Salted Caramel Banana Icebox Pie Recipes

Steps:

• In a blender combine the frozen bananas and a large container of Cool Whip. If the bananas are not very ripe, you may add 1/2 teaspoon banana extract to the banana combination. Set aside.
• Combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar. Press into the bottom and sides of a glass 9x13 pan.
• Pour banana mixture into the crust and freeze for a minimum of 2 hours.
• Combine all sauce ingredients in a sauce pan. On medium heat stir until butter is melted and brown sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rolling boil and allow to boil for an additional minute while stirring continuously. Then remove from heat and allow to cool to a non-skin scalding temperature. Can be reheated in the microwave on high for 1 minute or until sauce is pourable.
• Cut dessert in squares and serve with warm sauce drizzled over each piece.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the vanilla wafers in a food processor and pulse until the cookies are finely crushed. Reserve 1/2 cup to layer in and to top the pie. Pour the remaining crumbs in a 9-inch pie plate. Pour the melted butter over the top and, using a spoon or your hands, combine the ingredients. Press the mixture in the bottom and up the sides and onto the lip of the pie plate. Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Peel and slice the bananas, adding them to a bowl. Stir the salt into the caramel sauce and toss the banana slices with the salted caramel. Arrange some banana slices evenly over the bottom of the crust. Spread half of the warm Vanilla Pudding over the bananas, top with some more crushed vanilla wafers (reserving some for garnish) and more caramel-coated bananas. Spread the remaining Vanilla Pudding over the top.
• In a large bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Add the almond extract and sugar and beat until peaks form. Make sure not to overbeat, or the cream will become lumpy and butter-like. Spread the whipped cream over the pie. Just before serving, garnish with a caramel swirl and the rest of the crushed vanilla wafers.
• Combine the sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. This is the only time you can stir the sugar. If you stir it while it's cooking, it turns to rock candy. Place the saucepan over medium to low heat until the sugars start to dissolve, 5 to 10 minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium-high and cook until the sugar starts to caramelize, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not stir while this is happening. You've got to watch the pot, because it goes from caramel to burnt really quickly. And be careful, the mixture is extremely hot!
• Turn off the heat and stand back to avoid splattering. Slowly add the cream. Don't panic - the cream will bubble violently, and the caramel will solidify. Just give it more time to liquefy again-trust me!
• Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature, at least 4 hours. It will thicken as it sits.
• 3 cups.
• In a bowl, whisk together the sugar and flour until all of the lumps are gone. Once it is a fine powder, whisk in the egg yolks and whole eggs and continue whisking until a smooth paste is formed. Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk, and once this is incorporated add the remaining 1 cup milk. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it reaches the thickness of chilled pudding, 10 to 15 minutes. (Mixture will just begin to bubble and will be thick enough to hold soft peaks when the whisk is lifted.) Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, mix together the sugar, salt, cornstarch, and flour. Over medium-low heat, slowly whisk in the milk.
• In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks. Once the pastry cream starts to boil, transfer 1/2 cup of the pastry cream to the egg yolks and whisk to temper. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Continue whisking until the mixture coats the back of a spoon and is smooth and thick. Strain.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, and vanilla. Stir in 1 cup sliced bananas. Allow the mixture to cool.
• Stir the custard to loosen, if necessary. Cover the bottom of the prepared crust with more sliced bananas and drizzle with 1/4 cup Salted Caramel Sauce. Top with half of the sliced bananas, then 1 cup custard, covering the bananas completely. Repeat layering with the remaining bananas and the remaining custard. Chill the banana cream pie until the filling is set, about 2 hours.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form.
• Top the chilled pie with the fresh whipped cream. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce, just before serving.
• For the Perfect Pie Dough:
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt and vanilla; cut or work the butter into the flour mixture with your fingers or a cold pastry cutter until you have large pea sized chunks scattered throughout. Alternatively, pulse the dough in a food processor, or mix in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed.
• Add the ice water slowly while stirring with a fork, or in the food processor or mixer, until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, flatten and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Roll out one chilled pie dough to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Reserve the second pie dough disc for another use. Transfer dough to pie plate, pressing the dough lightly into the plate; trim the edges. Dock the dough with the prongs of a fork evenly over the bottom of the pie plate. Line the docked dough with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake the pie crust until the edges are brown and golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the weights. Return crust to the oven to finish baking for another 5 minutes.
• Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie crust
• To make the salted caramel sauce:
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil without stirring. If necessary, use a wet pastry brush to wash down any crystals on the side of the pan. Boil until the syrup is a deep amber color, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir in the unsalted butter, and salt, to taste. Transfer the caramel to a dish and cool.
• Cook's Note: This recipe will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Reheat before serving.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups sauce

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the hazelnuts onto a baking sheet, and toast in the oven for 10-15 mins until evenly golden. Tip into a bowl. Line the baking sheet with baking parchment and set aside.
• Tip the caster sugar, half the toasted hazelnuts and a small pinch of sea salt into a small saucepan set over a low heat. Cook gently for 7-10 mins until the sugar melts and turns an amber colour - do not stir, but swirl the pan every now and again. Tip the mix onto the baking sheet. Leave to cool completely, then break up into small pieces.
• Line the base of a 23cm fluted tart tin with baking parchment. Break the biscuits into a food processor, and blitz with the rest of the hazelnuts to a fine crumb. Or, seal the biscuits and nuts in a food bag and crush with a rolling pin. Tip the crumbs into a bowl and combine with the melted butter. Press into the base of the tin and up the side, then chill for 2 hrs.
• Remove the cold tart base from the tin (if it sticks slightly, put it in a warm oven for 3-4 mins to help release it), then set on a serving plate. Spoon the dulche de leche into a bowl and gently fold in a large pinch of sea salt (don't overmix, or it will become too loose).
• Tip the cream, muscovado sugar and vanilla into another bowl and gently beat with an electric whisk until softly whipped. Spread the salted caramel over the base of the tart, then arrange the banana slices on top. Spoon over the muscovado cream. Chill for at least 3 hrs, or overnight. Scatter with the hazelnut praline just before serving.