Description
Creamy Banana Custard Cups offer a nostalgic and comforting dessert experience with smooth vanilla-infused custard layered beautifully with ripe banana slices. This easy-to-make chilled treat combines rich custard and fresh bananas for a delightful texture and taste, perfect for any occasion or as a crowd-pleaser dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Custard
- 3 cups whole milk, divided
- 6 large egg yolks
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Banana Layer
- 4–5 ripe but firm bananas
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Optional Toppings
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings
- Ground cinnamon
- Toasted chopped nuts
- Additional banana slices
Instructions
- Heat Milk: Pour 2 ¾ cups whole milk and a pinch of salt into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
- Whisk Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, ½ cup granulated sugar, and cornstarch vigorously for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is pale, thick, and creamy.
- Temper Eggs: Slowly pour about half of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture while continuously whisking to temper the eggs. Then, pour the tempered mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining hot milk, whisking constantly.
- Cook Custard: Return the saucepan to medium-low heat and whisk constantly for 5-8 minutes until the custard thickens, coats the back of a spoon, and gently bubbles. Continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute while whisking.
- Finish Custard: Remove from heat, whisk in the butter until melted, then stir in the vanilla extract. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Bananas: Peel and slice bananas into ¼-½ inch thick rounds. Place in a medium bowl, drizzle with the fresh lemon juice, and gently toss to coat, preventing browning.
- Assemble Cups: Whisk the chilled custard until scoopable. In 8 clear serving cups, layer lemon-tossed banana slices followed by a thicker layer of custard. Repeat layering, finishing with custard on top. Gently tap cups to settle and smooth the surface.
- Chill and Serve: Cover each cup with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. Add optional toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cinnamon, or nuts just before serving.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm bananas to avoid mushy texture in the dessert.
- Tempering the eggs with hot milk prevents scrambling and ensures smooth custard.
- Pressing plastic wrap onto the custard surface prevents a skin from forming.
- Chilling the custard completely is crucial for proper texture and layering.
- Optional toppings can be customized to your preference for added flavor and texture.
