Chocolate Chip Bananas Foster 'Box' Cheesecake

Ingredients

for 8 servings

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA CAKE

2 ripe bananas

1 egg

½ cup (120 mL) vegetable oil

1 cup (235 mL) milk

1 yellow cake mix, 1 box

1 ½ cups (260 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter

½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed

2 bananas, sliced

CHEESECAKE

24 oz (680 g) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup (200 g) sugar

3 eggs, at room temperature

½ cup (115 g) sour cream

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to mash the ripe bananas.

Whisk in the egg, followed by vegetable oil and milk. Mix until combined.

Add in the yellow cake mix, being careful to not overmix.

Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a shallow saucepan, set over medium heat, add the butter and brown sugar, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture turns into golden brown syrup, about 5 minutes.

Pour the syrup into a 9-inch (20-cm) round cake pan. Place the sliced bananas into a single layer on top of the syrup.

Divide the cake batter among the banana pan, and another greased 9-inch (20-cm) cake pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Once the banana bottom cake is cool to touch, invert onto a cooling rack set on top of a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Leave the second cake to cool to room temperature inside the pan.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add in the sour cream and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.

Pour the cheesecake batter into the cooled cake in the pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with two sheets of foil and place into a larger baking dish.

Fill the baking dish with water until it comes 1 inch (2 cm) up the side on the cake pan.

Bake for 1 hour. Turn the heat off and open the oven door and let cool for one hour. Refrigerate the cake for 4 hours.

To assemble, remove the cheesecake from the springform pan. Top the cake with the cooled banana fosters cake.

Enjoy!