Best Banana Caramel Custard Recipes

CARAMELIZED BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Place the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large skillet over medium heat. Constantly stir as the butter and sugar melt down. Add the bananas and cook until softened and slightly caramelized, about 3 minutes. *If you prefer a little more texture in your banana pudding, only cook the bananas for about 1-2 minutes.* Remove from heat and set aside.
• Combine the milk, heavy cream, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until all the sugar has dissolved, then bring to a gentle simmer, whisking occasionally. Working quickly as the milk mixture begins to simmer, whisk the egg yolks and cornstarch together in a medium heatproof bowl until very thick and smooth. Very slowly stream in about 3/4 cup (180ml) of the simmering milk to slightly warm the egg yolk mixture. Then, in a very slow stream, whisk the egg yolk mixture into the pan. While continuously whisking, cook until the mixture is thick and big bubbles begin bursting at the surface, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and butter. Makes about 4 cups of pudding.
• Use an ungreased 9-inch or any 2.5 quart baking dish. Line half of the vanilla wafers on the bottom. Evenly top with half of the caramelized bananas. Give the pudding a quick stir. If it has thickened considerably and isn't pourable, whisk in a splash of milk to help thin out. Pour half of the warm pudding on top. Use a spoon to evenly spread around. Evenly top with remaining vanilla wafers, then the remaining caramelized bananas. Pour the rest of the pudding on top and spread into an even layer. Set aside, covered or uncovered, at room temperature or in the refrigerator as you make the whipped cream.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. Medium peaks are between soft/loose peaks and stiff peaks. Spread evenly on top of the pudding.
• Cover the pudding tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. The vanilla wafers will soften during this time. They may taste too soggy after 1 full day and the bananas will begin to release some liquid, so for best taste and texture, serve within 24 hours.
• To serve, spoon into individual bowls. Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I don't recommend freezing this because of the high volume of liquid in the pudding, whipped cream, and bananas. The caramelized bananas won't thaw very nicely either.

BANANA CARAMEL CREAM PIE

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, mix together the sugar, salt, cornstarch, and flour. Over medium-low heat, slowly whisk in the milk.
• In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks. Once the pastry cream starts to boil, transfer 1/2 cup of the pastry cream to the egg yolks and whisk to temper. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Continue whisking until the mixture coats the back of a spoon and is smooth and thick. Strain.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, and vanilla. Stir in 1 cup sliced bananas. Allow the mixture to cool.
• Stir the custard to loosen, if necessary. Cover the bottom of the prepared crust with more sliced bananas and drizzle with 1/4 cup Salted Caramel Sauce. Top with half of the sliced bananas, then 1 cup custard, covering the bananas completely. Repeat layering with the remaining bananas and the remaining custard. Chill the banana cream pie until the filling is set, about 2 hours.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form.
• Top the chilled pie with the fresh whipped cream. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce, just before serving.
• For the Perfect Pie Dough:
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt and vanilla; cut or work the butter into the flour mixture with your fingers or a cold pastry cutter until you have large pea sized chunks scattered throughout. Alternatively, pulse the dough in a food processor, or mix in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed.
• Add the ice water slowly while stirring with a fork, or in the food processor or mixer, until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, flatten and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Roll out one chilled pie dough to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Reserve the second pie dough disc for another use. Transfer dough to pie plate, pressing the dough lightly into the plate; trim the edges. Dock the dough with the prongs of a fork evenly over the bottom of the pie plate. Line the docked dough with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake the pie crust until the edges are brown and golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the weights. Return crust to the oven to finish baking for another 5 minutes.
• Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie crust
• To make the salted caramel sauce:
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil without stirring. If necessary, use a wet pastry brush to wash down any crystals on the side of the pan. Boil until the syrup is a deep amber color, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir in the unsalted butter, and salt, to taste. Transfer the caramel to a dish and cool.
• Cook's Note: This recipe will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Reheat before serving.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups sauce

BANANA-DULCE DE LECHE PIE (BANANA-CARAMEL PIE)

Steps:

• To make dulce de leche, place the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan, and add enough water to cover half-way up the can. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 hours, adding more water as necessary. Remove from heat and cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the butter in a mixing bowl until evenly blended. Press the crumb mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie plate.
• Bake pie crust in preheated oven until lightly browned, 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool on a wire rack.
• Open the can of dulce de leche, and pour half, or about 3/4 cup, over the pie crust. Slice the bananas and arrange half in a layer over the dulce de leche filling. Pour the remaining dulce de leche over the bananas. Top with remaining banana slices.
• Pour the whipping cream into a mixing bowl, and beat until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and vanilla extract; continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spoon the whipped cream over the bananas. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

EGG CUSTARD TARTS WITH BANANAS AND CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 12-portion nonstick muffin tin with melted butter.
• Cut circles out of the pie crusts using a 3 1/2-inch plain cutter and transfer them to the cups of the muffin tin. Press the dough evenly into the edges of each muffin cup, lining the sides. Whisk the milk, confectioners' sugar, egg yolks and egg together in a large glass measuring cup until smooth.
• Carefully pour the milk-sugar mixture into each crust, leaving 1/8 inch at the top. Bake in the center of the oven until the pastry begins to brown, the filling is set but still jiggles, and a toothpick inserted into the center of a tart comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing.
• Meanwhile, combine the brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until completely melted. Stir in the butter and cinnamon until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and cool.
• To serve, arrange about 5 banana slices on top of each tart, overlapping them in a flower petal pattern. Serve the tarts immediately with caramel sauce drizzled over the top.