One word: Cheesecake.

I’m sure you’re thinking “But the title of this post said Bananas Foster.  What does cheesecake have to do with Bananas Foster?”.  Well, nothing really BUT today it has EVERYTHING to do with it!

When I started on my Mardi Gras posts, I had decided that I was going to attempt to make the Fat Tuesday tradition, King Cake.  But the more I thought about it the more I dreaded it really.  I didn’t want to drive all over Nashville in the rain trying to find the right colored sugar and little plastic baby to put in it.  It just didn’t excite me anymore.

Then I started to think about Bananas Foster.  Hot, sweet, rich, boozy bananas.

Now that looks sexy.

Bananas Foster is a dessert made with bananas, butter, brown sugar, banana liquer and rum.  It was first created at Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans (http://www.brennansneworleans.com/) and is now a classic.  It is usually served over vanilla ice cream but if you ask me that’s a little boring, no offense.  Enter: cheesecake.  Cheesecake has the same rich, creaminess that ice cream does but in my opinion it’s better.  Way better.  The combination of hot and cold, smooth and silky.  Mmm…

Enough talk, let’s just get to the point.  I think the pictures say it all.  OMG.

Mini Bananas Foster Cheesecakes (makes 1 dozen)

For the crust:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

For the cheesecake:

• 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 1 container marscarpone cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs

Bananas Foster:

 

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1/2 cup dark rum

 

Preheat oven to 350°

Mix all ingredients of crust together until moist.  Press into the bottom muffin tins lined with decorative cupcake papers.

In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together cream cheese, marscarpone cheese and sugar until fluffy.  Add vanilla.  Beat in one egg at a time until incorporated.

Fill each muffin cup with cheesecake mixture and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the center is almost set.  Remove from oven and cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.  Remove from muffin tins and chill for two hours.

Bananas Foster: Combine the butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a skillet. Place the pan over low heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Stir in bananas. When the banana sections soften and begin to brown, add the rum. Continue to cook the sauce until the rum is hot and bubbly. Place 2-3 pieces  of banana on each cheesecake. Generously spoon warm sauce over the top of the cheesecake and serve immediately.

Source: Cheesecake – Ruth’s Table, Bananas Foster – adapted from  http://www.brennansneworleans.com/r_bananasfoster.html

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone!  Enjoy!