BANOFFEE "CHEESE" CAKE

Banoffee

I love banoffee and I love cheesecake, so this is an easy, dairy-free mash-up of both. Everything can be made ahead and kept in the fridge, then when ready to serve, simply add the toppings.

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 4h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

11 ounces chocolate sandwich cookies (or graham crackers or digestive cookies)
2 tablespoons coconut oil, at room temperature
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
14 ounces (400 grams) dairy-free cream cheese, at room temperature
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 ounces (50 grams) plain dark chocolate (I use 70% cacao), chopped or broken
3 medium bananas
1/4 cup Carefree Caramel, recipe follows
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (I use coconut milk)
1 cup coconut sugar

Steps:

For the base: Blitz the cookies in a food processor or put in a resealable plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin to a small crumb consistency, then mix in the oil.
Press the cookie mixture into the base of a parchment-lined 8-inch springform nonstick cake pan. Press down to form an even base.
For the filling: Mix together the sugar, vanilla, cream cheese and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Beat together well and spoon on top of the biscuit base, smoothing out evenly with a spatula or metal tablespoon.
Cover and put in the fridge to chill and firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
For the topping: Just before serving, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water (make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water) and stir with a wooden spoon while you let it melt, about 4 minutes. Stir again to make sure it has totally melted, then remove the bowl and set aside. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in a microwavable bowl in 30 second bursts, stirring between each burst.
When ready to serve, unlock the ring on the pan, lift the cheesecake and put on a serving plate.
Peel and thinly slice the bananas and heap on top of the cheesecake, then drizzle over the Carefree Caramel in a zigzag or spiral pattern across the top, followed by a drizzle of the melted chocolate. Serve.
Spoon the cornstarch into a jug or bowl and stir in the milk until smooth and free of any lumps.
Tip the sugar into a small pan over medium-low heat and allow it to warm, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the sugar, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to keep it smooth. Allow it to heat and gently bubble, stirring until nicely caramelized and thickened to a consistency that is glossy and coats the back of the wooden spoon, about 4 minutes. Refrigerate any extra caramel in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.