Whole Grain Bread Pudding With Caramelized Bananas 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.

SALTED CARAMEL-BANANA BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Make the caramel: Combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, gently swirling the pan but not stirring, until amber, about 10 minutes. Brush any sugar crystals off the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the butter, heavy cream, bourbon, lemon juice and kosher salt (the mixture will bubble). Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• Make the bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until dry and golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Whisk the eggs, sugar and kosher salt in a large bowl, then whisk in the milk, heavy cream and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the toasted bread and the banana slices. Transfer half of the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of the caramel, then top with the remaining bread mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. Cover and refrigerate the remaining caramel until ready to serve.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle the bread pudding with sea salt and bake until golden brown and set, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Warm the remaining caramel and drizzle on top.

CARAMELIZED BANANA BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 8x4-inch or 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, oil, egg whites, bananas, 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well blended. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts; spread in pan.
• Bake 8-inch loaf 55 to 62 minutes, 9-inch loaf 45 to 52 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool at least 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray eight (6-oz) individual baking dishes (ramekins) with cooking spray. In roasting pan, place ramekins. Cut loaf crosswise in half (save one half for another use). Cut remaining half into 8 slices, then into about 3/4-inch cubes. Divide evenly among ramekins.
• In medium bowl, beat all Custard ingredients except turbinado sugar with wire whisk until blended. Pour custard mixture over bread cubes in ramekins, pushing down lightly with spoon to soak bread cubes. (If all custard mixture doesn't fit into ramekins, let stand up to 10 minutes, gradually adding remaining custard mixture as bread cubes soak it up.) Sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon turbinado sugar.
• Carefully place pan with ramekins in oven. Pour enough warm water in pan, being careful not to splash water into ramekins, until water covers half the height of the ramekins.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until set. Carefully transfer ramekins to cooling rack, using tongs or grasping tops of ramekins with pot holder. Cool at least 10 minutes; serve warm or at room temperature.

BANANA CARAMEL BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• To make the caramel, place the water, sugar and corn syrup (or lemon juice) in a medium saucepot and have the cream and butter measured and on hand. Bring the sugar up to a full boil on high heat without stirring and continue to boil, occasionally brushing down the sides of the pot with water, until the sugar turns a light amber colour, about 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the cream and butter, watching out for the steam and bubbling. Once the bubbling subsides, add the vanilla and salt. Set aside to cool while preparing the other components (but the caramel can still be warm when using).
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Grease six 6-ounce (180 mL) ramekins and place then in a roasting pan that can be filled with water.
• Spread the egg bread cubes on a baking tray and toast for about 10 minutes to dry them out. Place them into a large bowl.
• Whisk the pureed banana with ½ cup (125 mL) of the caramel sauce (reserving the remaining ¾ cup/175 mL for plating the desserts). In a larger bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolks with the granulated sugar and whisk in the banana caramel and milk. Pour this over the egg cubes, add the raspberries and chocolate chips and toss well to coat. The custard will absorb into the bread quickly so just stir it once or twice to ensure all the bread has softened, and then ladle this into the prepared ramekins. Pour boiling water around the ramekins and bake the bread puddings for about 50 minutes, until a tester inserted into the centre of one comes out clean. Remove the ramekins from the water bath onto a cooling rack, and let them cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Alternatively, they can be prepared in advance, chilled and then re-warmed.
• For the peanut praline, line a baking tray with parchment paper. Bring the water, sugar and corn syrup up to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Continue boiling, without stirring but occasionally brushing the sides of the pot with cool water to prevent crystalizing, until the caramel is a light amber colour. Remove from the heat and immediately add the peanuts to the caramelized sugar and stir to coat. If you find that the caramel crystalizes on the peanuts just warm on low heat to melt the sugar again. Spread this onto the prepared baking tray and set aside to cool. Once cooled, roughly chop the praline for sprinkling.
• To serve, run a palette knife around the inside edge of a ramekin and turn the bread pudding out (flip it so the crunchy top is upright) and place on a plate. Drizzle with warm caramel sauce and top with chopped praline peanuts.

PLAIN AND PERFECT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch baking dish.
• Arrange the bread cubes tightly in the prepared baking dish. Beat together the butter, milk, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl. Add the granulated and brown sugars and mix until dissolved. Pour the mixture over the bread.
• Put the baking dish on a baking sheet. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 55 to 70 minutes. Let rest for 20 minutes before serving.

WHOLE GRAIN BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease six, 8-ounce ramekins or custard cups.
• Place bread cubes in large bowl. Combine milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl; stir until blended. Pour milk mixture over bread cubes; set aside for 10 minutes. Stir in bananas. Divide evenly into prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on baking sheet.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes until puffy. Remove from oven. Place on wire racks for 10 minutes.
• Preheat broiler to 400 degrees F.
• Sprinkle each bread pudding with 1 teaspoon brown sugar. Place on baking sheet and broil 2 minutes until browned; watch carefully to avoid burning.

WHOLE GRAIN BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease six, 8-ounce ramekins or custard cups.
• Place bread cubes in large bowl. Combine milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl; stir until blended. Pour milk mixture over bread cubes; set aside for 10 minutes. Stir in bananas. Divide evenly into prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on baking sheet.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes until puffy. Remove from oven. Place on wire racks for 10 minutes.
• Preheat broiler to 400 degrees F.
• Sprinkle each bread pudding with 1 teaspoon brown sugar. Place on baking sheet and broil 2 minutes until browned; watch carefully to avoid burning.