Local Style Banana Split Food

THE ULTIMATE BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

• Preheat your oil in a heavy-based pot for deep frying to 365 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Make a well in the center and add the yolks and club soda. Using a whisk, stir from the inside working your way out, slowly incorporating the dry ingredients without forming any lumps. Peel the bananas and dip in the batter and coat well. Fry in hot oil for 4-5 minutes until batter is puffy and golden brown. Drain on paper towels when done.
• While bananas are cooking, prepare caramel sauce. Combine the sugar and water in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pot around, until the mixture is a deep caramel color and looks like syrup, about 8 minutes. Add the butter then carefully pour in the cream (it will bubble up) and continue to cook for another minute. Add a pinch of salt then cool before serving.
• To serve the banana split, cut the bananas lengthwise and top with a large scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Pour warm caramel sauce over the top and finish with a sprinkle of banana chips and toasted pecans.

GRILLED BANANA SPLIT PIE

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Place a metal baking sheet in the freezer to chill.
• Put the waffle cones in a large resealable bag or food processor. Crush the cones until ground to the texture of coarse sand. Put the crushed cones in a large bowl, add 10 tablespoons of the melted butter and mix until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch pie dish and press to form a crust. Place in the freezer to set, about 30 minutes.
• Slice the unpeeled bananas in half lengthwise (keep the peels on). Brush the cut sides with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle each with brown sugar, then grill until grill-marked, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then peel and slice into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Beat the heavy cream with the confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a chilled large metal bowl until it holds medium-stiff peaks. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Using a small ice cream scoop (about the size of a golf ball), scoop out 4 scoops of each flavor from the Neapolitan ice cream and place on the chilled baking sheet. Return to the freezer. Let the remaining ice cream soften up a little, 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature.
• Using a microwave or a bowl of hot water, slightly warm 1/2 cup of fudge sauce until pourable. Remove the crust from the freezer and spread the fudge on the bottom of the crust, using a spoon or an offset spatula to evenly distribute. Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on top of the fudge layer, pressing gently to adhere the bananas to the fudge. Scoop out the softened ice cream (all 3 flavors) on top of the bananas and, using a large spoon or an offset spatula, spread to cover the bananas, being sure to make the top as smooth as possible.
• Place the small scoops of ice cream around the outside of the pie, alternating flavors, to create a border. Pipe the center of the pie with stars of whipped cream in a concentric circle, with one large star in the middle. Place in the freezer until the ice cream firms up, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• To serve: Arrange 6 of the cherries on top of the pie, one between every other ice cream scoop. Place the walnuts in between the remaining ice cream scoops. Warm the remaining fudge sauce and drizzle all over the ice cream in concentric circles. Sprinkle the sprinkles around the border of the pie. Place the last remaining cherry in the center. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing.

SPEEDY BANANA SPLITS

Steps:

• Peel and split the bananas in half lengthways and place on two plates. Top with the scoops of ice cream, drizzle over the sauce and scatter with almonds.

THE PERFECT BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Peel the banana and slice it in half lengthwise. Place the banana slices against the sides of a long, narrow, shallow dish.
• Place the scoops of ice cream in a row between the banana slices.
• Squirt the chocolate syrup on the vanilla and strawberry ice cream.
• Spoon the marshmallow creme over the chocolate ice cream.
• Top everything with the whipped cream. Sprinkle it all with nuts and top each mound of ice cream with a cherry.

GRILLED BANANA SPLITS

Steps:

• Cut a small piece off the curved side of 4 unpeeled bananas so they'll sit level, then make a deep slit down the center of each through the peel; place on separate sheets of foil. Open the slits and brush the inside of each banana with melted butter, then sprinkle with sugar and 1 ounce chopped semisweet chocolate; fold up the foil. Grill the packets over high heat until the chocolate melts, 6 to 8 minutes (don't worry if the peel turns brown). Open the peels and top the bananas with ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry.

ALL-AMERICAN BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

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