Category Archives: no bake

Cheats Banoffee Pie, step by step.

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Cheats Banoffee pie


It’s always good to have a cheats recipe or two up your sleeve, just in case you don’t have time, or simply aren’t in the mood for fuss. Especially now with the holidays around the corner, there’s plenty to do already.
Maybe someone is going to ask you to bring along a dessert at a dinner party, this would be perfect. And because I add a layer of chocolate to the base, the pie crust stays nice and crunchy and doesn’t go soggy.
This Cheats Banoffee Pie recipe is so good and very simple with just a few store cupboard ingredients. You can make my simple pastry crust recipe or make it even easier by buying a ready made crust. It’s all about as little effort as possible today.

Prep time : 30 min (if you’re making the crust, otherwise 10 min)
Cooking time : 20 min (for the pie crust)
Serves : 8
1 x 20cm/8in spring form tin

INGREDIENTS:


For the base:
• 1 x super simple pastry dough recipe or store bought ready pie crust
• 100 gr./ 3.5 oz. dark or milk chocolate (whichever you prefer) chopped
For the caramel filling:
• 1 x can 397gr./14oz. Dulce de Leche or creamy thick caramel from a jar
For the topping:
• 300ml/10fl oz. double cream
• 3 medium bananas, peeled and sliced
• 100 gr./ 3.5 oz. dark or milk chocolate (whichever you prefer)

METHOD:

1. Line the base of a 20cm/8in spring form tin with baking paper.
2. To make the base, follow the recipe for pie crust and bake accordingly. Let cool.
3. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted. Spread over the pie crust base and place in the freezer until set. This will only take 15 minutes or so.
4. For the filling, simply spread a can of dulce de leche over the chocolate.
5. Whip the cream in a bowl until soft peaks form.
6. Arrange the banana slices in neat rounds on top of the toffee. Spoon or pipe the cream on top and level. Set in the fridge for an hour.
7. Decorate with chocolate shavings or sprinkles.* see note

Note: I have a little trick for the chocolate shavings that I use all the time. Unwrap a chocolate bar and place it on a plate, flat side up. Place it in the microwave.
Set on defrost program and run for 30 to 60 seconds. Then take a vegetable peeler and shave off the curls.

Enjoy!

PS: the wonders you can do with a can of Dulce de Leche….or otherwise caramel related recipes

If you make this Cheats Banoffee Pie recipe, be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

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Brownie Cookie Squares with Chocolate Fudge Layer, vegan

24 Replies

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I love anything you can mix in one big bowl and then press into a tin.

These cookie squares are somewhere between a brownie and a cookie, hence the name. They are super quick to make and so nutrient dense that one little square will be enough to last you until lunch or dinner.

I have used half Buckwheat flakes  and half Oat flakes just because I happened to have it but you can use one or the other or a mixture of both.

If your dates are dry, soak them in water for about an hour before using.

I have used a bit of Lucuma, but if you don’t have it, it’s fine without.

*Lucuma  is made from whole Peruvian lucuma fruit that has been dried at low temperatures and milled into a fine powder. It is a  low-glycemic sweetener with many nutrients including beta-carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium and protein. Lucuma has a maple-caramel like taste and I like to use it in sweet things and smoothies.

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Makes 16 squares

Ingredients;

Brownie cookie;

  • 1 C. Buckwheat Flakes
  • 1 C. Oat flakes
  • 5 tbsp. Cacao Powder
  • 2 tsp. *Lucuma Powder  (optional)
  • 1/4 C. Vanilla Protein Powder
  • 1/2 C. Peanut Butter  or an nut butter
  • 5 large soft Medjool dates, stones removed
  • 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 3 tbsp. Light Agave Syrup
  • 2 tbsp. Coconut Oil, melted or left in a warm place until soft.
  • Sprinkles (optional)

____________________

Raw Chocolate Fudge Layer;

  • 1/4 C. Raw Cocoa powder
  • 1/4 C. Coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tbsp. Date syrup
  • 2 tbsp. Agave

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Instructions;

Blend the Buckwheat and Oat flakes until you have  flour and place in a bowl.

Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon.

In a food processor blend the Medjool dates until you have a paste, add a splash of water if necessary. Add the nut butter, the vanilla, the agave and the coconut oil. Blend until well mixed.

If you are using a home made nut butter you can add a pinch of salt. Store bought nut butters have salt already.

Now mix the dry into the wet and mix thoroughly. To test the consistency press a bit of mixture between your fingers or try to make a tiny ball, if it sticks together it good to go, if it crumbles add a little bit of water, or coconut oil. Blend, repeat.

Line a square dish 8″x 8″,  with parchment paper, press the cookie brownie mixture into the dish and cover with cling film, refrigerate for a couple of hours until firm. Cover with a thin layer of raw chocolate or leave as is.

For the Chocolate fudge layer, mix all the ingredients and stir well to mix, spread or pour over the squares. Decorate with sprinkles and leave in the fridge to set. About one hour should be enough. Cut into 16 squares.

Note: the chocolate will melt slightly if left at room temperature for a while.

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If you try this recipe let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it  #thecookingspoonblog on instagram! You’ll make my day.