Banana Pudding Parfaits

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Every once in a while, you come across a new Banana Pudding recipe that uses real ingredients and gives the old recipe a twist. Take the Lee Brothers’ recipe for Banana Pudding Parfaits. Layers of banana puree, vanilla custard, crushed gingersnaps and rum-flavored whipped cream.

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Ingredients

  • Banana Layer:
  • 2 pounds ripe bananas (about 5 large bananas), peeled and chopped
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Custard Layer:
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Rum-Flavored Whipped Cream:
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 tablespoons premium-quality dark rum, like Mount Gay or Myers’s
  • 3/4 cup crushed gingersnaps (approximately 8 cookies)

Preparation

Step 1

1. For the Banana Layer: Using a food processor, combine all of the ingredients in the banana layer, and pulse until the mixture is a smooth puree. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the puree, and set it aside in the fridge. (It will keep for 24 hours.)

2. For the Custard Layer: Heat the milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to steam. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and cornstarch. Whisking constantly, pour the warm milk into the egg mixture in a thin stream. Return the mixture to the saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring slowly until the custard is thick and making large bubbles, about 4 minutes. Transfer the custard to a bowl; let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the custard, covered, until it is well chilled, about 30 minutes. (This would be a good time to slip your mixing bowl into the freezer to prepare for making the whipped cream.)

3. To Serve: When you are ready to serve the dessert, whip the cream with the sugar and rum until it forms stiff peaks. Layer the custard, banana puree and cookie crumbles in parfait glasses until the glasses are two-thirds full. Finish with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

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