Desserts Recipes - Chocolate with Banana Buns Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 25g/1oz cocoa powder (sifted)

• 150ml/1/4pt milk

• 4 medium eggs (separated)

• 100g/4oz caster sugar (plus 2 tablespoons for dusting)

• 250g/9oz Mascarpone cheese

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 3 tablespoons double cream

• 1 banana (sliced)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

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Method:

1. Line a 33 x 23cm/13 x 9in Swiss roll tin with baking parchment.

2. Mix the cocoa powder with 3 tablespoons milk to form a paste. Heat the remaining milk in a small pan, then slowly pour on to the cocoa paste and stir together to combine evenly. Cool for 10 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a freestanding mixer until pale, thickened and mousse-like.

4. Gradually mix in the cooling chocolate milk. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold a third into the chocolate mixture, to loosen slightly, then fold in the remainder.

5. Turn into the prepared Swiss roll tin and bake for 25 minutes until the mixture has risen and is just firm to the touch.

6. Turn out on to a sheet of baking parchment dusted with 2 tablespoons caster sugar and remove the baking parchment lining. Cover with a warm damp tea towel to prevent the sponge from  drying out.

7. Put the Mascarpone into a bowl and stir in the maple syrup and cream. Put the banana slices in a small bowl, pour on the vanilla essence and stir to mix.

8. Remove the tea towel from the chocolate sponge and, using a palette knife, spread half the Mascarpone cream over the sponge. Scatter the banana on top.

9. Starting at the shortest end, roll up the chocolate sponge. Slide on to the serving plate and serve in slices with the rest of the Mascarpone cream.