Parsley, Sage and Sweet

Caramel Apple and Banana – Peanut Butter Pudding Parfaits with Vanilla Wafer Streusel and a Giveaway! Giveaway Closed.

August 25, 2012 at 6:59 am | Posted in Dessert, Fruit, Giveaway, Puddings | 171 Comments
Tags: Apple, Banana, caramel, Parfait, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Pudding, Pudding, streusel, Vanilla Wafers

I caved.  I finally joined in on the Pinterest craze.  Craze is the operative word here because I’ve gone crazy pinning stuff.  This is also why I’ve labeled the photo below..in case anyone pins it, so those who see it know what it is without having to read the fine print.  It’s also there to draw your attention away from the overexposed topping..but hey, that’s artificial light for ya.

Like I said...crazy..crazed.  I wake up to go to the bathroom, I end up pinning for an hour.  I pin before work..I pin after work…I get up in the middle of watching a movie or Yankee game..

“I’m going to go pin, ok?”

I can’t surf without pinning.  This is why I abstained for so long.  I knew this would happen.  Fresh air is dwindling.

Everyone says it’ll wear off soon. I seriously question that.

The plus side is, I hated navigating through my thousands of bookmarks looking for specific recipes.  Now I don’t have to.  They sit in neatly categorized boards with a photo.  One click, no searching.  Relief.

I also have a great giveaway for you all.  Restaurantware.com is offering one of my readers a $50.00 gift coupon code to use on their site.  When I made my strawberry panna cotta verrines back in 2011, many people commented and emailed asking where I got the ‘glasses’  I used.  Well..they aren’t glasses..they are plastic cups that look like glasses. Granted, I purchased them somewhere else, but Restaurantware.com sells them too, at a better price in bulk.

If you’re a food blogger who doesn’t want to spend a ton of money on real glassware or real silverware..or real most any tableware or serverware, for photo props, this is your place.  If you’re a person who loves to throw parties..this is your place.  If you’re a person who hates doing dishes..this is your place.

All of their disposable and/or biodegradable stuff is pretty amazing because it’s all beautiful and it all looks real, from bamboo to plastic.  They also have a new line of gorgeous porcelain tableware and severware, which you can see HERE.

Every single thing in each photo (outside of the dessert itself – though that is disposable – if you don’t like it!)) in this post is disposable and/or biodegradable, graciously sent to me by Restauarantware.com.  Instructions on how to enter this giveaway are below the recipe for these parfaits.

Now..speaking of the recipe, it came to me when I had a craving for peanut butter pudding.  As I was stirring away..all of these ideas started popping into my head.  Before I knew it, what should have only taken 15 minutes turned into an hour, and I had a bowl of rich caramel bananas and apples and a pan of vanilla wafer streusel sitting in front of me.

Vanilla wafer streusel?  Yep…instead of oatmeal, I used crushed vanilla wafers. No, it isn’t weird..it’s pretty awesome.  With a vanilla bean or two..some cinnamon, brown sugar, flour and butter, this could be a snack on its own.  Try it and see for yourself!

The verdict on these parfaits?  ”OMG, this is an explosion of amazing flavors”, was one comment.  The empty disposable glasses was all the proof I needed to post these.  It’s not often I get it exactly how I want it the first time around..so here they are…

Caramel Apple and Banana – Peanut Butter Pudding Parfaits with Vanilla Wafer Streusel
Number of servings depend on the size glasses you use and how much of each ingredient you layer into said glasses

This recipe for Peanut Butter Pudding, using light brown sugar in place of the granulated sugar and reduce the cornstarch to 1/4 cup

OR

This recipe for Vanilla Pudding

Caramel Bananas and Apples
2 bananas, peeled, split vertically into thirds, and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium apple, preferably tart, like a Granny Smith, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Wafer Streusel
1 cup crushed (not ground..just pounded in a ziplock bag with a mallet) vanilla wafers
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice (optional)
pnch of salt
2 fat vanilla beans, split and scraped (place empty pods in sugar for vanilla sugar)
4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Make Peanut Butter Pudding from recipe linked above.  Pour into a bowl and press plastic wrap flat against the top of it to avoid a skin forming.  Place in the refrigerator to set up a bit more.

2.  Make the caramel bananas and apples.  Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat until hot, but not smoking.  Reduce the heat to medium, and sprinkle the granulated sugar evenly around the pan, then top with the dark brown sugar.  When the granulated sugar starts to liquify and turn golden..start shaking the pan to distribute the heat and sugar evenly.  The brown sugar won’t melt as fast as the granulated sugar, but that’s ok.  Once the granulated sugar is melted, start stirring the brown sugar into it..it will melt instantly.  If you’re worried about crystallization since this is the dry method of caramelizing sugar, stir in a little water or corn syrup with the sugars, then start heating it.

3.  Immediately stir in the butter once the sugars are melted and golden brown, then add the chopped apples.  Stir for a minute, then add the chopped bananas and salt.  Cook until the fruits have softened, but are not mushy, about 3 minutes.  Add vanilla extract and pour caramelized fruit and syrup into a heat proof bowl or glass.

4.  Make the Vanilla Wafer Streusel.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.  Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until crumbly, but it comes together when you squeeze some with your fingers.

5.  Spread on a baking sheet, squeezing some together to make clumps, if desired. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes..stirring half way through to make sure it crisps and browns evenly.

6.  Assemble parfaits.  This is all up to you.  Layer each ingredient in glasses or cups, any way you want.  I made some with pudding, then streusel, then caramel fruit, then more pudding, then more caramel fruit and streusel – lather, rinse, repeat.  I also made some with mostly pudding, a thin layer of the caramel fruit, and a light sprinkle of streusel.  I just glopped everything in, but you can make these really beautiful.  Enjoy!

To Enter the Restaurantware.com Giveaway, just leave a comment.  But first check out their site by clicking the photo below to see all the amazing stuff you can choose from!

For 4 bonus entries (can never leave you without bonus entries!)

1. Like Restaurantware.com on Facebook

2. Follow Restaurant.com on Twitter

3. Follow me on Twitter

4. Tweet this giveaway - Restaurant.com $50.00 gift card Giveaway: http://wp.me/pg5pm-4Qc

Giveaway ends August 31, 2012.  I’ll be choosing a winner via Random.org.  If the winner does not respond within two days, another winner will be chosen.