bananas foster tiramisu

+ making birthdays great again

Thank you to the handful of people who wished me a happy birthday under the video I made for this bananas foster tiramisu. I appreciate the love, however

1. it was not my birthday - it was for my friends birthday and

2. you’ll know damn well when it’s my birthday

Because I make it everyone’s problem. Not only will you be hearing about my plans, my menu and everything else weeks in advance - it will also probably be a 3 part series. Save the date babe, June 9. And while I was born with the inherent trait of loving my birthday (gemini behavior fr) see photos below for proof of birthday diva est ‘98.

And over my lifetime, I’ve learned not everyone is like this. Some people even…hate their birthday. But if there’s one thing imma do as your friend, it’s bring the birthday energy. If you couldn’t tell by now, I am insufferable (in many areas, but today specifically, with birthdays) because I think more attention should be brought to making them bigger and greater and making our friends feel LOVED!

maddie knew who she was from a young age

Like, lest us not forget, we were brought into EARTHHH on this very day. Like you did not exist….and then on this day…you existed. Come onnnnn make some NOISEEEEEEEE!!! So please, if you’re a birthday hater - try to push yourself out of your sulk this year and remember how special that day is. And if you’re a friend of a birthday hater, you better be baking them something or doing anything you can to try getting them out of it!! MAKE BIRTHDAYS GREAT AGAIN WOOOOP.

Now this bananas foster tiramisu came from the helps of you actually. I put out a call to help in the substack chat (link to join) for some help ideating a banana centric dessert for my birthday hater friend’s birthday. And we got so many suggestions - one of which was a banana tiramisu and another that was bananas foster. I knew the latter wouldn’t travel well on it’s own and didn’t fully fit the bill of a birthday dessert. But together, they were fit for a queeeen (my bday queen).

bananas foster tiramisu

makes 9x13 pan of tiramisu, serves about 12-14

• 24 oz mascarpone cream, cold (not whole foods brand, I have heard this yields a liquidier result - not sure what’s goin on there)

• 6 pasture raised egg yolks

• 5 pasture raised egg whites

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• pinch of salt

caramelized bananas:

recipe adapted from zoe bakes

• 1/2 tbsp miso

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

• 2 bananas, yellow and fully ripe but no brown spots, cut into 1/8” coins

for dipping + assembly:

• 40 lady fingers

• 2 cups of freshly brewed espresso or very strong coffee

• 2 tbsp dark rum, or baileys if you like things sweeter and less alcoholic

• 1 ripe banana, fully ripe, with minimal brown spots, sliced into thin coins

• good quality cocoa powder for dusting

1. for the cream: in the bowl of a clean stand mixer, on medium high, whip the egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form. in a separate large bowl, mix the mascarpone cream with the egg yolks until fully incorporated. mix in the spices and vanilla and salt. in increments, fold the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture until combined.

2. for the bananas: in a medium saucepan add the butter, vanilla and sugar over medium heat until everything is just melted. add the banana slices to the pan along with the miso, on medium heat, occasionally swirling the pan and tossing the slices to prevent any burning until the bananas are lightly caramelized. remove the bananas from the pan and very carefully pour the heavy cream into the remaining caramel mixture. it may sputter, so you can also remove from heat and do this. whisk to mix everything together then let cool before using in the tiramisu.

3. to assemble: in a shallow bowl, mix rum and espresso for dipping. dunk the ladyfingers into the mixture on each side for 1-2 second and add to the pan, side by side. continue until the bottom is covered in ladyfingers.

4. OPTION 1: WHOLE BANANA SLICES add about 1/2 of the cream mixture on top of the soaked ladyfingers and spread out evenly. scatter the sliced caramelized bananas on top along with the raw banana slices, followed with about 1/2 of the caramel. layer again with the coffee dipped lady fingers, lightly pressing them into the cream and another drizzle of caramel. top with the other half of the cream, piping something fun if you feel like it.

5. OPTION 2: BANANA PUDDING VIBES mash up the caramelized bananas with the back of a fork and fold directly into the cream mixture. this will give you a more uniform, banana forward flavor. I made 2 “mini testers” and decided to go with option 1 for looks, but i think I would love to try option 2 next time! the texture feels fun. add half of this cream to the bottom layer of ladyfingers, followed with the raw banana slices and miso caramel drizzle. repeat with the second layer of dipped ladyfingers, another drizzle of miso caramel and the last layer of cream.

6. cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate tiramisu overnight then powder the top with a mountain of cocoa powder. cut or scoop out.

make this for your birthday, for your moms birthday, for your besties birthday!!!!! live laugh love!!!!! <3333 tag me if you try anything!!

xoxo katie

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