Description
Sweet Southern charm meets classic dessert in this Bananas Foster Banana Pudding, blending caramelized bananas with creamy custard. Silky layers promise a nostalgic journey through rich, indulgent flavors you’ll savor to the last delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Bananas Foster Banana Pudding Ingredients:
Main Ingredients:
- 4 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 box (12 oz/340 g) vanilla wafers
- 1 (5 oz/140 g) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups (480 ml) cold milk
- 1 (14 oz/400 g) can sweetened condensed milk
Flavoring and Sauce Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (50 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) dark rum (optional; substitute with vanilla extract for alcohol-free)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream, whipped
- Additional sliced bananas for layering (optional)
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Transform ripe bananas into a luxurious caramel sauce by melting butter in a skillet over medium heat. Introduce brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of salt, stirring until the mixture transforms into a silky, glossy caramel.
- Gently nestle banana slices into the warm caramel, allowing them to luxuriate and caramelize for approximately 12 minutes, developing a rich, golden-brown exterior while maintaining a tender interior.
- For those seeking drama, carefully remove the skillet from heat and introduce rum, creating a spectacular flame that will naturally subside, infusing the dessert with a subtle, spirited essence.
- Allow the caramelized banana mixture to cool completely, letting the flavors meld and intensify.
- Craft the pudding base by whisking instant pudding mix with milk and sweetened condensed milk until achieving a velvety, smooth consistency. Let the mixture rest for several minutes to set.
- Incorporate whipped cream into the pudding, folding gently to create a light, airy texture that will provide a delicate backdrop for the caramelized bananas.
- Begin layering the dessert in a trifle dish or serving bowl, creating an architectural masterpiece: first a foundation of crisp vanilla wafers, followed by a generous layer of pudding, then a generous spoonful of the cooled bananas foster mixture.
- Continue building layers, alternating between wafers, pudding, and caramelized bananas, ensuring each component is evenly distributed for a harmonious flavor profile.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing the wafers to soften and the flavors to intertwine and develop depth.
- Before serving, crown the dessert with a billowing cloud of whipped cream, a luxurious drizzle of caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of crushed vanilla wafers or delicate caramelized banana slices for a show-stopping presentation.
Notes
- Select ripe but firm bananas for the best caramelization, ensuring they hold their shape while developing a rich, golden-brown exterior during cooking.
- Create depth in the pudding by using high-quality vanilla wafers that absorb the caramel and banana flavors, enhancing the overall dessert texture.
- Experiment with rum alternatives like bourbon or banana liqueur to customize the flavor profile without compromising the dessert’s luxurious character.
- Keep the pudding chilled for maximum flavor melding, allowing the wafers to soften and the caramel notes to permeate throughout the dessert, creating a harmonious bite every time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg