'Tis the Season Extra Bite: More Delicious Holiday Desserts

Pace Webb

Delicious twists on banana pudding and flan as well as a classic shortbread recipe!


Cardamom Banana Pudding
Serves 8


Ingredients:
6 oz sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
8 oz mashed banana, cooked
2 tablespoons cardamom seeds
2 2/3 cups milk
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:
First cook banana down to a fine mush and then set aside.

In a heavy saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Then add bananas to the sugar mixture.

In a small bowl, whisk together milk, cardamom seeds, and egg yolks. Then gradually whisk them into the banana mixture.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil for approximately 1 minute while whisking. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Strain contents to collect the seeds, and discard.

Chill directly wrapped for at least one hour before serving.


Pumpkin Flan

Serves 8


Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
15 oz. canned pumpkin
5 eggs
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ginger

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Spray with oil a glass loaf or (8) 4 oz. ramekins. Melt the sugar slowly and carefully in a heavy saucepan over medium heat to caramelize sugar. Pour sugar mixture into one glass loaf mold OR divided equally among 8 4 oz. ramekins.

In a food processor, puree the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Pour the mixture into the loaf mold or ramekins. Fill a roasting sheet that has sides that are at least one inch high half way with water. Place the prepared flan dish(es) inside and bake for about thirty minutes if in the small ramekins and about one hour if in the large loaf until the center does not give and appears firm.

Cool to room temperature and invert on a platter. Garnish with Cayenne Whipped Cream (recipe below).


Cayenne Pepper Whipped Cream

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Method:
Whip cream and flavor with cayenne pepper. It's a spicy surprise and a great compliment to the warm spices in the flan.


Scotch Shortbread Cookies

Serves around 2 dozen


Ingredients:
1 cup of butter
2 cups sifted of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Method:
First, preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Then cream the butter in a medium size bowl. Combine the sifted all purpose flour, confectioner's sugar, and salt until well blended.

Mix the dry ingredients into the butter. Pat stiff dough into an ungreased 9x9-inch pan and press edges down. Pierce through the dough with a fork every 1/2-inch.

Bake 25-30 minutes.

Cut into squares while warm.