Monday 28 September 2015

Milo Banana A Dream in Chocolate Cake


This cake, inspired by the Peanut Butter Banana Cake I baked previously, came about because (again) I needed to clear off some ingredients that were sitting idle in the fridge. Top priority was to use up an expensive organic dark chocolate spread which I bought just because it was on special offer. 


Besides, I had one set of whipping cream that came in a pack of three that was taking  up space. The expiry date is January 2016 and knowing me, I would probably exceed that date and I would end up wasting another expensive ingredient.


Not only that, I had leftover Milo Chocolate Chip Cookies and these would be put to good use as the base of the cake. Armed with the experience I had with the previous cake, I was fairly confident that I would be able to handle this cake with finesse. 

But no, I made a mistake midway through by forgetting to spread whipping cream on the chocolate banana layer before topping with the chocolate sponge cake. Drat! I was so angry with myself.


I know the name A Dream in Chocolate sounds rather poetic bombastic (no doubt influenced by a dessert I had at El Cerdo) but in the midst of the dream, I also had a nightmare. Look at the horror and devastation :


This slice collapsed in a heap, its chocolate banana Milo innards spilling out in a glorious mess. How's that for chocolate gore?


I know many of you would tell me, come, come, PH. Let me help you clean up the mess. Give me a spoon! Sure, thank you for volunteering but I already cleaned up the mess. And what a enjoyable clean up that was!


Speaking of the dark chocolate spread, as I mixed it with whipping cream, all I smelt was a deep dark chocolate scent. I mean, I like dark chocolate but it was just so one dimensional, so dead. But when I added Milo powder to it, ah..... that's when it was transformed into this ooey goey malty chocolaty cream that you just want to eat by the scoopfuls. Add bananas to that, kapow!!


When I first bought that dark chocolate spread and tasted a teaspoonful, I told myself that I am not going to waste my money again. But you know what, I'm going to waste my money again. Because I already wasted money on a big bag of Milo powder hah..hah...













Milo Banana A Dream in Chocolate Cake
Recipe source : Adapted from here

Ingredients :
- 140g Milo Chocolate Chip Cookies, finely crushed
- 40g melted butter
- 250g dark chocolate spread
- 1 cup Milo powder, sifted (any hard bits left in the sieve, just add into the sifted powder)
- Extra Milo powder for dusting
- 600g whipping cream
- 4-5 ripe bananas (I used pisang berangan)
- one 8" chocolate sponge cake, 2cm thick

Ganache
- 100g Dark Chocolate, broken into small pieces
- 100ml whipping cream
10g butter

Method :
1. Mix crushed Milo chocolate chip cookies with melted butter.
2. Pour the mixture into an 8" round tin with a removable base. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan and set aside.
3. Whip 200ml of the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside in the fridge.
4. In a mixing bowl, put chocolate spread and beat while pouring 200ml of whipping cream bit by bit (to avoid the whipping cream from splashing all over the place). Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
5. Add Milo powder and beat until well mixed.
6. Pour the mixture over the cookie base and use the back of a spoon to spread the mixture evenly.
7. Slice the bananas and arrange over the peanut butter layer and press the bananas into the cream. Add another layer of sliced bananas and press onto the mixture to ensure thatthe bananas are compacted into the creamy layer.
8. Spread a layer of the whipped cream to cover the bananas. Be generous.
9. Lay the sponge cake over the whipped cream.
10. Spread the remaining whipped cream over the cake and chill in the fridge.
11. Make the ganache and when the ganache is cool, pour over the cake, tilting the cake pan to spread the ganache evenly.
12. Sift extra Milo powder onto the ganache.
13. Refrigerate the cake overnight to set.

To make the chocolate ganache :
1. Bring the whipping cream to a boil.
2. Pour the hot cream over the dark chocolate and leave to sit for 5 minutes.
3. Stir the chocolate mixture until it forms a smooth glossy mixture.

Note : I placed the chocolate and butter into a glass measuring jug to make it easier to pour the ganache)



Photobucket

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Zoe of Bake with Happy Kids.

38 comments:

  1. Fuiyoh, your title sounds so nice, like in my dreams.. Dreamland, playland... Like Milo choconana rich cake in a cup.. I thought you wana do a microwave post today, neh, the Milo cake (with bananas) in a cup.. Fuiyoh, but when I scroll down, your cake looks 100x more "hoi wai" than choconana cake in a cup! The cake looks so so good, so soft, I don't mind those collapsing thingy, it's just for the sake of the camera, and your mild OCD-ness, other than that, I think the cake is super yummylicious..

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    1. hah..hah... thanks, Louiz! This is a nice cake because as you know, bananas go well with chocolate and of course, Milo! I will be making this cake again but not so soon. It is quite a long process.

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  2. Milo powder can use to make Milo drinks lah, not necessarily need to keep for making another cake!

    Chocolate, Milo, banana... seeing this cake already makes me feel like heart attack. That's why I think it is better then not to see it and just eat it. :D

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    1. I was about to write the same thing - that big bag of Milo powder can be used to make Milo drinks - when I read RG has already mentioned this here. How to not see but just eat? To eat have to look at the cake while eating, right?

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    2. RG : I don't really fancy Milo drinks anymore hah..hah... I used to love it as a kid. Now I prefer to eat it!

      Mun : I suppose RG could close his eyes and munch the cake hah..hah...

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  3. wow wow wow!!! this is really chocolatey to the brim!! it's not a dream, but i guess it's heaven, hahaha!! love this cake and surely it will make one very happy, you know, chocolates and also bananas make perfect match, and then some elements in chocolates has that chemical that can make one very happy, and sweet desserts give endorphins to make us happy too!! and that collapsed cake squirting the chocolate innards, i see this as a success than failure.. chocolate lovers and even makan kaki would love this~~ :)

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    1. Oh yes, this one is chocolate kaw kaw! It definitely made me happy eating the cake, so dreamy....

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  4. You didn't bake this cake twice, right? How is it that one slice can stand firmly upright (and looked beautiful for you on camera) while another collapsed in a mess....a good mess, that is! :D

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    1. hah..hah...it was one and the same cake. That slice collapsed because when I sliced and served it, the biscuit base stuck to the cake pan >.< Therefore, it had no support and melted in a heap!

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  5. Wowwww!!!! Sure looks like a dream! Aiyor...what a disaster when it all came oozing out! So sad.

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    1. Sobbbbs!! But it was OK as it tasted good hee..hee...

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  6. Hi Phong Hong,
    My big kids would definitely love this chocolatey banana cake. Hmm ... it collapsed due to the hot weather perhaps ?

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    1. Karen, it collapsed because the biscuit base got stuck to the pan. So that slice had no support. But never mind, I sapu all hee..hee...

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  7. It sure is a beauty before it collapsed.

    But after also, still looks a beauty. A sinfully delicious beauty.

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    1. Thanks, Lina! You have a good eye for fine things hee..hee...

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  8. I am so sad that i am not your neighbour or colleague...

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  9. Hey your title sounds nice wat...! I would happily lick the plate dry after sinking my teeth into your cake. I am still dreaming that we could be neighbours someday.

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  10. Can pass me a piece??? Looks so real and clear especially the one with the choc dripping out... hahaha....

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    1. hah..hah...not dreaming, right Claire? Sure would love to share a piece with you in my dreams hah..hah...

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  11. Phong Hong, I too want a piece of your cake. Even the collapse one will do. I can help clear up the mess in a jiffy.

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    1. Nancy, this is one mess that nobody minds to do the cleaning job!

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  12. I like the name of the cake. I am sure it is very, very, very rich in taste. It does look very rich in taste too from the photo. You mean you want to buy the dark chocolate again to make this cake again because you have a bag of milo? Or because you want to put the whipped cream where you wanted it to be the next time.

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    Replies
    1. Mun, I just want to eat this cake again hah..hah...

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    2. Now you made me want to eat it too, hehehe!

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  13. I would eat that collapsed cake in an instant! Love the look of this cake!

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  14. Hi Phong Hong, your cakes always looks tempting to me. How I wish you are nearby and I can have a piece, hehehe! Look forward to more Milo recipes from you. My SIL made a Coffee/Cocoa Tiramisu Cheesecake that turned out watery. She freezed it and ate them like eating chocolates. It didn't go to waste, lol.

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    1. Hi Kimmy! Me too wished that we are neighbors. Then we can exchange our bakes! Good thing your SIL froze the tiramisu and salvaged it. That's the good thing about some desserts, you can still enjoy it even if it did not turn out perfect.

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  15. woah .. I love anything to do with peanut butter.... yummy!

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    1. Chris, if TM sees this comment he will call you sotong again hah..hah...

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  16. Wow! This is definitely not a dream. It's a heavenly cake to me. Love this cake so much!

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  17. Hi Phong Hong,

    Sorry for my late visit as I was away for my holidays.

    What an irresistible cake! I don't call this messy... I would say that it is gooey... LOL! Glorious... Yes definately!!! Nice that all your "incidental" purchases has convinced you to make this gooey glorious Milo banana cake!!! You know what... You need to shop for more ingredients again :p

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! No apologies required :D Well, I am really glad that you chose Milo as a star ingredient. I still have some more in the pantry and I am going to make ice cream again hee..hee..

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