Description
A delightful Caramelized Banana Tart featuring golden caramelized bananas topped with crisp puff pastry, baked to perfection. This dessert blends the rich flavors of buttery caramel, fragrant vanilla, and cinnamon for a comforting and elegant treat that can be enjoyed warm or cold.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 250 g puff pastry
Caramel Sauce
- 150 g caster sugar
- 80 g unsalted butter
- 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped
- 1 cinnamon stick
Filling
- 5 large bananas
Instructions
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry to a quarter of an inch thick in a round shape. Once rolled, place it in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the rest of the tart.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 180°C (356°F) to get it ready for baking the tart.
- Make Caramel: In a 10-inch non-stick frying pan, combine the caster sugar and unsalted butter with the cinnamon stick and scraped vanilla pod along with its seeds.
- Cook Caramel: Heat the frying pan over medium-high heat, gently swirling it until the sugar and butter melt together. Continue heating until the mixture becomes a rich brown caramel color, indicating it’s perfectly cooked.
- Cool Caramel: Remove the pan from the heat and allow the caramel to cool slightly to prevent burning the bananas when added.
- Arrange Bananas: Slice the bananas into rounds and arrange them evenly in the caramel within the pan.
- Top with Pastry: Place the chilled puff pastry round on top of the banana and caramel-filled pan, tucking the edges down around the inside of the pan to encase the filling.
- Vent Pastry: Cut a small slit about an inch long in the center of the pastry to allow steam to escape during baking. This prevents sogginess and helps the pastry cook evenly.
- Bake Tart: Transfer the frying pan to the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the pastry turns crisp and golden brown.
- Remove Carefully: Once baked, use an oven glove or folded tea towel to carefully remove the hot frying pan from the oven to avoid burns.
- Serve: Serve the tart warm or cold, optionally accompanied by ice cream or softly whipped cream for an extra indulgent dessert experience.
Notes
- Be sure to use a frying pan that is oven-safe to prevent damage and ensure even cooking.
- The slit cut in the pastry is essential to allow steam to escape and keep the pastry from becoming soggy.
- Use ripe but firm bananas for optimal caramelization without them becoming mushy.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute unsalted butter with a vegan butter alternative.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Keywords: Caramelized Banana Tart, Puff Pastry Dessert, Banana Tart, Caramel Dessert, French Tart
