Mini Samoas Sticky Banoffee Cake Donuts {+ topwithcinnamon cookbook giveaway}

Looking for a special, last-minute way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day? Check out my selection of baked goods and other treats on Etsy!

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All food bloggers have their obsessions. The lucky ones are obsessed with things like kale, quinoa, and detox smoothies made from a combination of leafy things that should never be placed in a blender together.

What about me? I’m obsessed with donuts, toffee, coconut, salted caramel, dates, coffee, and Top with Cinnamon. So basically, everything that is antithetical to what kale stands for. And today I’m ready to share my obsessions with all of you!

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As part of a blogger-hosted Valentine’s Day Cookbook Giveaway Affair, I’m here to a) spread the Top with Cinnamon gospel, b) give you the chance to win your very own copy of this magnificently published cookbook, c) make you wish you could lick some Mini Samoas Sticky Toffee Banoffee Donuts off your screen, and d) introduce you to a group of the loveliest bloggers who are participating this month!

So let’s get started. You’re going to thank me for this, I promise…

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Have you met Izy? She’s the fabulous blogger from England who possesses some of the finest photography skills in her hemisphere and creates some damn delicious recipes to boot, tons of which are vegan/healthified/gluten-free. As if these weren’t accomplishments enough, the girl is nineteen years old. 

Yes, you read that right: this girl isn’t even two decades along, and she has already turned her food blog into a worldwide phenomenon AND published a freakin’ cookbook. She’s also one of the most hilarious writers in the blogosphere, with a totally down-to-earth sense of humor and humble, self-deprecating, but incredibly engaging set of stories to tell about her fabulous life as a teenage food blogger.

When I was nineteen, the biggest accomplishment I could claim was dragging my sorry behind around and watching reruns of Sailor Moon episodes for 72 hours straight without sleeping. So yeah, I have mad respect for this gal #priorities

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That’s why I was so darn thrilled when I learned about this cookbook giveaway series–I love Izy’s recipes and they always turn out, so I knew immediately that I wanted to share something from her new cookbook. I received my copy a few weeks ago and was flipping through the Desserts section when I came across her photo for Sticky Toffee Banoffee Cake.

Bam. The hallelujah choruses broke into heavenly song. Spotlights flashed–time stopped, and I’m pretty sure I could see the gates of heaven opening before my very dazed eyes.Mini Samoas Banoffee Donuts 25--021015

 

As it turns out, the timing for these adorable treats couldn’t have been more perfect, because my friends were hosting a banana party that night (yes, apparently it’s a thing) and we were all bringing banana-themed snacks. And thus these bite-sized morsels of banana-y sin were born.

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I made a few changes to the original recipe–I used all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat (just because it was what I had on hand), I added shredded coconut and melted chocolate on top, and of course I turned a whole cake into a batch of mini donuts–but otherwise, the recipe is mind-blowingly good as is.

Imagine a moist cake made with banana, sweetened by chunks of dates, infused with a light coffee flavor, and kept incredibly sticky by a toffee caramel, all topped off with that toasted coconut and chocolate drizzle a la Samoas.

Mini Samoas Sticky Toffee Banoffee Donuts.

If that doesn’t sound like a winner, then no amount of therapy is going to save us here.

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Now that I’ve shared my love of everything Top with Cinnamon, including these crazy donuts, it’s time for you to enter my giveaway! And the wonderful blog, Food Lust People Love, will be hosting Day 12 of our Valentine’s Day Cookbook Affair giveaway–be sure to check out her Facebook page and blog tomorrow to enter!

This post is part of the 14-day Valentine’s Day Cookbook Affair, hosted by a group of lovely bloggers who want to share their cookbook loves with you. To check out the rest of the participating blogs, visit my Facebook page! My cookbook giveaway is open to all participants 18 years or older with a valid continental U.S. mailing address–giveaway ends March 10, 2015.

Ala

Mini Samoas Sticky Banoffee Cake Donuts {+ topwithcinnamon cookbook giveaway}

Mini Samoas Sticky Banoffee Cake Donuts {+ topwithcinnamon cookbook giveaway}

Banana, coffee, dates, sticky toffee, toasted coconut, gooey caramel--what's NOT to love? Slightly adapted from the Top with Cinnamon Cookbook.

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 2 overripe bananas, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose or whole-wheat flour

For the caramel:

  • 4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

For the toppings:

  • 3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • 1/2 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips

Instructions

For the cake:

  1. Soak the dates in 1/2 cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a mini donut pan with oil. (Original recipe calls for one deep 8-inch pan.) Set aside.
  2. Place the dates and soaking water in a food processor and blitz until as smooth as possible. Add the oil, sugar, eggs, yogurt, and bananas, blending until well combined. Blend in the baking soda, salt, and flour until just mixed together.
  3. Carefully pour the batter into each of the mini donut molds, filling until more than halfway full. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until donuts are baked through. (If you are using an 8-inch pan, simply pour batter into the pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.)

For the caramel:

  1. Heat sugar with 1/4 cup water in a deep saucepan, stirring until the sugar just dissolves. Continue to heat the mixture, swirling the pan often, but not stirring. Let it caramlize so that the mixture is mostly golden with a few darker areas around the edges of the pan. Add the butter and cream, turn down the heat to low, and stir until a smooth consistency is achieved. Cook the caramel for a further 5 minutes to help it thicken, then immediately use to dunk tops of mini donuts (or pour all over your cake). Sprinkle tops of baked goods with sea salt.

For the toppings:

  1. Spread coconut on a cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, stirring twice to prevent coconut from burning. Remove from oven once most of the coconut flakes have turned a golden color. Sprinkle on top of donuts or cake.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips at 30-second intervals, stirring vigorously between each interval, until chocolate is melted. Drizzle over donuts or cake.

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78 Replies to “Mini Samoas Sticky Banoffee Cake Donuts {+ topwithcinnamon cookbook giveaway}”

  1. sweet

    1. Oh gawddd these look so amazing and adorable! I think I’m susceptible because I’m _very patiently_ (yeah right) awaiting my Girl Scout cookie order. I can make these in the meantime! And this is such a great giveaway, especially for us cookbook junkies!

      1. Ooooh I haven’t ordered Girl Scout Cookies in so long, no wonder I’m impatient as well, Julie! Cheers and best of luck on the giveaway–I hope you make tons of these mini donuts to prep yourself for Samoas awesomeness <3

  2. Good lawd these are unreal!!! The coconut has me hooked but it’s the toffee that’s making me want to just eat the whole pan. I love Izy and just how talented she is. I need to buy that book!!

    1. I may or may not have made a whole batch of caramel to add on top, then consumed it all, and made another batch to replace it. Just saying. And YES I love Izy so much, that crazy talented gal! Hope you had a LOVELY Vday, lady!!

  3. Ala, I love your post here!! Not only did you make me want to lick the screen, but I want to come hang out with you and share stories! You’ve intrigued me about this book and made me drool over these beautiful little donuts! Great job and a fabulous book for the giveaway! <3

    1. Valerie, your comment TOTALLY made my day. Thank you!! I am having a blast checking out your blog, too, and I’m so excited to connect with you in this little corner of the web. Can’t wait to see you around!

  4. Love this post! I’m with you…wow do those samoa donuts look amazing!
    Great cookbook for the giveaway!

    1. You’re my kind of gal, Kathy–thanks so much, and good luck in the giveaway if you’ve entered!!

  5. What a fun recipe! And pretty pictures. You’ve outdone yourself — which is hard to do!

    1. That’s high praise indeed coming from you, John–thanks!

  6. These donuts look amazing!! I definitely love sweets!

    1. Heather, I’m totally on board with you–I’m glad you love ’em!

  7. I am loving some sweets right now! These look yummy!

    1. Agreed, Alison!! Hope you had a wonderful Vday–best of luck!

  8. Sailor moon? OMG – we need to sit down and watch the rerun again…in costumes, lol. And I love Izy, her photography is amazing and love her site, just like these donuts. Yummm!

    1. HAHA we do! I could chat all day about Sailor Moon…and I suspect you could, too 😉 hope you had a super lovely Vday!

  9. would love to have the chance to bake from this cookbook!

    1. Ohh, you’d love it, Jacquie. Hope you had a lovely Vday!

  10. Oh man, these look way too addictive – yum! I need this cookbook on my shelf.

    1. Soooo agreed, Heather–hope you had a wonderful Vday, cheers! <3

  11. Sometimes I prefer savory and sometimes I prefer sweet. When I saw the photo of Mini Samoas Sticky Banoffee Cake Donuts, I immediately decided that i preferred sweet.

    1. haha! That’s one way to make a decision, Mary. Hope you get a chance to indulge your sweet tooth–good luck!

  12. Thanks for a great blog!
    To answer your question: I prefer it sweeeeeeet. I can not help myself, it is just how I like it.

    1. That’s so sweet of you, Malin! And I am totally on the same page as you–sweeeeet it the absolute best! I was really hoping you’d say so 😉 best of luck!!

  13. Ohmygosh these look incredible. YUM. Can’t wait to try them!!

    1. Yayy, thanks Leigha! By the way, I LOVE your name! 😉

  14. Pat Walker Pinkston says: Reply

    Unfortunately, I’m addicted to sweets.

    1. Good choice, Pat 😉 I’m with you on that one.

  15. I saw samoas and I had to check this post out! I’ve been obsessed with tracking down those Girl Scouts so I can get my Girl Scout cookie fix. I swear, all the money I make from working goes to food one way or another. But as for savory or sweet, both. Sometimes I’m in the mood for sweets (chocolate!) and sometimes savory (salt and pepper chips!).

    1. hehehe I’m exactly the same way. Samoas are the glory of my existence. Is it cloudy or raining up north? Hope you have an awesome weekend either way!

  16. […] Cooking/Que Se Cocina en Puerto Rico?” by Ezratty & Hirsch 11. Ala from “Wallflour Girl” with “Top with Cinnamon: Stylish Sweet & Savory Recipes” by Izy Hossack 12. […]

  17. Oh my goodness! I love samoas and combined with banana donuts these are seriously the ultimate donuts! That sticky toffee caramel looks irresistible!

    1. YESSS samoas are the absolute best! Thanks so much, Kelly <3

  18. Izy is amazing. She’s accomplished more than I have in my 34 years. But you, Ala, are just as amazing. You’ve done so much and you should totally be proud of yourself. Now gimme a giant platter of these incredible donuts. Daaaaaaaaamn, they look ridiculously good.

    1. HAHA seriously, that girl is on fire! And don’t underestimate yourself 😉 I’d send you a package of these any day, girl!!

  19. Oh my – I’m afraid that if I made these someone would find me laying in a coma somewhere with coconut all over my face! 🙂 I’m pretty sure I couldn’t stop eating them – I need a cookbook like this!

    1. HAHAHA I think that’s the best way to go out–with coconut all over oneself 😉 genius. I love ya already, Kelli!

  20. Ala, you are so sweet and you are right, if these dont look just heavenly, there’s no amount of therapy that is going to help! Well either way, these look great and banoffee pie was one of my favorite British treats while living in England!!

    1. Aww haha thanks, Alice! Seriously, donuts are the best therapy 🙂 I really want to try banoffee pie, is it a shame that I haven’t?! I’ll put that on my to-do list!

  21. What terrific nibbles! Anything “samoa” is fabulous in my book—and I’d happily munch on your donuts for breakfast or dessert! P.S. Thanks for the kind note about my mom. xo

    1. Hehehe we’re on the same page with samoas. And of course–wishing you and your family all the best xoxo

  22. I prefer sweet but I do enjoy savory too!

    1. hehe I’m the same way! There are just those moments where savory balance everything so nicely 🙂 cheers, and good luck!

  23. hi, i prefer sweet, guess that’s why i love to bake, thanks

    1. hehe love my fellow bakers. Thanks, Theresa–and good luck!

  24. Izy is such an inspiration! I love these mini donuts and I love the photos 🙂

    1. Yayy I totally, wholeheartedly agree, Medha! Have a lovely weekend!

  25. Sweet. Thanks for the recipes!

    1. Absolutely, Penny–and best of luck!!

  26. I always prefer sweet…who doesn’t? Except for maybe my husband…

    1. haha! That’s a good point–none of my male family members prefer sweet. But cheers to us sweet teeth!

  27. I am in between. Some days I love sweet, some days I will take savory. I think savory might be winning (unless I had these somoa cookies!)

    1. Ohh, then I’ll have to make sure you get some of these ASAP, yes? 😉 have a wonderful weekend, Debra.

  28. ahhhh somoa = my FAVORITE donut flavor everrrr. I think it’s really time I invested in a donut pan…

    1. duuuude best $8 ever! (Actually I got it as a gift, but best $8 of someone else’s money?)

  29. […] Ala from “Wallflour Girl” with “Top with Cinnamon: Stylish Sweet & Savory Recipes&#822… […]

  30. Ala, I love Izy and her blog .. and yeah man, can’t believe she is only 19! I would love to win her book! Savory or sweet?! Ahhhhh. . both? if I have to pick one, sweet! love these cake donuts!!

    1. Seriously! And apparently her 19th bday only just passed, too 😉 well, here’s to us and cheers to sweets, anyway!!

  31. I usually prefer sweet.

    1. Amen to that, Sharyl!

  32. Savory or Sweet? Do I have to pick? How about Bacon Doughnuts? On balance I’d say I’m team Sweet.

    1. Hoho, bacon is a great idea, Margot! Guess I know what I’ll be making next 😉 thanks, and best of luck!

  33. I prefer savory.

    1. Nifty 🙂 so does the rest of my family! Happy weekend!

  34. […] Ala from “Wallflour Girl” with “Top with Cinnamon: Stylish Sweet & Savory Recipes” by Izy Hoss… […]

  35. Brittany Koelmel says: Reply

    Id probably go with savory!

    1. hehe I respect that! Best of luck and have a great weekend!

  36. I don’t think I can have one without the other.

    1. haha that’s true for me too–but mostly for the savory! I don’t mind sweet-ish savory, but i guess I wouldn’t want savory in my sweets 🙂

  37. I prefer sweet, but would never turn down savory. 🙂

    1. hehe, you’re right–I don’t think I’d ever turn down food in general, either 😀

  38. I definitely have a weakness for sweet, I’m actually wishing that it’s something that changes as I get older!

    1. hahaha don’t we all! Still, nothing wrong with a little sweetness in our lives, eh? 😉

  39. Sweet, no doubt about it!

  40. I like sweet better!

  41. I prefer savory.

  42. I’d always go savory if there’s a choice, unless there is salted caramel involved, then all bets are off. What gorgeous little donuts, Ala!

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