Banana Pudding with Caramel Bananas and Bourbon Banana Caramel Sauce

This has to be one of the most amazing desserts. It’s pretty easy to make the only issue is it’s best eaten when you make it. The sauce doesn’t keep to well, the pudding can be made in advance. 

Banana Pudding with Caramel Bananas and Bourbon Banana Caramel Sauce

(Adapted from Zoe Bakes)

 

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For the Pudding:

5 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 teaspoons salt

2 very ripe bananas, pureed

2 cups half and half

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped (you can substitute 2 tsp. of liquid vanilla extract per vanilla bean)

2 tablespoons butter

 

Heat the half and half, 1/4 cup of the sugar and vanilla bean in a non-reactive pan over medium low heat, until just simmering.

 

 

 

Whisk together the egg yolks, remaining sugar, cornstarch and banana puree. Once the milk simmers, add a small amount of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture to warm the yolks.

 

 

 

Return the yolk/banana mixture to the pan of milk and bring the mixture to a boil.

 

 

 

Whisk continuously for 3 minutes. This is very important or it will feel grainy.

 

The pudding may get thick before the 3 minutes are up, but keep whisking.

 

Once the pudding has been boiling for 3 minutes, whisk in the butter.

 

 

Pour into a non-reactive shallow dish and cover with plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding.

 

 

 

For the caramelized bananas and sauce:

2 just barely ripe bananas – (if they are too soft they will fall apart while cooking)

1/2 cup brown sugar, well packed

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons Bourbon

1/3 cup heavy cream

 

In a skillet heat the brown sugar, butter,  vanilla bean, salt and bourbon. (NOT the cream yet!) heat over medium until the mixture melts and is just beginning to smoke.

 

 

 

Slice the bananas into 1/4 inch thick coins and add to the caramel.

 

 

 

Gently toss them in the caramel.

 

 

 

Once they have softened slightly and have taken on some of the caramel color, remove the bananas with a fork and set them aside.

 

 

Add the heavy cream to the remaining caramel and whisk until smooth.

 

 

 

Spoon the bananas and caramel over the pudding and serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipping cream and vanilla wafers.