Bourbon Banana Pudding with Glazed Pecans: 2000s Recipes + Menus : gourmet.com

2000s Recipes + Menus

Serves4

Active time:1 hr
Start to finish:4 1/2 hr (includes chilling)

March 2009

In this bourbon-spiked baby, homemade génoise (a kind of spongecake) subs for the traditional vanilla wafers, and brown sugar contributes a molasses-like sweetness. Glazed pecans add some crunch to the layers of silky pudding, ripe bananas, and tender cake.

View more of our favorite recipes from this issue, and learn the story behind this dish in our series The Recipe.

For pudding and candied pecans

3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, divided
3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk
5 teaspoons bourbon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons mild honey
1 1/2 teaspoons water
3/4 cup pecan halves

For spongecake and syrup

3 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour (not self-rising; sift before measuring)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup bourbon
1/4 cup water

For assembly

3 ripe medium bananas
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Equipment:

a 9-inch square cake pan

Make pudding and glaze pecans:

Lightly beat yolks in a medium bowl.
Whisk together 3/4 cup brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small heavy saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk, then boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, until pudding is thick, about 3 minutes. Gradually add hot pudding to yolks, whisking constantly, then whisk in bourbon and vanilla.
Cover surface with wax paper and chill until cold, about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
Warm remaining 2 Tbsp brown sugar with honey and water in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Stir in pecans, tossing to coat, then transfer to a lightly oiled 4-sided sheet pan.
Bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and shiny, about 15 minutes. Transfer pecans with a metal spatula to a rack to cool. Coarsely chop, reserving 4 halves for garnish.

Make spongecake and syrup:

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour cake pan. Warm eggs (in shell) in hot water 5 minutes.
Whisk together flour and salt.
Beat eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until tripled in volume and thick enough to form a wide flat ribbon that holds its shape on top of batter when beater is lifted, 7 to 8 minutes in a stand mixer or 14 to 16 with a handheld.
Transfer to a wide bowl. Sift flour mixture, one third at a time, over batter, folding gently but thoroughly with a rubber spatula after each addition. Stir together butter and about 1/4 cup batter in a small bowl until combined, then fold butter mixture into batter gently but thoroughly.
Pour batter into cake pan and smooth top. Bake until golden brown and edges start to pull away from sides of pan, 12 to 14 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring bourbon, water, and remaining Tbsp sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.
Transfer cake in pan to a rack, then run a thin knife between cake and side of pan and cool 5 minutes. Invert cake onto rack.

Assemble dessert:

Cut off one third of cake, reserving for another use. Brush remaining cake with half of bourbon syrup. Carefully turn cake right side up and brush with remaining syrup. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Cut cake into 1 1/2-inch squares. Thinly slice bananas.
In 4 bowls or 10-oz glasses make 2 layers each of pudding, bananas, cake (use all of it), and chopped pecans, then top with a third layer of pudding, bananas, and chopped pecans.
Chill, loosely covered, 1 hour. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.
Whip cream with sugar until it holds soft peaks, then dollop on top of each dessert. Garnish with reserved pecan halves.

Cooks’ notes:

Pudding can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.
Glazed pecans can be made 3 days ahead and kept (leave whole), layered between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container, at room temperature.
Cake can be baked and cooled (but not soaked with syrup) 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature. Brush with syrup before using.
Assembled desserts can be chilled up to 6 hours.

Recipe by Andrea Albin

Photograph by William Abranowicz