Banana Tatin Verrines
I never know "sur quel pied danser" (on which foot to dance) the last few days leading to Christmas. I have my feet in the starters' block but it is too soon to get going! The tree is up, the house is decorated, all the doughs for the cookies and treats are made and parked in the fridge waiting for Tuesday to be baked and Wednesday to be packaged. The menu is set, the food has been shopped for and is awaiting its own oven time. Today, there were moments of pure calm with a "yeah, I can have a cup of tea and a sit down" mixed with "Oh geez! Should I be panicking, should I, should I?"…
I could have panicked this afternoon when B. asked me what were the plans for lunch. I opened the fridge, peeked in the drawers, closed the door and smiled "well, I know you wouldn’t have a problem eating raw biscotti dough for dinner but it ain’t Christmas yet child…so let’s go get some fish and grill". I was telling Lisa last night that I was on my 4th batch of shortbread dough and not because I was packing them up but because B. was eating them faster than I was baking them!!
We took the long way home coming back from the store and walked around the neighborhood checking houses all decked up for the holidays. All of a sudden the wind picked up and the air got downright chilly, and tonight there is a 20 degrees difference from the same time yesterday. Absurd…Yet the perfect occasion for one of those dessert you tend to crave on chilly days….like a tarte tatin. I opted for Banana Tatin Verrines instead with caramelized bananas layered, creme fraiche and a ginger crumble topping. Comfort in a spoon…
Banana Tatins Verrines:
1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
(to make your own: mix one cup heavy cream with 1/4 cup sour cream and let sit overnight in the oven with the pilot light on, uncovered, refrigerate after that)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons butter
2 bananas, cut into thick slices
Crumble topping (recipe follows)
Divide the creme fraiche between two glasses or ramekins.
In a large skillet set over medium high heat, cook the sugar with the water until it caramelizes to a golden caramel. Turn the heat down to medium and add the butter. Let it melt before adding the bananas. Let them cook in the caramel for a couple of minutes until soft and caramelized. Remove from the heat and wait a couple of minutes before dividing the banana slices in between your glasses. Top with the crumble and serve.
For the crumble topping:
1/4 cup light brown sugar
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons cold butter
2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
Preheat your oven to 350F.
In a bowl, combine the sugar, flour. Add the butter cut in small pieces, the ginger and mix with your fingertips until you get a mixture that ressembles coarse crumbs. Spread the mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool to room temperature.
Santa came a little early thanks to my dear friend Hannah from Bittersweet who sent me the cutest felt macarons that she made herself. Aren’t these adorable? And calorie free!!
I might be able to post around Christmas day (maybe some pics of all the finally baked goodies and house decorations?) but I wanted to wish you all the Happiest Holidays and much love spent celebrating with family and friends!
Comments
Florence A. December 22, 2008 um 9:41 am
MMmmmmm, elegant confort food! Thank you for the idea and best wishes for a beautiful Christmas party and a happy New Year!
Rosa's Yummy Yums December 22, 2008 um 10:49 am
That’s a great dessert! Yummy! What pretty felt macarons!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
cheers,
Rosa
Sunshinemom December 22, 2008 um 10:51 am
Enjoyed reading this post – it reads almost like our Diwali frenzy:) Have a great time, Helen, and best wishes for the New Year!
Suzana December 22, 2008 um 10:59 am
Happy holidays, Helen! Wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year. 🙂
Culinary Wannabe December 22, 2008 um 11:20 am
What a precious little treat! Happy Holidays!!
Kana December 22, 2008 um 12:29 pm
I am trying to catch my breath from all the running around! Have a wonderful Christmas!
LyB December 22, 2008 um 1:28 pm
I can’t believe it’s the 22nd already! How time flies! I’ll have to keep those verrines in mind when we have too many bananas, I just love caramelized bananas… Well, caramelized anything , really. 🙂 Happy Holidays to you too, Helen, have fun! xo
Melissa de la Fuente December 22, 2008 um 1:38 pm
Just endless inspiration and loveliness over here! Plus, those little felted macaroons are amazing! Have a wonderful holiday and new year!
xo
Melissa
Anonymous December 22, 2008 um 1:56 pm
Lovely! I adore the look of this type of easy, breezy dessert.
As for preparedness, you are (slightly) ahead of me – I’m doing my big grocery shopping today. Almost Christmas!
LizNoVeggieGirl December 22, 2008 um 2:10 pm
AHH, I STILL NEED TO GET PREPARED FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! Don’t remind me, haha 😉
Gorgeous dessert!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Helen!!
karey m. December 22, 2008 um 2:14 pm
gorgeous! and right back at you…
happy days to you and yours…
Sara December 22, 2008 um 2:34 pm
These are beautiful, I love caramelized bananas!
Joyce December 22, 2008 um 2:41 pm
Mmmm…. this dessert looks so good!! I will have to make this one.
I love your early Christmas gift! Very cute.
Enjoy…
Manggy December 22, 2008 um 2:47 pm
Oh hey, it’s bananas!! My heart is all a-flutter (I appreciate it even more since you’re not usually a fan!). Caramelized bananas is one of my favorite Filipino desserts– it looks so yummy verrine-ized! 🙂
Gretchen Noelle December 22, 2008 um 2:48 pm
These look just lovely. I would enjoy one right about now. Merry Christmas Helen! Happy Baking!!
Meeta K. Wolff December 22, 2008 um 3:04 pm
delicious and easy to through together. wishing you happy holidays helen!
Amanda at Little Foodies December 22, 2008 um 3:10 pm
They look really, really good! I made a banana tarte tatin when I first started to blog and have meant to make another but I think these look easier and better.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas.
Dewi December 22, 2008 um 3:13 pm
Sounds like delicious dessert, Helen. We had gathering last night with friends and family, and I made tarte Tatin. I always like this type of dessert.
Have a wonderful christmas.
Elra
Rita December 22, 2008 um 4:40 pm
OMG I just got some glasses just like those, from some Italian yogurt (I bought th eyogurt just because of the container…)
Loved the felt macarons, they look like a perfect gift for you…
Happy Holidays!
raining sheep December 22, 2008 um 5:06 pm
I wish you a wonderful, merry Christmas and a happy new year. All the very best to you and your loved ones. I am on a wee blog break so I will catch up with you on the other side of 2009. Hugs. BIG HUGS.
cindy* December 22, 2008 um 5:23 pm
yes, happy holidays to you too! i know that air of panic you mentioned…it is a very odd in between time. the verrines are lovely helen!
Liska December 22, 2008 um 6:28 pm
I love your desserts and can’t wait to see your Christmas baking. Happy Christmas, all the best and a lot of new inspirations 🙂
Ben December 22, 2008 um 6:39 pm
Happy Holidays from my family to yours! 🙂
Anonymous December 22, 2008 um 6:48 pm
Wonderful pictures as always. By the way, thank you thank you for the detailed directions for the macarons. After two attempts – I have success, little happy feet and shiny tops.
please sir December 22, 2008 um 7:17 pm
YUM – banana is my fav – have a wonderful holiday!
Anonymous December 22, 2008 um 7:32 pm
l like your page so much,delicious recipes and beatiful photoes
Josephine December 22, 2008 um 7:44 pm
those felt macarons are killing me. they are too adorable!
Lori December 22, 2008 um 8:35 pm
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Those little macarons are adorable. Very clever of her!
Katie December 22, 2008 um 9:52 pm
Happy Holidays and this looks like a perfect treat!
Cindy December 22, 2008 um 10:55 pm
wishing a very happy holiday to all of the tartelettes ;)!
Aimée December 22, 2008 um 11:40 pm
Those felt macaroons are the cutest!!
Happy holidays to you and your, Helen!
Love from
Aimee and the boys
Y December 23, 2008 um 12:03 am
Those macarons are so cute! And banana tatin in a verrine.. swoon! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family, Helen!
Kelsey December 23, 2008 um 3:09 am
I love the macarons! What a thoughtful and completely perfect gift. Merry Christmas!
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 5:21 am
Looks wonderful Helen! I just wanted to drop in and wish you and your family a happy holiday! I’m off to visit family in Napa, then to Seoul and Tokyo for a much needed vacation (and hopefully some food inspiration).
mădălina December 23, 2008 um 5:33 am
WOWowowoow. These look phenomenal (once again). Also, thanks for dropping by my site:)
Joyeux Noël,
Madalina
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 10:08 am
Mmmmmmmmmm. Beautiful verrines!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!!!
And thank you for the felt macarons idea, my sister was looking for something like this.
Barbara December 23, 2008 um 11:11 am
Lovely Helene. Happy Holidays to you. Love xxoo B
peachey December 23, 2008 um 1:19 pm
happy (& sweet!) holidays to you!
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 1:23 pm
I know what you mean about the fridge filled with baked goods rather than regular food. We’re the same way…just grilling outside – and no leftovers allowed in the fridge. I’m done with my holiday baking and the last orders are being delivered today…yehey!
funny thing is with all this calm I feel like baking more. And I love those felt macarons hannah made for you. They are adorable.
Have a great Christmas!!!
pastry studio December 23, 2008 um 2:55 pm
What a perfectly simple and delicious dessert. I can’t wait to make this!
Merry Christmas! Looking forward to a New Year full of fabulous desserts and pastries.
Cakespy December 23, 2008 um 6:03 pm
Comfort in a spoon indeed!! And those little macarons are too sweet, just like Mlle. Bittersweet!
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 7:18 pm
You got such great pictures of the macarons! 🙂
Happy holidays, Helen!
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 8:07 pm
Mmm, creme fraiche, bananas, sugar, ginger. What’s not to like? What a fun combination of flavors.
Sha December 23, 2008 um 8:33 pm
The macarons from your friend are so lovely! And your recipe sounds amazing! Such a good idea to make a tarte tatin in verrines. It’s easier to stop eating than with a big tatin as it’s so gooood!
Anonymous December 23, 2008 um 9:10 pm
Joyeuses fêtes à toi également !
Philo aux fourneaux – Blog culinaire December 23, 2008 um 9:25 pm
J’espère que ta résolution 2009 sera de mettre tes recettes en Français car là je suis frustrée. Dommage que je sois passable en anglais car ça me fait tellement envie.
En attendant "Merry Christmas".
Bises
Muneeba December 23, 2008 um 9:44 pm
I’ve never had caramelized bananas with creme fraiche before … usually just vanilla ice cream. Think I might surprise hubby with this someday soon!
Ash December 23, 2008 um 10:53 pm
Very Very Nice!
Happy Holidays!! And a Joyous New Year
Christy December 23, 2008 um 10:58 pm
Yummy banana tatin verrines!! What a great idea for a quick dessert! Sorry I was late on commenting, Helen, been up to my eyeballs with Christmas prep myself!! And my family’s here so they threw all my carefully planned baking time to the dust! We have to take turns using the kitchen now!!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you too. I hope you have a blast!!
Venus ~ Vi December 23, 2008 um 11:39 pm
Greeting Helen!
These banana tatins verrines are to fie for!!! You presented them so gorgeously too!!
Wishing you and family and doggies a wonderful holiday season =)
Anonymous December 24, 2008 um 1:52 am
Boy! That looks yum. And the pictures are so pretty 🙂
Happy hollidays to you too. Looking foward to that Christmas post (if you can, of course)
Anonymous December 24, 2008 um 6:05 am
What an absolutely lovely dessert. Carmelized bananas and creme fraiche, love them both.
Adorable little macarons too! Happy Holidays!
Anonymous December 24, 2008 um 1:01 pm
Lovely dessert!
Where did you get the pudding glass? So cute~
carolina @ patagonia gifts December 24, 2008 um 2:13 pm
It looks really delicious!
Thank you for your everyday support and inspiration!
Have a blissful, joyful and bubbling Christmas, darling!
xoxo
Botacook December 24, 2008 um 4:04 pm
Je te souhaite un très joyeux Noël!
Cakebrain December 24, 2008 um 4:23 pm
What an amazing looking dessert! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Helen!
montague December 24, 2008 um 5:17 pm
did i mention i love those little glass containers you use? are they originally for yogurt?
Alexa December 24, 2008 um 6:14 pm
Joyeux Noel, Tartelette!
Bonnes fetes de fin d’annee…
PheMom December 24, 2008 um 10:14 pm
Those little verrines are darling Helen (but I think I would eat them all – YUM!!) Merry Christmas to you and B.
OH! BTW – your very first paragraph had me laughing out loud because you put into words exactly how I have been feeling for the last week. Too funny!
Peabody December 24, 2008 um 11:36 pm
Beautiful dessert.
Great macarons that Hannah sent you.
Enjoy your holiday.
Anonymous December 25, 2008 um 12:26 am
very pretty indeed. happy holidays to you!
Thip December 25, 2008 um 6:58 pm
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and family!
lauracp December 25, 2008 um 10:41 pm
dear master macaron maker! do you take trouble-shooting questions? i’m suffering terribly with my 100 ct order for a wedding reception tomorrow. problems: flat, no feet, cracking, etc. is caster vs granulated that big a difference? or is it all in my over-beating? over beating doesn’t make sense to me because the first sheet will come out great and the 2nd will turn out horribly and i haven’t beat between filling the bag for the 2nd sheet. any musts or general advice you could give me?
فرانسيس December 27, 2008 um 5:15 am
I’m seriously jealous of the felted macarons.
That Girl December 29, 2008 um 7:04 am
Christmas definitely came too early this year!
thepassionatecook December 30, 2008 um 11:57 pm
oooh! i LOVE those verrines! what a wondeful idea. i am avoiding lactose where i can, but i won’t mind a tummy ache for those little beauties… and guess what’s waiting in my fruit bowl… some over-ripe bananas that have been overlooked in all this clementine frenzy over the holidays! yum!
yc May 24, 2010 um 7:30 am
would you be able to share where you purchased the glasses? i've been looking for glasses like those but haven't had any luck… thanks!!!!
Helene May 24, 2010 um 8:15 am
yc: I did not purchase them, they are yogurt jars from France. I just had my dad eat some and send me the empty containers 🙂
Meghan September 6, 2011 um 2:38 am
This recipe was delicious – I loved it. Thanks for the new dessert tips!