Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 firm-ripe bananas, peeled and cut crosswise into 3/4-inch thick slices
- 1/4 cup banana liqueur
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 6 cups (1/2-inch cubes) day-old French bread
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel Sauce, recipe follows
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 10 by 14-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter and set aside.
- Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add 1 cup of the brown sugar and the cinnamon and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
- Add the bananas and cook on both sides, turning, until the bananas start to soften and brown, 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, carefully ignite the rum with a match and return to the heat.)
- Shake the pan back and forth, basting the bananas, until the flame dies.
- Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Whisk together the eggs, remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, the cream, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Add the cooled banana mixture and bread and stir to blend thoroughly.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake until firm, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
- Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
- To serve, scoop the pudding onto dessert plates.
- Top each serving with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzle with caramel sauce, and serve immediately.
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup whole milk
- Combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium heavy saucepan and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Let boil without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't burn.
- Carefully add the cream (it may splatter), whisk to combine, and remove from the heat.
- Add the milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature before serving.
- (The sauce will thicken as it cools.)
- Yield: a generous 3/4 cup
unsalted butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, bananas, banana liqueur, dark rum, eggs, heavy cream, milk, vanilla, salt, bread, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/bananas-foster-bread-pudding-with-vanilla-ice-cream-and-caramel-sauce-recipe.html (may not work)