Bourbon Banana Puddings

Name: Bourbon Banana Puddings
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT8H30M0.000S
Yield: 6 individual large puddings (8 to 10 in smaller glasses)
Ingredients: 2 cups whole or 2-percent milk; 4 large egg yolks; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/3 cup light brown sugar; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1/4 teaspoon table salt; 4 tablespoons bourbon or whiskey; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 cups heavy whipping cream; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 30 gingersnap cookies; 4 ripe bananas, sliced crosswise

Getting reviews...

Banana pudding sits high in the royal court of Southern desserts, and it doesn't get much better than the classic recipe on the back of the Nilla wafer box. But not being able to leave well enough alone, I gave the recipe an updated spin. I added brown sugar and bourbon to my vanilla pudding base, giving it a hint of butterscotch and a bit more grown-up appeal. And to further the recipe's cocktail-lovin' flare, I substituted in sweet and spicy gingersnaps for the usual plain wafers -- my nod to the old Southern standby "Jack and Ginger."

Level: Intermediate
Total: 8 hr 30 min

Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 8 hr
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 6 individual large puddings (8 to 10 in smaller glasses)

Level: Intermediate
Total: 8 hr 30 min

Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 8 hr
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 6 individual large puddings (8 to 10 in smaller glasses)

Ingredients

Pudding Base:

2 cups whole or 2-percent milk

4 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon table salt

4 tablespoons bourbon or whiskey

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

To Assemble:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

30 gingersnap cookies

4 ripe bananas, sliced crosswise

Directions

For the pudding base: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring milk to a gentle simmer over medium heat. In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Stir a small amount of the warmed milk into the yolk mixture to temper the eggs. Whisk the yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the custard starts to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the bourbon and vanilla and continue cooking until glossy and quite thick, another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, stirring until it is completely melted.
Push pudding through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl. Press plastic wrap directly over the surface of the pudding and refrigerate for a minimum of four hours, or overnight.
To assemble: In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the bourbon pudding until no visible streaks remain. In individual serving glasses, layer pudding, gingersnaps, and bananas, finishing with a layer of pudding on top. Chill for 4 hours (and no longer than eight) before serving. Crush remaining gingersnaps and sprinkle crumbs over the top.

Cook’s Note

While most recipes for banana pudding call for a big trifle dish, I thought these would be best piled into my favorite cocktail glasses; the individual servings are perfect for your next adults-only dinner party, no I.D. required.