Tropical Vanilla Pudding Shots Food

LIGHT TROPICAL BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the coconut milk and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring gently to melt the butter and heat the milk.
• Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a separate bowl to create a thick paste. Gently whisk into the milk and increase the heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until thick and bubbly, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly against the surface. Refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours.
• Beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Arrange a layer of half of the banana slices on the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish. Add a layer of half the pineapple followed by half of the coconut pudding and a layer of half of the wafers. Top with some whipped cream and repeat to make a second layer.
• Top with the remaining whipped cream and the toasted coconut flakes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to overnight before serving.

VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding and refrigerate until completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
• Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until smooth and creamy.
• Stir-ins:
• Cookies and Cream: Crush 20 chocolate wafer cookies, stir some into the pudding and top with the rest.
• Fresh Berries and Gingersnaps: Fold in 2 cups of fresh, mixed berries and top with about 12 finely crushed gingersnaps.
• Vanilla-Banana: Fold in 3 sliced bananas. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Fold in 24 crushed vanilla wafer cookies and top with more sliced bananas.
• Rocky Road: Fold in 1 cup each mini marshmallows and toasted chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips. Sprinkle with more chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter* and Jelly (See Cook's Note): Fold in 1 cup quartered red grapes and 1/3 cup each chopped roasted peanuts and peanut butter chips. Top with whole grapes.