3 oz chocolate, broken into small pieces (I used a 65% chocolate) .
1/4 tsp cloves .
1/2 tsp nutmeg .
1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
Step #1 Butter & flour a tube pan or a bundt pan that can hold 12 c.
Step #2 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step #3 Sift together the dry ingredients (flour, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt & baking soda).
Step #4 In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the eggs, oil & sugar.
Step #5 With the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed for 2 to 3 mins.
Step #6 Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure that the sugar has been incorporated.
Step #7 Add the vanilla extract & mix for another 30 seconds.
Step #8 With the mixer on lowish speed, add the dry ingredients a bit at a time.
Step #9 Scrape down the sides of the bowl every now & then to ensure everything is incorporated.
Step #10 Once the dry ingredients have been added, remove the bowl from the stand mixer & add the chocolate & bananas.
Step #11 Gently fold them in with a spatula or a wooden spoon.
Step #12 Don't over mix.
Step #13 Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
Step #14 Bake for 50 mins & then test the cake to see if it's done by poking a toothpick or cake tester into the centre of the cake.
Step #15 If it comes out clean, it's done.
Step #16 If not, bake the cake for another 5 to 10 mins.
Step #17 In my oven, this cake took 55 mins.
Step #18 About 5 to 10 mins before the cake is done, make the caramel by combining all the ingredients in a small pan.
Step #19 Bring to the boil & stir every once in awhile to ensure that it doesn't burn.
Step #20 Let it boil for about 5 mins & then turn off the heat.
Step #21 Once the cake is out of the oven, poke holes all over the cake with a skewer.
Step #22 Immediately pour the caramel over the cake, stopping every now & then to let the caramel sink inches If the caramel pools in spots, poke more holes to allow it to sink inches.
Step #23 Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack.
Step #24 Once it's cool, loosen the cake from the sides of the pan & then unmold it onto a plate.