Banana Caramel Cobbler-Ugly but Delicious

I’ve often thought to start a new series of recipes. They’d be called the “Ugly but Delicious” range. Whilst they may not elicit the same gasps of delight or frisson of electricity amongst the crowd as a delicate French Macaron, after an initial “Huh?” the eater would be reduced to making moaning, guttural noises of unchecked pleasure. This dish is one of them. A cobbler is like an upside down pie, or at least that was the way described to me when I first had one at South restaurant in Neutral Bay.

The cobbler topping recipe is adapted from Epicurious, after all it is an American dessert so I figured they would have a great recipe for it. As for the rest, banana is not really that frequently used as a cobbler filling as say peach, apple or cherry, but pay no mind to the historical inaccuracy. It tastes phenomenal and I think that’s all that should matter. I also used some caramel filling I made a while back and stashed in the freezer. Bananas and caramel are two perfect bed partners. And after serving this to someone, they’ll be dying to take you to bed too*.

*I give no actual promises of rumpy pumpy

Banana Caramel Cobbler-Ugly but Delicious

An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella

For topping

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons caster sugar
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup whole milk

For filling

  • 5 ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup thick caramel sauce
  • 2 tablespoon cookie crumbs (optional, I just had these leftover from a cheesecake and I hate waste)

To serve: Vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Make the cobbler topping: mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in another large bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips blend butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal-there will be lumps of butter in it. Add milk and beaten egg and stir just until a dough forms.

Before topping is applied

2. Slice bananas and place on the base of a 25cms/10inch diameter pie plate. Spoon caramel sauce over the top of the bananas. With the back of the spoon, smooth down the top so that the pieces are too jagged (so that the cobbler topping sits flat). Spoon cobbler topping on top and place on baking sheet (to catch any overflow) and bake for 35 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and swoon. It’s always good to serve this to uptight people as it will cause them to become wanton and uninhibited.

If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?

Print Page

Subscribe to Not Quite Nigella

Subscribe to Not Quite Nigella to receive daily updates via email. Just enter your email address and press Subscribe.

Related Posts

42 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Barbara | April 11, 2009 at 7:09 am | #

    Sounds like a great combination of flavors. I love the picture of the uncooked bananas with the caramel sauce and cookies. I may have eaten it up at that stage!

  • 2. Blond Duck | April 11, 2009 at 7:43 am | #

    I thought it was beautiful. Really.

    Can I have some?

  • 3. Rosa | April 11, 2009 at 8:17 am | #

    What counts is it’s yumminess! I bet it tastes really good!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  • 4. Johanna | April 11, 2009 at 8:33 am | #

    banana and caramel is indeed a heavenly combination – and I love this wintery way of serving it – have never thought to put bananas in a pudding like this but it makes such perfect sense

  • 5. Arwen from Hoglet K | April 11, 2009 at 8:46 am | #

    Ugly but delicious is my kind of dessert! I adore caramel and banana. My mum used to make a self-saucing pudding with banana and caramel which I love.

  • 6. Theresa | April 11, 2009 at 9:03 am | #

    Great recipe. Exactly the sort of thing I can easily replicate, and I will be very happy to replicate it. I do love these inspirational posts.

  • 7. Vanessa | April 11, 2009 at 9:14 am | #

    OMG that looks delicious!

  • 8. Dina | April 11, 2009 at 9:20 am | #

    That’s not ugly! I think that’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

    And I really really want some.

  • 9. Sara | April 11, 2009 at 9:40 am | #

    Wow does this sound good. My husband loves bananas, especially in desserts. I am going to make this for him, he’ll be thrilled.

  • 10. Jessie | April 11, 2009 at 10:52 am | #

    This looks and sounds like absolute pleasure. I love the contrast of a warm pudding (dessert) with icecream. And banana and caramel is such a sure-winning combination. Have a great Easter!!

  • 11. anna | April 11, 2009 at 11:09 am | #

    That sounds really good. Caramel and banana definitely do go well together. Mmm, especially with ice cream.

  • 12. Kazzar | April 11, 2009 at 11:41 am | #

    Oh my this looks good. And simple enough for me to try – i need to take something to a friends house tomorrow night and i think this is going to be it! Yummy! Thanks!

  • 13. arista | April 11, 2009 at 12:41 pm | #

    that looks so yummy (and very sweet!) – I think I would need several cups of tea to go with it!

    btw I have unsubscribed because I am going away for a few weeks, but shall resubscribe when I get back!

  • 14. Reemski | April 11, 2009 at 12:51 pm | #

    *rolls around moaning guttarally* Are you trying to seduce me? ;-)

  • 15. Liss | April 11, 2009 at 1:37 pm | #

    yum.

  • 16. Libby | April 11, 2009 at 4:21 pm | #

    Oh I just want this right now. Sounds and looks wonderful, and I could go for that ice cream too. Why am I so hungry when I am tired?

  • 17. Lisa | April 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm | #

    Oh god, not ugly, mouth watering! Banana and caramel is right up my alley! I am definitely making this! I know it’ll be delicious, but I hope it turns out as lovely as yours! :)

  • 18. ArtemisIII | April 11, 2009 at 6:30 pm | #

    OOOH, that does look heavenly, though my fav cobbler is apple ;)

    I love what you said “I give no actual promises of rumpy pumpy”

    HAHA. hysterical!

  • 19. Anita | April 11, 2009 at 6:48 pm | #

    Definitely not ugly – I reckon it looks great and would taste great too!

  • 20. Katie | April 11, 2009 at 7:51 pm | #

    It looks rather delicious! I can see why you’d describe it as ugly, but once you break into it and see that yummy caramel … mmmmmmm. Oh and I could totally just eat the filling by itself!

  • 21. Vanessa | April 11, 2009 at 9:41 pm | #

    P.S. What type of thick caramel sauce does one recommend?

  • 22. Sophia | April 11, 2009 at 11:15 pm | #

    maybe it’s your amazing photography, but I don’t find that ugly at all! far from it! I’m drooling just looking at that lovely crust and the gooey insides!

  • 23. Betty | April 11, 2009 at 11:49 pm | #

    i love that you added cookies. it looks good. not ugly at all! i would definitely not say no to that :)

  • 24. snooky doodle | April 12, 2009 at 6:26 am | #

    this isn’t ugly it must taste awesome . I ve never made a banana gobler. surely sounds interesting and yummy :)

  • 25. Lisa | April 12, 2009 at 8:52 am | #

    My boyfriend’s favourite foods are banana and caramel… I’ll have to test out your theory ;)

  • 26. Y | April 12, 2009 at 8:52 am | #

    Oh, I don’t know about calling this ugly.. it looks quite tasty to me!

  • 27. Not Quite Nigella | April 12, 2009 at 10:56 am | #

    Hi Barbara-Thankyou! It was rather tempting to dig in then and there I have to say! :lol:

    Hi Blond Duck-Aww shucks thankyou! Of course!

    Hi Rosa-It was really good indeed and yes you’re right!

    Hi Johanna-Yes it’s a very Winter friendly recipe. The bananas don’t look as “pretty” whne they’re good but

    the proof is in the eating :)

    Hi Arwen-Hehe cool! Me too, caramel and banana are so good together. A self saucing pudding sounds lovely!

    Hi Theresa-Yup it’s crazily easy :) Thankyou so much! :D

    Hi Vanessa-Thankyou so much! :)

    Hi Dina-Aww thanks, you are so sweet to say that! :D

    Hi Sara-Thanks! I think he’ll be very happy if my husband’s reaction is anything to go by :lol:

    Hi Jessie-Thankyou! Yep I love warm pudding and cold ice cream as a combo and I find that caramels and bananas

    are so good together. THanks and a very happy Easter to you too! :D

    Hi anna-Thankyou! I confess to dipping my bananas in caramel sauce too :lol:

    Hi Kazzar-Yup it’s so easy honestly :D Fantatsic! I bet they’ll love it, especially with some nice vanilla ice

    cream :)

    Hi arista-Hehe funnily enough, it doesn’t end up too sweet as the cobbler topping isn’t that sweet. But sure

    tea would be nice with it too. Have fun on your trip! :D

    Hi Reemski-Hehe looks like I was trying to inadvertently!

    Hi Liss-Thanks!

    Hi Libby-I get the same hwne I’m tired too! I think I crave sugar so that I can wake up! :)

    Hi Lisa-Aww thankyou! I’m sure yours will turn out fabulously! :)

    Hi ArtemisIII-Apple is very good too. Haha I don’t want people complaining they didn’t get any! :P

    Hi Anita-Thankyou so much! :D

    HI Katie-Thankyou! :) Yep underneath the cover is where the beauty lies (actually the cobbler bit is also good) :lol:

    Hi Vanessa-I actually had some leftover from a recipe but I think any think, gooey sauce or butterscotch sauce (see my caramel apple cheesecake for a quick, easy and thick butterscotch sauce) will do :D

    Hi Sophia-Aww shucks, thankyou! :) That’s so sweet of you to say!

    Hi Betty-I hate to throw things out and you know they worked although you don’t have to have them. Thankyou! :D

    Hi snooky doodle-Thanks! :D If you like pie, you’ll like this I think!

    Hi Lisa-Haha I hope it works! :D

    Hi Y-When I made this I didn’t know whether I’d even blog about it but once I tried it I knew I had to so I figure ugly but delicious was probably the best way to describe it!

  • 28. Naomi | April 12, 2009 at 11:22 am | #

    Lorraine, I think you have outdone yourself this time – it looks delicious. Bananas & caramel are quite possibly 2 of my favourite foods.

    I have put in my order with the home chef and will see how he goes :)

  • 29. Lisa Marie | April 12, 2009 at 1:14 pm | #

    Wow… This looks so DELICIOUS! Just the title alone made me stop in my tracks… can’t wait to try it myself!

  • 30. helen | April 12, 2009 at 2:54 pm | #

    I wouldn’t call this ugly at all! It looks wholesome and comforting; I’d make it as soon as my bananas ripen.

  • 31. Cakelaw | April 12, 2009 at 5:00 pm | #

    It looks fabulous to me – rustic rather than ugly. Banana and caramel sounds like a delicious combination.

  • 32. Lilia | April 12, 2009 at 5:09 pm | #

    I think this is what I need in upcoming Winter, a comfort food like these.
    Your last statement is like Gordon Ramsay on the YouTube perfect scramble eggs. He said in the last minute video to “Go upstair…give it to your wife in bed……..the breakfast”

    I tried the scramble eggs, yest it is foolproof and how sad I couldn’t find creme fraiche in Sydney yet (had substitute it with sour cream)

  • 33. Sophie | April 12, 2009 at 6:10 pm | #

    MMMMMM…Lorraine, it does look delicious! What counts is that the taste is the more important thing!
    Waw, if I look at all the ingredients, how could it not be FABULOUS?

  • 34. Not Quite Nigella | April 12, 2009 at 8:36 pm | #

    Hi Naomi -Aww thankyou! You are too kind! Haha yes good idea, things that other people make always taste good

    :D

    Hi Lisa Marie-Hehe thankyou! I’d love to know what you think!

    Hi helen -Thankyou so much! It was very comforting which the weather really called for :D

    Hi Cakelaw-Heheyes mayube it’s more rustic than ugly but my first reaction was “Oh no!”

    Hi Lilia-Yes it’s very much winter comfort food. Haha he is a naught bugger! Yes it’s hard to find here, I usually use sour cream too.

    Hi Sophie-Thankyou! :D Yes taste is the most important part isn’t it! :D

  • 35. Carolyn | April 13, 2009 at 1:22 am | #

    I don’t know how you can call that ugly. It looks so delicious. Banana caramel! yum!

  • 36. reddoorread | April 13, 2009 at 10:14 pm | #

    i want to eat this now. in bed with the tele on and a cup of earl grey. hmmm.

  • 37. grace | April 14, 2009 at 2:30 am | #

    i have never, ever seen a banana cobbler, crisp, brown betty, or grunt. after seeing yours (which i don’t find unattractive AT ALL), i have to wonder why!

  • 38. Bridget | April 15, 2009 at 4:15 pm | #

    Hey there!! Love your blog!! I’ve included this recipe post in my top 15 recipes of the week on Twitter–> http://bit.ly/1KHIsr Well done, and I hope to see more of these fabulous recipes come swimming through the twitter stream soon.

    Love, Bridge.

  • 39. Not Quite Nigella | April 15, 2009 at 9:13 pm | #

    Hi Carolyn-Hehe thanks! :D

    Hi reddoorread-Sounds like an excellent plan. that’s exactly how I like to eat it! :D

    Hi grace-Yes it’s not really common is it! I don’t know why, it works :)

    Hi Bridget-Aww shucks, thankyou! I am so glad to be included! :D xxx

  • 40. Kevin | April 20, 2009 at 12:10 am | #

    This sounds so amazingly good! Caramel and bananas…mmm…

  • 41. Lily | April 27, 2009 at 8:46 am | #

    Did you forget the caster sugar, hte egg and the butter? because theyre not in your instructions, but their in the ingredients list.

One Trackback/Pingback

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *
*
*