school in Bristol in the 80s and 90s and we had our own language too. Loved my days there. Well, mostly!
I loved my time too- mostly! GG
Love a good nickname! And these are both funny and delish!
They are delish, glad you like the name. GG
Wow it accepted my comment – it must be my end.
Thank you so much for continuing to try to comment. GG