Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Cake Center
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup caramel pieces (do not use ice cream topping – you want actual caramel chunks)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- For the shortbread crust, using a stand mixer and paddle attachment beat the 1/2 cup butter until smooth.
- Add in the sugar and vanilla beating well; scrape the bowl down to incorporate completely.
- Add in the flour and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon initially mixing on low then moving to medium. It will come together to make a formable “dough”.
- Dump the crust mixture in a glass ungreased 9×13” pan.
- Press the crust evenly on the bottom. If it sticks to your fingers, lightly wet them with water and press down.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light brown. It will be soft to the touch. You do NOT want it to be firm to the touch.
- Allow the pan to cool completely on a baking rack.
- Once the pan is cool, make the cake center.
- Using your clean stand mixer bowl and paddle attachment beat the 1/2 cup butter on med-high until smooth.
- Add in the brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt beating well; scrape the bowl down to incorporate completely.
- Add in the eggs, mashed bananas, milk and vanilla; beating well until combined.
- Add in the flour initially mixing on low then moving to medium.
- Fold in the caramel pieces.
- Evenly spread out the over the cooled crust.
- Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Move the pan to a baking rack and allow to cool completely.
- While the cake is cooling make the frosting.
- In a large bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese with a hand or stand mixer.
- Beat on high until fluffy.
- Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar and cinnamon.
- Once all mixed in, beat in the vanilla, milk and caramel. *If it’s too thin you can either add a tablespoon or so of more confectioners’ sugar to thicken it OR add in a teaspoon or so of cornstarch. If you add the confectioners’ sugar, watch the sweetness of it. If you don’t want that you can add more cream cheese/butter ratio.
- When the cake is cooled, frost it and serve.
Notes
*This should be kept in the fridge. If it’s cold the shortbread is hard but when it comes to room temperature it gets uber soft.