Banana Split Bombe Recipes

BANANA BREAD BOMBE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• Cream the sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mash the bananas in a small bowl (you should have about 1 cup), add to the mixing bowl and beat until just combined. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and 1 tablespoon of the milk and beat until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert the bread onto the rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Add the pudding mix to a large bowl and whisk in the heavy cream. Whip until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. (It's fine if there are still a few granules in the mix; they will dissolve once set.)
• Slice the banana bread into 18 slices, each about 1/3 inch thick. Set aside.
• Line a large glass bowl (10 inches wide at the top, 5 1/2 inches wide at the bottom and 4 inches tall) with plastic wrap, leaving at least 1 inch of overhang on all sides. Quickly submerge 1 vanilla wafer cookie into the remaining 1 cup milk, then place the cookie rounded-side up in the bottom of the prepared glass bowl. Continue to dip the cookies and line the bowl until you reach the very top of the bowl, using 55 to 60 cookies total. The cookies should not go over the edge of the bowl, so trim them if necessary.
• Scoop 2 cups of the pudding over the cookies in the bowl, then use the back of a large wooden spoon to gently spread the pudding in one layer over all the cookies, making sure to go all the way to the top of the bowl. Spoon 1 cup of the pudding into the bottom of the bowl and spread it out into a flat layer. Top the pudding with some banana bread slices until mostly covered (you may need to cut up some of the pieces in order for them to fit properly). Top with 1/2 cup of the pudding and spread evenly to cover the bread. Repeat with another layer of banana bread, followed by 3/4 cup of the pudding. Repeat one more time, with another layer of banana bread and the remaining pudding (you will have more bread left).
• Dip about 35 more cookies into the milk and lay in a flat layer over the top of the pudding. Top with the remaining banana bread slices. Fold over the plastic wrap to cover the bowl. Refrigerate until completely chilled and the cookies have softened, at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, carefully invert the bowl onto a large serving platter or cutting board, then use the plastic wrap lining to ease the bombe out of the bowl. Cut into wedges and drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.

ALL-AMERICAN BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

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

BANANA SPLIT ICE CREAM BOMBE

Steps:

• For the topping:.
• 1 container chocolate magic shell.
• 1/4 cup shelled pistachios, chopped for garnish.
• For the bombe:.
• Spread vanilla ice cream in an even layer on bottom and up sides of a 2 1/2-quart heatproof bowl with a 9 1/2 inch diameter rim. Ice cream should form a concave layer that comes up to the rim of the bowl. Freeze until set, about 1 hour ( may need to keep pushing ice cream up sides if ice cream falls as it is trying to re-freeze).
• Meanwhile, place chocolate and banana in a heat proof bowl. Heat cream in a saucepan until bubbles begin to form around edges. Pour over chocolate and banana, and let stand for 1 minute. Whisk until combined. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thickened and spreadable, about 1 hour.
• Spread chocolate-banana mixture in a thin even layer over entire surface of vanilla ice cream layer. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Spread pistachio ice cream in a flat, smooth layer over chocolate-banana mixture, but no up sides. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Spread chocolate ice cream in a flat, smooth layer over pistachio ice cream. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Slice banana bread lengthwise into 1-inch slices. Cut pieces to cover top of ice cream bombe (square and triangle shapes work best).
• Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight or up to 3 days.
• To unmold the bombe, dip bowl in a larger bowl with very hot water or use a small kitchen torch to warm outside of bowl. Continue dipping or torching bowl until bombe releases when inverted onto a serving platter. Remove bowl, wipe drips off platter, and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Squeeze magic shell on top, slowly, to create a solid center with long drips down the sides.
• Sprinkle pistachios on top, and freeze until chocolate is set, about 5 minutes.
• Run a large knife under hot water, and dry well. use it to slice the bombe into wedges, as you would a cake, wiping knife between cuts.

BANANA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment cut to fit, and butter and flour parchment. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and a pinch of cloves into a medium bowl. Whisk mashed banana, buttermilk, and vanilla in a small bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add egg, and beat until well combined. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with banana mixture. Add chopped banana, and beat until well combined. Pour batter into pan, and use a spatula to spread into an even layer.
• Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan, and invert pan onto rack. Remove parchment, and flip cake so top side faces up. Let cool completely on wire rack.

BANANA SPLIT BITES

Steps:

• To make a batch, peel 2 overripe bananas and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Melt 4 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon shortening or coconut oil in the microwave. Cut the bananas into pieces and drop into the melted chocolate to cover; remove with a fork. Place on a plate and immediately sprinkle with chopped peanuts and top with a maraschino cherry; freeze 30 more minutes.

BANANA SPLIT ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Place a circle of parchment in the bottom of an 8-by-3-inch springform pan. Lightly coat bottom of pan with cooking spray to adhere parchment; set aside. Chill pan in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/2 pints chocolate ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula or a spoon, spread the ice cream evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan. Work quickly, or the ice cream will not stay on the sides very long. If the ice cream starts to fall, return ice cream-lined pan to freezer for 10 minutes, and then finish lining. Transfer ice cream-lined pan to freezer until hardened, about 45 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor combine 2 bananas, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Process 30 seconds or until smooth, and add remaining banana. Pulse until there are only small pieces of banana, about the size of peas. Transfer mixture to a bowl, and set aside.
• Remove the pan from the freezer, and spread half, about 3/4 cup, of the banana mixture into the bottom of the chocolate ice cream-lined pan. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 2 hours. Cover the remaining banana mixture with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When hardened, remove the pan from the freezer; ladle 1 cup room-temperature Hot Fudge Sauce over the banana layer. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 15 minutes. Set aside the remaining fudge sauce to serve with the finished bombe, or store in a plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Soften vanilla ice cream as above. Remove pan from the freezer, and add 1 cup softened vanilla ice cream, using a small offset spatula or spoon to spread it evenly. Return pan to freezer, and let ice cream harden, about 1 hour. The remaining soft vanilla ice cream can be returned to its container and stored in the freezer; it will soften quickly when you need it again.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the walnuts evenly on a baking pan, and toast them in the oven, about 7 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from the oven, and let cool. In a medium nonstick saute pan, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and water. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved; stop stirring, and let boil. The sugar will begin to caramelize in the pan; you can pick up the pan and slightly swirl the sugar to allow for even caramelizing. Let the caramel turn to a dark golden brown, about 5 minutes, and immediately add the nuts to the pan. Turn off the heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir the nuts in the caramel to coat them evenly. Transfer the nuts directly onto a Silpat baking mat (a French nonstick baking mat), and spread them into an even layer. Let cool; break into small pieces.
• Remove ice cream mold from freezer, and sprinkle an even layer of nuts over vanilla layer. Remove banana mixture from the refrigerator, and spread the remaining 3/4 cup over the nuts. Quickly return mold to the freezer, and let chill. When banana layer has hardened, about 2 hours, resoften the remaining cup of vanilla ice cream and spread evenly with small offset spatula or spoon.
• When vanilla ice cream has hardened, soften the remaining cup of chocolate ice cream; remove mold from freezer. Add final layer of chocolate ice cream, spreading it all the way to the edges and smoothing the top. If chocolate ice cream extends above the inside rim of the mold, run your finger around the top of the inside of the rim to give a clean edge. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer to chill, about 4 hours, or overnight. When ready to serve, remove mold from freezer, and dip in very hot water for a few seconds. Unlatch the ring, and gently pull away from the bombe. Using a parchment bottom allows the bombe to slide off the pan base. Transfer bombe to cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice the bombe into wedges, and serve.

HOT FUDGE SAUCE FOR BANANA SPLIT ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, water, and salt. Stir continuously until melted and combined. Add the corn syrup, and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature.

BANANA SPLIT BOMBE

Steps:

• Place a circle of parchment in the bottom of an 8 × 3-inch springform pan. Lightly coat the bottom of the pan with cooking spray to adhere the parchment; set aside. Put in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/2 pints chocolate ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula or a spoon, spread the ice cream evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan. Work quickly, or the ice cream will not stay on the sides very long. If the ice cream starts to fall, return the ice cream-lined pan to the freezer for 10 minutes, and then finish lining. Transfer the ice cream-lined pan to the freezer until hardened, about 45 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor combine 2 bananas, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Process 30 seconds or until smooth, and add the remaining banana. Pulse until there are only small pieces of banana, about the size of peas. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and set aside.
• Remove the pan from the freezer, and spread half, about 3/4 cup, of the banana mixture into the bottom of the chocolate ice cream-lined pan. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 2 hours. Cover the remaining banana mixture with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When hardened, remove the pan from the freezer; ladle 1 cup room-temperature hot fudge sauce over the banana layer. Return to the freezer until hardened, about 15 minutes. Set aside the remaining fudge sauce to serve with the finished bombe, or store in a plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Soften the vanilla ice cream as above. Remove the pan from the freezer, and add 1 cup softened vanilla ice cream, using a small offset spatula or spoon to spread it evenly. Return the pan to the freezer, and let the ice cream harden, about 1 hour. The remaining soft vanilla ice cream can be returned to its container and stored in the freezer; it will soften quickly when you need it again.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the walnuts evenly on a baking pan, and toast them in the oven, about 7 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from the oven, and let cool. In a medium nonstick sauté pan, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cold water. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved; stop stirring, and let boil. The sugar will begin to caramelize in the pan; you can pick up the pan and slightly swirl the sugar to allow for even caramelizing. Let the caramel turn to a dark golden brown, about 5 minutes, and immediately add the nuts to the pan. Turn off the heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir the nuts in the caramel to coat them evenly. Transfer the nuts directly onto a Silpat baking mat, and spread them into an even layer. Let cool; break into small pieces.
• Remove the ice cream mold from the freezer, and sprinkle an even layer of nuts over the vanilla layer. Remove the banana mixture from the refrigerator, and spread the remaining 3/4 cup over the nuts. Quickly return the mold to the freezer, and let chill. When the banana layer has hardened, about 2 hours, resoften the remaining cup vanilla ice cream and spread it evenly with small offset spatula or spoon.
• When the vanilla ice cream has hardened, soften the remaining cup chocolate ice cream; remove the mold from the freezer. Add the final layer of chocolate ice cream, spreading it all the way to the edges and smoothing the top. If the chocolate ice cream extends above the inside rim of the mold, run your finger around the top of the inside of the rim to give a clean edge. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer to chill, about 4 hours, or overnight. When ready to serve, remove the mold from the freezer, and dip it in very hot water for a few seconds. Unlatch the ring, and gently pull away from the bombe. Using a parchment bottom allows the bombe to slide off the pan base. Transfer the bombe to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice the bombe into wedges, and serve with remaining fudge sauce.
• Hot Fudge Sauce
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, water, and salt. Stir continuously until melted and combined. Add the corn syrup, and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature.