Caramelized Banana Ice Cream Food

EASY BANANA ICE CREAM (TIPS + 10 FLAVORS!)

Steps:

• Be sure to start with ripe and spotty bananas. Peel and slice into 1/2-inch slices for easier blending (large chunks tax the motor). Then add to a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm (3-4 hours or overnight).
• Add sliced frozen bananas to a food processor fitted with an "S" blade. Then blend for 4-5 minutes or until completely smooth, fluffy, and blended. You'll need to stop occasionally to stir and scrape the sides. You'll be left with a soft serve texture. See "FREEZING" below for freezing tips.
• Add sliced frozen bananas to a high-speed blender, our most recommended model being the Vitamix 5200 for ultimate control and its powerful motor. (The Kitchenaid KSB8270FP Pro Line Series works well, too.) Turn the Vitamix dial to its lowest setting and ensure the switch is flipped to "Variable" NOT "High" to start with. It's too much to jump the motor from 0-100 that fast.
• Once it's started blending, quickly switch from "Variable" to "High" speed and use the tamper to press down and stir/agitate the bananas, which should turn into soft-serve texture banana ice cream quite quickly. If the motor seems to be struggling, stop and pause momentarily. Be sure to switch back to low speed / "Variable," then switch to "High" speed every time to protect the motor.
• Adding flavor to your nice cream is easy! For every flavor besides strawberry, berry, or Salted Caramel, simply add the recommended amounts of each ingredient to your ice cream at this time and blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. If making strawberry or berry, we recommend adding them at the beginning with the unblended bananas for best texture.
• At this point you have soft-serve texture banana ice cream. To get more of a scoopable ice cream texture, simply spread into a Tupperware or parchment-lined loaf pan and freeze for 2-3 hours. Then scoop with an ice cream scoop! If too firm, let thaw 15-30 minutes to soften.
• Best when fresh. See freezing instructions above. Frozen banana ice cream should keep for up to 1 month if well covered, though we find it's best when used within the first week.

CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE AND CREME CARAMEL WITH BANANA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Begin by making the caramel as this is needed for the creme caramel and the pineapple. Place 1 cup of sugar in a heavy saucepan over high heat and cook until a bronze color. Swirl the pan as it begins to color to mix the sugar and caramel. Once the caramel has reached its color, very carefully pour a little of the caramel, just enough to cover the bottom, into 6 (2-ounce) timbales or ramekins.
• Using the remaining caramel, add the orange juice, rum, and vanilla extract to the pan. Return to the stove to dissolve the caramel. When all is melted, pour the caramel mixture over the pineapple slices and combine all of the ingredients for the pineapple marinade. Allow the mixture to cool for approximately 3 to 4 hours and refrigerate.
• To make the creme caramel, combine the warm milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, eggs, and remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and beat well. Mix the warm milk and the egg mixture well to make a thin custard. Pour the custard into the ramekins, place in a deep tray, fill with 1 inch of hot water, and place in the oven for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until set. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
• To serve, use a small knife and score the outside rim of the ramekins to help release the creme caramels. Turn creme caramels onto a plate, add a few slices of caramelized pineapple and raisins, drizzle a little of the juice around the plate, and finish with a scoop of banana ice cream.

FRIED CARAMELIZED BANANAS WITH ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Make the Caramel
• Place a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the brown sugar and butter. Allow both to melt and mix well using a heatproof silicone spatula.
• Fry the Bananas
• When the caramel is hot and bubbly, add the bananas, cut side down, along with the pecans. Allow the bananas to cook for about 3 minutes before turning them over. The cut side should have a deep golden brown color and a slightly crispy texture. (Depending on the ripeness of the banana, they may break. Don't worry about this; they will still be delicious.)
• Cook for another 2 minutes, using a spoon to drizzle the caramel sauce over the bananas to keep infusing them with caramel flavor.
• Serve
• Place the bananas on a serving dish or platter, top with scoops of ice cream, and drizzle the caramel sauce and nuts all over it.
• COOKING NOTES
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• The bananas are best served just after they are made. They will lose their crispy caramelized texture as they sit but will still retain their flavor so long as they are not refrigerated.
• If you must make them in advance, the bananas can be held in a warm oven for a few hours.

BANANA-CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Vigorously whisk together egg yolks and 2/3 cup sugar in a medium bowl until pale yellow and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, bring milk and 2/3 cup cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, and gradually whisk into egg mixture. Pour mixture into pan, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until thick enough to coat the spatula, about 1 minute (do not let boil). Pour custard into a bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water, and let cool, stirring occasionally. Puree bananas with half the custard in a blender until smooth, and transfer to bowl with remaining custard. Stir in vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup cream until combined, and pour through a fine sieve into another bowl. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
• Place water, corn syrup, and remaining sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally (do not stir). Raise heat to high, and continue to cook in same manner until mixture turns deep amber, about 9 minutes more. Remove from heat, and slowly pour in remaining cream. Add remaining salt, and simmer caramel 1 minute. Place pan in a bowl of ice water, and let cool until warm but not hot. Remove from ice bath, and whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, until fully incorporated.
• Place a 5-by-10-inch loaf pan (9 cups) in freezer at least 10 minutes. Freeze custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Spread one-third of ice cream in pan, and drizzle with one-third of caramel (it should be fluid but just barely warm; reheat slightly if necessary). Swirl caramel into ice cream with a wooden skewer. Repeat 2 more times until all the ice cream and caramel have been used. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS WITH RUM SAUCE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bananas and saute until they turn brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle brown sugar over the bananas and cook until the sugar melts, about another 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour rum into skillet; ignite with a match and let the flames die out.
• Divide ice cream among 4 serving dishes and spoon bananas over. Serve immediately.

ALL-AMERICAN BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

• Place banana in a dessert dish; place scoops of ice cream between banana. Top with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED BANANA BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Thinly slice the bananas and put them into a medium skillet over medium heat to cook until golden brown all over. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Whisk together sugar, buttermilk and vanilla in a medium bowl, dissolving most of the sugar, then stir it into the bananas. Refrigerate until cold (at least 30-60 minutes).
• Pour mixture into your ice cream maker and freeze as directed (should take about 15-20 minutes). Add in walnuts, if using.
• Transfer to a freezer-friendly container with a lid and freeze until firm (at least 30 minutes) before serving.