Banana Nut Parfait Recipes

HEALTHY BANANA SPLIT PARFAITS

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between each, until smooth and pourable.
• Cut the bananas into 1/4-inch rounds and toss them with most of the walnuts in a medium bowl. (Reserve some nuts for the top.)
• To assemble the parfaits: Divide the pineapple evenly among 4 rocks, float or parfait glasses. Next, add the coated bananas. Top each with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle with the melted chocolate. Sprinkle with the reserved walnuts and top with a cherry.

TROPICAL BANANA NUT PARFAITS

Steps:

• In each of 4 parfait glasses, alternate layers of yogurt, cereal, banana and strawberries.
• Top each serving with coconut. Serve immediately.

BRAZIL NUT & BANANA PARFAIT

Steps:

• Put the brazil nuts and maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat and cook until the syrup bubbles. Remove from the heat and stir in the oats. Transfer to a nonstick baking sheet and place in a preheated oven, at 325°F, for 10 minutes, or until the oats are toasted and sticky.
• Mix the yogurt with the vanilla, cinnamon, and confectioners' sugar and set aside. Reserve 4 slices of banana for decoration, then place the remaining bananas in another bowl with the lemon juice and raw sugar and toss to coat.
• Divide half the yogurt mixture among 4 glass bowls or sundae glasses, top with half the bananas, then half the nut mixture. Repeat the layers, finishing with the nut mixture. Decorate with the reserved banana slices and chill until ready to serve.

BANANA PUDDING PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes. Whisk in sour cream and vanilla. Fold in three-fourths of the whipped topping. , Set aside eight vanilla wafers. Place one wafer into each of eight parfait glasses; top with a third of the banana slices and pudding mixture. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Garnish with reserved vanilla wafers.

BANANA CREAM PARFAIT

Steps:

• Prepare pudding according to package directions, using the 2 cups cold milk. , Sprinkle 1 tablespoon graham cracker crumbs into each of four parfait or dessert glasses. Top crumbs with 1/4 cup prepared pudding and half of the banana slices. Repeat layers of crumbs, pudding and banana slices. , Garnish each dessert with whipped cream and a cherry if desired.

BANANA-CREAM PARFAITS

Steps:

• Combine cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and brown sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Simmer until liquid is reduced to 1 1/3 cups, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Pour liquid into bowl; chill until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl until thickened and fluffy (mixture will thin out at first but then will thicken). Discard vanilla bean and whisk vanilla cream until smooth. Divide vanilla cream among 6 glasses; top each with 5 banana slices. Sprinkle 1/4 cup crumbled cookies over each. Divide whipped crème fraîche among glasses. Top with remaining banana slices. (Can be prepared 45 minutes ahead. Cover and chill.) Place 1 whole shortbread cookie in each glass and serve.
• *Available at some supermarkets.

BANANA NUT PARFAIT

Steps:

• Reserve 1 Tbsp. nuts for garnish. Mix remaining nuts, crumbs and margarine. Slice banana. Reserve 4 slices for garnish; refrigerate until ready to use. Chop remaining banana slices.
• Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Let stand 5 min. Stir in chopped bananas. Layer pudding mixture, chocolate chips and crumb mixture in 6 (6-oz.) parfait glasses. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Top with COOL WHIP, reserved nuts and banana slices just before serving.

BANANA PUDDING PARFAITS

Steps:

• Mix sugar and flour in a saucepan. Separate eggs. Reserve whites for meringue. Stir yolks with a fork until blended. Add milk in same cup as egg yolks. Slowly stir egg/milk mixture into sugar/flour mixture until well blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until very thick. Remove thickened custard from heat, add butter and allow to melt. Cool. Add vanilla flavoring.
• Divide half of the crushed wafers between 4 (8-ounce) glasses or goblets. Top each with 5 to 6 slices banana. Pour half of the cooled custard evenly into each glass over the bananas. Repeat each layer with the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make the meringue: whisk together the reserved egg whites and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water and whisk constantly until the sugar is dissolved and whites are very hot to the touch. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a standing mixer. Whip the whites until stiff, glossy peaks form and the meringue is cool. Add the vanilla and mix well. Spoon the meringue or pipe with a piping bag over the pudding in each glass.
• Using a hand-held blowtorch, brown the meringue until golden. Serve immediately.

FROZEN BANANA & PRALINE PARFAIT

Steps:

• To make the praline, put the sugar into a heavy-based pan with 3 tbsp water. Place over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and is clear. Don't stir, or it will crystallise. Increase the heat and bubble to a dark caramel (see video technique), about 5 mins. Remove from the heat, stir through the nuts, then tip onto a lightly greased non-stick baking tray. Spread to level and leave to cool. Be careful as the tray will get very hot.
• When the praline is cold and brittle, break it into pieces. Then, using the end of a rolling pin, smash it up until fairly well crushed. If this is proving hard work, tip into a food processor and pulse until it's the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.
• Line a 1.2-litre loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment (this size tin gives a neat shape, but you can set the parfait in any shaped tin, or individual pudding basins or ramekins). In a bowl, mash the bananas with half the lemon juice until you have a rough purée, then set aside.
• Put the cream into a bowl and whip until it holds its shape but is still a little soft. In another very clean bowl and using a very clean electric whisk, beat the egg whites with a squeeze more lemon juice until stiff. Slowly add the sugar until you have a stiff, shiny meringue.
• Gently fold the whipped cream and meringue together, then add the banana and most of the praline, leaving about 4 tbsp to serve. Spoon into the loaf tin, smooth the top and freeze until firm, preferably overnight.
• To serve, remove the parfait from the freezer 10 mins before serving and leave in the fridge to soften slightly. Meanwhile, slice the bananas on a slant, allowing 3 slices for each serving. Lay the slices on a baking tray set on a wooden board and scatter heavily with the sugar. Use a blowtorch to caramelise the banana, then set aside. Be very careful as the tray will be extremely hot. If you don't have a blowtorch, place the slices into a hot, dry frying pan and sear the sugar-coated sides until caramelised. Lift and flip them over to a tray.
• To plate up, sprinkle a neat line of praline just off-centre on each plate. Arrange the slices of caramelised banana at opposing angles. Unmould the parfait, then use a warmed knife to neaten the sides and cut into finger-thick slices. Lay the slice on the opposite side of the plate to the banana and serve straight away.