Hazelnut Cheese Cake served with a Warmed Banana Toffee Sauce

Directions

We created this indulgent dessert for our dear friend Kate.  It's fun, simple to prepare, packed with truly mouthwatering flavour.....it's " seductive to the taste buds,"  sending them into raptures of sheer delight.......

Step 1.. Build the base.  Into a pan, heat gently, the crushed biscuits, liqueur, and butter until combined, place in a 18cm loose bottom tin and smooth out to make a thin base, refrigerate.

Step 2.. In a large bowl or electric mixer combine the Mascarpone, cream cheese, and liqueur to a soft mixture , adjust the taste adding a little more liqueur if needed and a touch of icing sugar for your preferred sweetness.  Spoon over the cheesecake base and flatten, return to the fridge to chill for a minimum of 2 hrs ....

Step 3.. In a heavy saucepan, heat the double cream, butter, sugar, treacle and syrup, bring up to a boil and immediately turn down to a gentle heat, stirring occasionally for 5 -10 mins until dark and golden. Slice the bananas and add to the toffee sauce along with a large handful of crushed hazelnuts, coating each piece.

To serve, remove the cheesecake slowly from the tin place on a beautiful cake stand, as the sauce cools drizzle the sticky, toffee, banana sauce over the top and down the sides, dust with icing sugar. Watch with glee as your friends devoir this heavenly dessert.... For you Kate xxx