Tropical Mango-Banana Puff Delight
Experience a taste of the tropics with this elegant, easy-to-make dessert that layers flaky puff pastry with luscious custard cream, ripe bananas, and sweet mangoes. Perfect for impressing your guests at dinner parties or celebrations, this dessert is both visually stunning and irresistibly delicious. Most of the preparation can be done ahead of time, allowing you to focus on the finishing touches right before serving. The combination of warm, caramelized fruit with cool, creamy custard makes each bite a soothing escape to paradise. With ingredients that are often found in your own backyard, this recipe conjures the essence of Caribbean vacations in every delectable portion.
N/A
Servings
350
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
egg yolks
3 (none)
salt
1 pinch (none)
granulated sugar
1/3 cup (divided)
flour
2 tablespoons (none)
milk
1 cup (none)
Cruzán dark rum
1 tablespoon (none)
vanilla bean
1 (split lengthwise)
unsalted butter
1 tablespoon (for custard cream)
heavy cream
1/4 cup (whipped)
puff pastry
1 sheet (thawed (about 9-inch square))
brown sugar
1 tablespoon (none)
unsalted butter
2 tablespoons (for fruit sauce)
lime
1 (juice)
ripe bananas
3 (none)
ripe mango
1 (none)
powdered sugar
2 tablespoons (none)
ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (none)
Instructions
1
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, salt, and half of the granulated sugar until smooth. Add the flour and whisk until fully combined.
2
In a small saucepan, heat the milk, Cruzán dark rum, and the remaining sugar over medium-high heat. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean pod into the saucepan, adding both the seeds and the pod to the mixture. Bring to a gentle boil.
3
Gradually pour half of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Once blended, return the egg mixture to the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.
4
Reduce the heat to medium and continue to whisk until the custard thickens and reaches a boil, which should take about 1-2 minutes. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in the unsalted butter until fully melted.
5
Transfer the custard cream to a bowl, covering it with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
6
When ready to assemble, gently fold the whipped heavy cream into the chilled custard cream until fully combined.
7
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cut the puff pastry sheet into nine 3-inch squares and prick each square multiple times with a fork to prevent excessive rising during baking. Arrange the squares on a baking sheet.
8
Bake the pastry squares in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before carefully slicing each square horizontally into two layers.
9
In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter with lime juice and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl.
10
Peel and quarter the bananas, then slice them lengthwise. Peel the mango and slice the flesh into twelve 1/2-inch thick pieces.
11
Add the banana and mango pieces to the butter sauce, gently tossing to coat. Grill the fruit over low heat, without turning, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
12
To assemble, fold the whipped cream into the custard cream if you haven't done so. Place one pastry layer on each serving plate, followed by a spoonful of custard cream. Top with a layer of grilled banana and mango pieces, then add another pastry layer and repeat the process.
13
Finish with a third pastry layer on top. In a small sieve, combine powdered sugar and ground cinnamon. Dust the tops of the assembled desserts with the mixture by gently tapping the side of the sieve. Serve immediately and enjoy the compliments!
Nutrition Information
16.7g
Fat
44.2g
Carbs
5g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tropical Mango-Banana Puff Delight?
It is an elegant dessert that layers flaky puff pastry with custard cream, ripe bananas, and sweet mangoes, inspired by Caribbean flavors.
What fruits are required for this recipe?
The recipe requires 3 ripe bananas and 1 ripe mango.
How many puff pastry squares are made from one sheet?
One 9-inch square puff pastry sheet is cut into nine 3-inch squares.
At what temperature should the oven be preheated?
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) before baking the pastry.
How long do the puff pastry squares need to bake?
The pastry squares should bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown.
How do I prevent the puff pastry from rising too much?
Prick each pastry square multiple times with a fork before placing them in the oven.
What type of rum is used in the custard cream?
The recipe specifically calls for 1 tablespoon of Cruzán dark rum.
How is the vanilla bean prepared for the custard?
The vanilla bean should be split lengthwise; both the scraped seeds and the pod are added to the milk mixture while heating.
How do you keep the eggs from curdling when making the custard?
Gradually pour half of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly before returning the whole mixture to the saucepan.
How do I prevent a skin from forming on the custard while it cools?
Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard cream before refrigerating it.
When is the heavy cream added to the custard?
Gently fold the whipped heavy cream into the chilled custard cream just before you are ready to assemble the dessert.
What is in the sauce used to coat the fruit?
The fruit sauce consists of melted unsalted butter, lime juice, and brown sugar.
How should the mango be sliced for grilling?
Peel the mango and slice the flesh into twelve 1/2-inch thick pieces.
How long should the bananas and mangoes be grilled?
Grill the fruit over low heat for approximately 2 minutes until grill marks appear.
Should the fruit be turned during grilling?
No, the instructions specify to grill the fruit without turning.
How is the final dessert decorated?
The tops are dusted with a combination of powdered sugar and ground cinnamon using a small sieve.
How many calories are in a serving of this dessert?
Each serving contains approximately 350 calories.
What is the fat content of this recipe?
The recipe contains 16.7g of fat per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in each portion?
There are 44.2g of carbohydrates per serving.
How much protein does this dessert provide?
Each serving provides 5g of protein.
Can this recipe be prepared in advance?
Yes, most of the preparation, such as making the custard, can be done ahead of time.
How do you assemble the puff pastry layers?
Place a pastry layer, add custard and grilled fruit, add a second pastry layer with more custard and fruit, and finish with a third pastry layer on top.
What is the total ingredient count?
There are 17 different ingredients used in this recipe.
What size should the banana pieces be?
The bananas should be peeled, quartered, and then sliced lengthwise.
How much granulated sugar is used in total for the custard?
The recipe uses 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, which is divided between the egg mixture and the milk mixture.
Is salt included in the custard base?
Yes, a pinch of salt is whisked together with the egg yolks and sugar.
What thickening agent is used for the custard?
The custard is thickened using 2 tablespoons of flour and 3 egg yolks.
Does the custard contain butter?
Yes, 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter is stirred into the thickened custard once it is removed from the heat.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include dessert, tropical, puff pastry, mango, banana, easy recipe, no bake, fancy dessert, and caribbean.
Should the dessert be served cold or warm?
The dessert combines warm grilled fruit with cool custard cream and should be served immediately.