Gourmet Banana Split Recipe

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The Banana Split is a classic All American dessert, but you don’t always have to make it in a standard way. Try adding your own additional toppings, such as fresh chopped fruit or nuts to make it unique.

Ingredients

  1. 3 tablespoons sugar
  2. 1 cup sliced almonds
  3. Salt
  4. 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  5. 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  6. 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  7. 1 cup heavy cream
  8. 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
  9. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  10. 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  11. 2 pints each of vanilla and chocolate ice cream
  12. 8 small bananas, split
  13. Whipped cream, for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium skillet, combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar with 1 tablespoon of water and cook just until the sugar is dissolved. Add the almonds and toss to coat. Spread the almonds on the prepared sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until tacky and just beginning to brown. Sprinkle with salt, stir and bake for about 10 minutes longer, stirring once or twice, until golden. Let cool completely.
  2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cocoa powder, brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the corn syrup and the cream and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over high heat for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate chips and butter until melted. Stir in the vanilla.
  3. Scoop vanilla and chocolate ice cream into banana boats and lay the halved bananas alongside. Top with hot fudge sauce, whipped cream and candied almonds and serve right away.
The fudge sauce and candied almonds can be up to 1 week in advance to save you time later. Just rewarm the sauce before serving. Enjoy!

Bananas Foster

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons rum (dark rum is best)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
  • 1 pint vanilla bean (vanilla is okay too) ice cream

Directions

  1. Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When the mixture begins to bubble, place the bananas and walnuts in pan and cook until bananas are hot, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla bean ice cream. Yum!

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Homemade Blueberry Cream Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • GRAHAM CRACKER MIXTURE:
  • 2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • ICE CREAM:
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant cheesecake or vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 quart heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Stir in blueberries and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Stir in butter. Pat into an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in.x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the ice cream ingredients. Fill ice cream freezer cylinder two-thirds full; freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Refrigerate remaining mixture until ready to freeze. Whisk before adding to ice cream freezer (mixture will have some lumps).
  4. Crumble the graham cracker mixture. In a large container, layer the ice cream, graham cracker mixture and blueberry sauce three times; swirl. Freeze.

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Home Made Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 cup whipping cream (or heavy whipping cream)
  • 1 cup sugar (less if you don’t want it too sweet)
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a large saucepan and stand over medium heat. Insert a frying or candy thermometer to inside of pan. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to 170 degrees F. Remove from heat and let mixture stand to cool slightly. Remove the hull of the vanilla bean, pour mixture into lidded container and refrigerate mixture overnight to mellow flavors and texture.

Place the mixture in the freezer. Once the mixture volume has increased by 1/2 to 3/4 times, and reached a soft serve consistency, spoon the mixture back into a lidded container and harden in the freezer at least 1 hour before serving.

NOTE: If you do not have a thermometer, bring the mixture just barely to a simmer. As soon as you see a bubble hit the surface, remove it from the heat. Do not let it boil!

 

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Frozen Chocolate Chunk Cookie Balls

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  120 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Directions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Stir in the vanilla, water, flour, chocolate chips, and walnuts, if desired, and mix until well blended. Roll dough into bite-sized balls (or use a small ice cream scoop). Place on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Store balls in resealable plastic bags in the freezer.

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Apple Crisp a la Mode

Preparation Time:  20 minutes
Cooking Time:  40 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 4 cups sliced apples
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish.
  2. Place apples in prepared dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Pour water over all. In a bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Blend in flour. Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples.
  3. Bake in preheated oven 30 to 40 minutes, until apples are tender and crust is golden
  4. Add vanilla ice cream, if you wish!

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