Banana Bavarian Cream, Spiced Bread and Citrus

Here’s an Italian twist on the Banana Bavarian Cream with spiced bread and citrus. This spoon dessert is creamy and full of aromas that embrace the palate with a mix of sweetness and citrus notes, perfect for concluding a meal or as a delicious snack.

Ingredients

• 250 ml of whole milk
• 250 ml of fresh cream
• 4 egg yolks
• 120 g of granulated sugar
• 6 sheets of gelatin (about 10-12 g)
• 2 ripe bananas
• Juice of 1 orange
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Grated zest of 1 untreated orange
• Grated zest of 1 untreated lemon
• 100 g of spiced bread (you could use gingerbread or Roman pangiallo as an Italian alternative)
• Some citrus slices for decorating

Preparation

1. Start by soaking the gelatin leaves in cold water for about 10 minutes until they become soft.
2. In the meantime, heat the milk in a saucepan without bringing it to a boil and set it aside.
3. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until you get a frothy and light mixture.
4. Gradually add the warm milk to the yolks, stirring constantly.
5. Transfer everything back to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until the cream thickens and reaches the consistency of a vanilla sauce (be careful not to let the cream boil).
6. Remove the mixture from the heat, squeeze the gelatin well from the water where it has soaked, and add it to the hot cream. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
7. Allow the cream to cool slightly. In the meantime, mash the bananas with the orange and lemon juice until they become a puree.
8. Mix the banana puree and grated zests into the cream and mix well.
9. In another bowl, whip the fresh cream until it is firm and then gently fold it into the banana and cream mixture.
10. Coarsely crumble the spiced bread and distribute it at the bottom of the molds you have chosen for the Bavarian cream.
11. Pour the Bavarian cream into the molds over the spiced bread, cover with plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.

Before serving, decorate each portion with fresh citrus slices for a touch of freshness and color.

Curiosity

The Bavarian cream (or Bavarois) is a dessert that originated in the 19th century. Despite its name, which might suggest a connection to Bavaria, it appears that its origins are French. Over time, it has become popular throughout Europe, receiving local interpretations that incorporate the typical ingredients of each region, as in this case with our version featuring spiced bread and citrus.