Banana Caramel Pudding

Instructions

PUDDING

1. In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar and water and cook until sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and without stirring, cook the mixture until it turns a golden amber color. Remove from the heat and carefully add a few tablespoons of the heavy cream, then gradually add the remaining cream. The mixture will bubble up.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup of the milk until smooth. Whisk together the cornstarch mixture and the remaining milk into the caramel mixture in the saucepan. Stir in the salt. Place over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Any caramel bits will dissolve and the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from the heat.
3. In a medium bowl whisk the egg yolks until smooth. Whisk about 1 cup of the hot caramel mixture into the yolks. Return this mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil while whisking for 1 minute. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until completely melted. Whisk in the vanilla extract and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl.
4. Peel the banana and cut into 20 thin slices. Spoon about ¼ cup of the pudding into each of four 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups. Top each pudding layer with 5 banana slices and 3 vanilla wafers. Spoon the remaining pudding over the wafers, dividing it equally among the ramekins. Cover the puddings with plastic wrap on top of the pudding surface or a skin will develop on the pudding. Refrigerate for about 2 hours or until well chilled.

TOPPING

1. Just before serving, peel and slice a small banana. Garnish each pudding with a generous spoonful of Homemade Whipped Cream, a few banana slices and a Homemade Vanilla Wafer.