Roasted Banana Pudding

My daughter's best friend is bananas for bananas so I was eager to give this recipe from The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook a try.  It's amazing how much roasting the bananas intensifies their flavor.  The original recipe is assembled in a trifle bowl, but I simplified the presentation by serving mine in mini glass pie plates.  The pudding can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge if wrapped well with plastic wrap, which should touch the surface of the pudding.  Just before serving, garnish with vanilla wafers and freshly whipped cream that's been lightly sweetened with sugar and pure vanilla extract.  You might also garnish with a few slices of banana.  Banana chips might be a nice addition.

Note: Use slightly underripe bananas for this recipe.  

If you have overripe bananas to use, check out the recipe for my  To Die For Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• mini pie plates https://amzn.to/33U4nHX

• half sheet pan https://amzn.to/3nZ4jgX

• heavy bottom saucepan https://amzn.to/3NvO6LG

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3zGWYZ7

• my food processor https://amzn.to/3Dv4Eid

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Roasted Banana Pudding

makes 12 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 slightly underripe medium bananas (about 1 pound)

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided

• 8 large egg yolks

• 6 tablespoons cornstarch

• 6 cups half-and-half

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• Garnish: vanilla wafers, whipped cream, and sliced bananas

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325F.

2. Roast bananas on a lined half sheet pan for about 20 minutes (the skins will turn completely black).

3. In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar with the egg yolks and cornstarch until smooth; set aside.

4. In a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the half-and-half, remaining sugar, and salt to a simmer.

5. Whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot half-and-half mixture into the egg yolk mixture; whisk well to combine.

6. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan to combine with the remaining half-and-half mixture.

7. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and starts to bubble.

8. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and lemon juice.

9. Pour thickened pudding base into a large food processor and add the peeled roasted bananas; process until smooth.

10. Pour mixture into individual serving dishes and cover with plastic wrap being sure wrap touches pudding surface.

11. Chill completely before serving.

adapted from The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook

Norwegian Toscakake

I was immediately drawn to this recipe while flipping through a copy of Scandinavian Classic Baking by Pat Sinclair.  It's a lightly flavored single layer cake flavored with almonds and topped with a glaze that's browned under the broiler.  Wonderful with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon.

Note:  If you like a richer, more strongly flavored cake, check out our family's favorite European Almond Butter Cake (photo below).

Norwegian Toscakake

makes 8 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Cake: 

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 4 egg whites, room temperature

• 4 egg yolks, room temperature

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract

Almond Topping:

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup butter

• 2 tablespoons 2% milk

• 3/4 toasted sliced almonds

• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick baking spray; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a separate bow, beat the egg whites until foamy.

4. Gradually sprinkle in the granulated sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes; set aside.

5. In yet another bowl, whip the egg yolks for about 4 minutes until they are a light lemon color.

6. Gently fold the beaten yolks into the beaten whites.

7. Next, fold in the flour mixture in 4 batches, followed by the melted butter and almond extract.

8. Pour batter into prepared spring form pan and bake in a preheated over for 20-25 minutes.

9. To make the topping, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar, flour, butter, and milk, stirring constantly until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.

10. Remove from heat and add the almonds and almond extract.

11. Pour the topping over the cake and place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the topping turns golden brown.

12. Cool on wire cooling rack for 5 minutes.

13. Run a metal spatula around the sides of the pan to loosen.

14. Remove the sides of the pan and cool completely before serving.