These dessert treats can also be grilled on the barbecue.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 cups very ripe mashed bananas (about 4 bananas)
• 1/2 cup Nutella or peanut butter
• 1/4 cup mascarpone
• 1/4 cup butter

Method

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in half of the reserved flour mixture. Beat in bananas and then beat in remaining flour mixture until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes and then turn it out onto a cake rack. Cool fully and cut into 8 slices, about ½-inch thick.

Combine Nutella and mascarpone. Spread one slice of banana bread with Nutella mixture, top with a second slice and press down to compress slightly. Repeat with remaining slices and filling.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and, working in batches, grill sandwiches until golden, about 2 minutes on each side, adding more butter as needed. Cut sandwiches in half and serve at once with ice cream. Serves 4 to 8.