BANANA CREME BRULEE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300. Prepare some boiling water.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cream, banana puree and 2 T. sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally until small bubbles appear around edges of pan. Set aside.
• In a bowl, beat egg yolks and vanilla until smooth and light. Pour hot cream mixture into egg yolks, a little at a time, beating continuously until well blended. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Divide mixture among 4 ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in a baking pan and place on middle shelf of preheated oven. Fill pan with boiling water to halfway up sides of ramekins. Cover pan loosely with aluminum foil. Bake until custard is just set, about 25 minutes. (this took an additional 9 minutes for mine, as I have deeper ramekins) Chill 2-3 hours.
• Slice bananas horizontally into 1/2" slices and arrange on top of chilled creme brulees. Sprinkle remaining sugar over tops of bananas. With cooking torch, move flame econtinuously over the surface of the ramekins, in a circular motion until sugar melts and becomes golden brown and bubbly. (this is where I failed. I was afraid to add the entire 1/3 cup sugar, so didn't get enough carmelized effect) Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 11 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a simmer (do not boil). Cool 5 minutes.
• Beat yolks and banana extract in a medium bowl. Gradually stir about 1/4 of hot whipping cream mixture into yolks, and add to remaining hot whipping cream mixture, stirring constantly. Pour whipping cream mixture through a wire-mesh strainer, discarding banana solids.
• Pour custard mixture evenly into 8 (8-ounce) ramekins or custard cups. Place ramekins in a large roasting pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until set. Remove ramekins from water, and cool slightly on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• Place ramekins on a baking sheet; sprinkle 2 teaspoons sugar evenly over each custard. Broil 5 inches from heat until sugar is completely melted and caramelized (about 1 to 3 minutes). Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.
• Note: To prepare caramelized sugar pieces, combine 2 cups sugar, ½ teaspoon corn syrup, and ½ cup water in a heavy skillet. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high, and cook until sugar is golden brown and registers 310° (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer. Carefully pour onto a greased, foil-lined baking sheet. Cool and crack into pieces.