Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

This dessert is Ba-Nanas.  It’s another one of our favorites at our local fave 10 Prime Steak & Sushi. If you’ve ever been there, you should know about this dessert. And if you’re going there anytime soon – make sure you order it! If you’re not in this neck of the woods, try making it at home – you won’t regret it. Top it off with vanilla ice cream and you’re in heaven.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 large firm-ripe bananas, peel and chopped in 3/4 in. thick slices
• 1/8 cup banana liqueur (I use Creme de Banana)
• 1/4 cup dark rum
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• 10 cups (1/2 in. cubes) day old challah, French baguette or brioche
• Caramel Sauce*

HOW TO MAKE IT

• Butter a 10×14 in. baking dish with 1 tbsp of butter add in the cubed bread and set aside

• Melt the remaining 4 tbsp of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat
• Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and the cinnamon and cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves (approximately 2 minutes)
• Add the sliced bananas and cook on both sides, stirring often until the bananas begin to soften (about 3 minutes)
• Add the banana liqueur and stir to blend
• Carefully add the rum and shake the pan back and forth to warm the rum and flame the pan (or, off the heat, ignite the rum with a match and return to heat)
• Shake the pan back and forth, basting the bananas until the flame dies
• Turn off the heat and remove about 1/2 cup of the bananas from the pan – mash the remaining bananas (without the excess liquid) with a potato masher or the back of a fork

• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, pinch of salt, cream, milk, and vanilla
• Add the mashed bananas foster mixture into the bowl and stir to blend thoroughly – keep the whole bananas to enjoy on their own
• Pour the mixture over the cubed bread and into your buttered baking dish and bake at 350°F for 50 minutes – 1 hour (or until firm)

• Combine the sugar, water and lemon juice in a medium sauce pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves
• Let it boil without stirring until it becomes a dark amber color (about 5 minutes – watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn)
• Carefully add the cream (watch out – it will bubble) and whisk to combine
• Remove from heat and add in 2 tbsp of milk and whisk (if you desire a thinner sauce, add more milk – keep in mind that the sauce will thicken as it cools)

• Allow the bread pudding to cool for 20 minutes before serving – top it off with your caramel, whole bananas and vanilla ice cream and enjoy!