Bananas Foster (traditional)

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. pecans
  • 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • ¼ cup (packed; 50 g) dark brown sugar
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 bananas, halved lengthwise, then crosswise
  • Kosher salt
  • 3 Tbsp. dark rum (80–100 proof)

Preparation


Preheat oven to 325°. Toast 3 Tbsp. pecans on a small rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until slightly darkened in color and fragrant, 10–12 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.

Heat 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces, ¼ cup (packed; 50 g) dark brown sugar, ½ tsp. ground cinnamon, and ¼ tsp. ground cardamom in a medium skillet over medium-high, whisking constantly as the mixture bubbles, until butter is melted and incorporated, about 1 minute. Add ½ tsp. vanilla extract and cook sauce, continuing to whisk, until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds.

Arrange 2 bananas, halved lengthwise, then crosswise, cut side down, in pan and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until lightly browned, 30–60 seconds. Using tongs or a small spatula, turn bananas over and sprinkle cut sides with kosher salt. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until bananas are browned and coated in sauce, 30–60 seconds. Remove from heat.

Drizzle 3 Tbsp. dark rum (80–100 proof) over bananas and sauce. Using lighter, carefully ignite sauce and flambé, shaking pan occasionally, until flame goes out.

Top with scoops of vanilla ice cream and scatter pecans over.

Source: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/classic-bananas-foster

Apple Cider Donut Cake

Where many cider donut cake recipes tend to present the spices forward, the applesauce in this recipe uses a spiced apple cider reduction that gives a more intense apple flavor to balance the spices.

Apple Cider Donut Cake with Maple Bourbon glaze

Ingredients

Apple sauce

  • 1 to 2 large honeycrisp apples, peeled and roughly chopped, about 12 oz
  • 3 cups apple cider
  • 3 whole allspice berries
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole clove

Cake batter

  • 1 cup apple sauce
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup loosely packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 3 large eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F, and grease a 10 cup bundt pan with nonstick spray or butter.

Combine 3 cups apple cider, allspice, cinnamon and clove in a 2qt saucepan. Raise to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer until liquid reduced by half.

Peel and chop apples into 1 inch cubes. Add to the saucepan until the apple chunks are covered with cider. Simmer until apples are tender and liquid is mostly absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Mash apple chunks with a fork or immersion blender until no large chunks remain. Set aside and allow to cool.

Cream 1 stick of butter in a stand mixer until light and airy, wiping down occasionally. Add sugars and continue to cream until sugars are dissolved, wiping down occasionally. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated.

Whisk together remaining dry ingredients in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine apple sauce, milk, oil and vanilla.

With the stand mixer on low, alternating additions of ⅓ dry ingredients then ½ wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overwork the batter.

Transfer batter to a prepared, greased bundt pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula. Bake at 350°F until a wooden probe draws clean, about 40 minutes.

Remove bundt pan from oven and allow to cool 15 minutes to allow the cake to set and release from the pan. Invert over a serving platter and allow to cool completely before sugaring or glazing

Serving suggestions

Cake may be glazed using a 4:1 ratio of confectionery sugar and liquid, including water, milk, maple syrup, bourbon or half & half. (See Maple Bourbon Glaze)

Cake may be brushed with browned butter and sanded with a mix of granular sugar and cinnamon.

Adapted from: https://www.howsweeteats.com/2019/10/apple-cider-donut-cake-with-brown-butter/

Ice cream

Makes 2 pints.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Horizon Organic half & half
  • 2 cups Horizon Organic whole milk
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt

Optional add ins

  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips, or
  • 1 Tbsp. instant espresso powder dissolved in 1/4 cup warm milk, or
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted , or
  • 2 cups sliced strawberries, or
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice and 1 Tbsp. lemon zest, or
  • 3 ripe bananas, pureed, or
  • OMIT vanilla and ADD 1 tsp. peppermint extract and 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

Whisk together all ingredients until well blended and sugar has dissolved. Rest batter in freezer and chill to.bear freezing, about 15 to 20 minutes. Pour into ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer’s instructions. Once it is soft frozen, transfer to the freezer and freeze for a minimum of 6-8 hours.