Caramelized Banana Meringue Gratin
A comforting and elegant dessert featuring golden caramelized bananas nestled under a silky vanilla custard and topped with a lightly browned meringue. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's the perfect crowd-pleaser served warm or chilled.
🛒 Ingredients
12 servings
- 8 ripe but firm bananas
- 1 cup sugar (for caramel)
- ½ cup water
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz / 395 g)
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 egg whites
- 3 tablespoons sugar (for meringue)
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Directions
- 1
Melt 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan over medium heat without stirring, until it turns into an amber caramel. Carefully add the water (beware of splashing) and stir until you get a smooth syrup.
- 2
Add the halved bananas to the caramel and cook over low heat for 4–5 minutes until golden and lightly glazed. Transfer to a buttered baking dish.
- 3
In a saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Stir in the condensed milk and whole milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the cream thickens. Pour over the bananas.
- 4
Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gradually add the 3 tablespoons of sugar, whisking until the meringue is glossy. Spread gently over the custard layer.
- 5
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes until the meringue is golden. Serve warm or allow to cool and refrigerate for a chilled version.
💡 Chef's Tip
Use slightly underripe bananas so they hold their shape during caramelization. A pinch of sea salt flakes in the caramel elevates the whole dish beautifully.
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