Banana Napoleon With Rum Cream Recipes

BANANA BREAD NAPOLEON

Steps:

• For the banana bread: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, allowing for a 1-inch overhang at each long end. Spray the parchment with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mash the bananas on medium speed until soft. Turn the speed to medium-low and add the granulated sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs and mix until the bananas are pureed and the mixture is smooth. Turn the speed to low and add the flour mixture to the banana mixture in 2 additions, mixing well between them. Mix until just combined.
• Spread the batter out in an even layer in the prepared baking sheet using a spatula, and tap the pan against the countertop once to remove air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the bread is golden and pulls away from the pan, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan 15 minutes. Remove the bread using the parchment overhang to a baking rack to cool completely, 30 minutes.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until softened, 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar in 2 batches, beating on low speed until combined after each addition, 1 minute. Turn the speed to medium and add the sour cream and heavy cream and beat until smooth, silky and well-combined. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and chill.
• For assembling the napoleons: Transfer the bread with its parchment to a large cutting board. Using a ruler to get a straight edge, trim 1/4-inch from all the edges. Cut the bread into thirty-five 3-by-1 1/2-inch rectangles (cut every 3 inches along the length and 1 1/2 inches along the width.). Line the rectangles up vertically on a cutting board. Cut the corner off of the bag of frosting, and pipe a zigzag of frosting over each of the pieces. Stack 2 banana bread and frosting layers upon each other. Repeat with the remaining layers of bread and frosting to make seventeen 2-layer napoleons (you will have one unpartnered piece of cake left over). Top each napoleon with a banana chip, if using.

BANANAS IN BROWN SUGAR AND RUM

Steps:

• Peel bananas, and carefully cut in half lengthwise.
• In a medium saute pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and swirl until dissolved.
• Add 2 bananas, cut side down, and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, turning very carefully.
• Pouring from a measuring cup, with the pan off the heat, add 1/4 cup rum. Stand back from stove, and return pan to heat. Shake the pan, allowing rum to ignite. Let the alcohol burn off, and again shake the pan, to coat the bananas. Cook until glazed and translucent, about 1 minute longer.
• Remove bananas to warm plates, divide sauce between them, and repeat with remaining 2 bananas.
• Garnish each banana with a little dab of creme fraiche or sour cream, and serve immediately.

BANANA NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Boil water. Drop the wonton wrappers in one at a time and bring water back to a boil. Boil for about a minute and a half then drain carefully and return wrappers to pot. Fill pot with cold water.
• Brush a cookie sheet with oil. Carefully lift wrappers from water shake off as much water as you can and arrange on sheet. (NOW you know why we used cold water don't you?).
• Place 1 1/4 tbsp of sugar into sieve and top wrappers.
• Cook for 16 to 18 minutes. They should be nicely browned, crisp and glazed. Now remove wrappers from sheet to a cooling rack carefully with thin spatula.
• Mix the lemon rind, lemon juice, peach preserves, and rum in a bowl large enough to hold the bananas.
• Peel the bananas, first cut them in half crosswise, then into 1/3-inch lengthwise slices.
• Add them to the bowl, and mix gently to coat the banana slices with the sauce.
• When you go to serve place a wonton crisp on each of the four dessert plates then divide the banana mixture among the plates, spoon on top of the crisps.
• Place the remaining wonton crisps on top of the bananas, sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of sugar on top.
• Serve immediately.

BANANA-CARAMEL NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place puff pastry rectangles on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and puffed, 15 minutes. Remove and let cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream and sugar on high until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
• With a serrated knife, cut rectangles in half horizontally. Reserve 4 tops. Divide banana slices among 4 pastry bottoms, then drizzle with dulce de leche. Use 2 pastry bottoms and 2 pastry tops to make middle layers. Layer with whipped cream and coconut, then top with reserved pastry tops. Serve immediately.

NAPOLEON'S BANANA MUFFIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease two twelve-cup muffin tins.
• In a mixing bowl, mix bananas, 1/2 cup brown sugar, honey, rum, and cognac with an electric mixer until smooth.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, cream white sugar, 2/3 cup brown sugar, eggs, and melted butter. Pour banana mixture and creamed egg mixture into the flour, and stir until just combined. Spoon mixture into muffin tins, filling cups 3/4 full.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon. Cut in 3 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over batter in muffin tins.
• Bake muffins in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until done.

CHOCOLATE-BANANA NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cut pastry sheet crosswise into 3 rectangles. Roll or stretch each rectangle into 14x3-1/2-inch rectangle. Place, 2 inches apart, on parchment-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle 1 rectangle with granulated sugar and nuts. Cover all rectangles with second sheet of parchment; top with second baking sheet.
• Bake 15 min., using oven mitt to carefully press down top baking sheet after 8 min. to flatten pastries. Remove top baking sheet and top parchment sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 375ºF. Bake pastry 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, mix sour cream and powdered sugar in medium bowl until blended. Gently stir in half the COOL WHIP. Microwave 3 oz. chocolate and remaining COOL WHIP in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Cool.
• Slice bananas. Spread half the chocolate mixture onto 1 plain pastry rectangle on serving plate; top with half each of the bananas and sour cream mixture. Repeat layers. Cover with nut-topped pastry, nut side up. Melt remaining chocolate; drizzle over dessert.

BANANA-CARAMEL NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons water and lemon juice in heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir until mixture is smooth. Transfer caramel to small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until thick, about 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper, roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 15x12-inch rectangle. Cut crosswise into three 12x5-inch strips. Transfer pastry strips to prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Chill 10 minutes.
• Pierce pastry with fork. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks; cool. (Caramel and pastry can be made 2 days ahead. Keep caramel refrigerated. Wrap pastry in foil; store at room temperature.)
• Set aside 1/2 cup caramel for decoration. Using electric mixer, beat mascarpone and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Add remaining caramel and beat until caramel cream is well blended, about 1 minute.
• Trim pastry layers so that they are flat and even. Place 1 pastry strip on work surface. Spread with 1/4 of caramel cream. Arrange half of banana slices in single layer over caramel cream. Spread second pastry strip with 1/4 of caramel cream; place pastry, caramel cream side down, atop bananas. Spread top of second pastry strip with 1/4 of caramel cream. Arrange remaining bananas in single layer over. Spread remaining pastry strip with remaining caramel cream. Place pastry, caramel cream side down, atop bananas. Using serrated knife, cut pastry crosswise into 8 equal pieces. Sift powdered sugar over. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Tent with foil; refrigerate.)
• Place napoleons on plates. Drizzle reserved caramel around napoleons.

BANANA RUM CREAM

Steps:

• In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine all of the ingredients.
• Shake well.
• Strain into a cocktail glass.

GRILLED BANANAS WITH RUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Melt a bit of butter in a frying pan.
• Cook bananas over direct high heat 4-6 minutes, turning once.
• Melt the remaining butter in a heavy sauce pan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, the cinnamon, and nutmeg, and cook until the sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Add rum and gently move the pan around to warm the rum, causing it to flame. Continue cooking until the flame dies out. Add the grilled bananas to the hot rum mixture and cook 3-4 minutes more.
• To serve, place a large scoop of vanilla ice cream onto each of 6 serving dishes. Place 2 banana halves over the ice cream and drizzle with some of the sauce.