Banana Napoleons

Ingredients

• 3 egg yolks
• 2 1/2 cups whipping cream, divided
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, divided
• 1 vanilla bean
• 3/4 cup butter, divided
• 5 frozen phyllo pastry sheets, thawed
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 bananas, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

Garnishes

• whipped cream, grated chocolate

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 300º.

2. 2

   Whisk together egg yolks and 1/4 cup whipping cream and set aside.

3. 3

   Combine 1 1/4 cups whipping cream and 1/3 cup sugar in a heavy saucepan. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, scrape the seeds into the saucepan and add the vanilla bean halves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and discard the vanilla bean.

4. 4

   Whisk about one-fourth of the hot mixture gradually into the yolk mixture, add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Skim air bubbles from the top of the mixture. Pour mixture into an 8-inch square pan. Place into a 13 x 9-inch pan. Add hot water to larger pan to the depth of 1 inch.

5. 5

   Bake for 35 minutes. Remove pan from water and cool. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

6. 6

   Raise oven temperature to 375º.

7. 7

   Melt 1/2 cup butter. Stack phyllo, brushing each sheet with melted butter and sprinkling with powdered sugar. Cut phyllo stack into 16 (3-inch) squares. Place squares on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and top with another baking sheet.

8. 8

   Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

9. 9

   Cook remaining 1 cup sugar and remaining 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Slowly add remaining 1 cup whipping cream, and cook, stirring constantly, 8-10 minutes or until caramel color. Set aside.

10. 10

    Cut chilled custard into 6 squares. Place one square on each of 6 dessert plates. Top each square of custard with 1 phyllo square. Drizzle a small amount of caramel sauce around custard.

11. 11

    Stir together banana and remaining caramel sauce. Spoon evenly over phyllo squares. Top each with a second phyllo square, and garnish, if desired. Reserve remaining phyllo squares for other uses.