As an artist, I like to create food that not only tastes good, but looks beautiful as well. In this recipe, I used some of my favorite flavors. Spiced rum, creamy butter, ripe bananas and brown sugar, combine to create a rich caramel sauce. The sauce is spooned on top of the rich and creamy, cream cheese filling that is nestled inside of a buttery pastry shell. In this video, I give some fabulous ideas to decorate your dessert plates, so you can look like an artist in the kitchen!
• Servings: 6
• 6 frozen puff pastry shells
• 4 ounce(s) of white baking chips
• 8 ounce(s) of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 3 ounce(s) of instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup(s) of cold milk
• 1 1/2 sticks of butter
• 3/4 cup(s) of packed brown sugar
• 1 fresh orange
• 1/4 cup(s) of favorite spiced rum (2 tsp of rum extract can be substituted)
• 3 sliced bananas
• Paper and scissors. Pre-made stencils or dollies could also be used.
• 1 cup(s) of powdered sugar. Cocoa, chocolate or strawberry milk drink mix can also be used.
• 6 ripe strawberries for garnish
• fresh mint leaves for garnish
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Place 6 frozen puff pastry shells on cookie sheet, and place into oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until puffed, and golden brown.
3. While shells are baking, create decoration to place on top of dessert. Place 4 ounces of white chips into heavy zip lock bag. Place in microwave, checking every 30 seconds to see if melted through.
4. Cut off tip of bag, pushing melted chocolate towards that corner. On waxed paper or parchment paper, squeeze out chocolate, creating simple designs. Place chocolate in refrigerator until needed.
5. Next create filling. In large mixing bowl, combine with hand mixer, cream cheese, pudding mix, milk and vanilla extract.
6. Refrigerate cream mixture until needed.
7. On stove, in a large saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar until melted. Carefully add the juice of one fresh orange. Next add spiced rum, or rum extract. Cook until thick and bubbling. Add sliced bananas, and cook for only an additional 30 seconds, remove from heat.
8. To prepare plate to serve dessert, decide on stencil method. If making your own, cut out design, and place on plate. Keep in mind, wherever you place paper, your plate will show. Sprinkle powdered sugar over top of design using a sifter.
9. Place baked shell in the middle of plate. Make sure the center of pastry has been hollowed out, and top has been removed. Place cream mixture in center of shell. Next spoon banana sauce over top. Place top of pastry to the side.
10. To create strawberry fan. Take a sharp knife and create slits vertically, approximately 4-5. Fan out berry, and place next to filled pastry on plate.
11. Place mint next to pastry for an additional garnish.
12. Enjoy how beautiful your dessert looks, and cancel your reservations at that over priced restaurant!