by POPSUGAR Food 3

Sometimes I crave a delicious dessert that doesn't involve a bunch of elaborate steps and expensive ingredients. I know that I could just have vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, but it's winter and I'd rather have something that is warm gooey goodness. When a craving like this strikes, I make chocolate banana bread pudding. Since I always have bananas, chocolate and sliced bread on hand, it comes together so quickly (35 minutes). If you're having a sweet attack and want something homemade fast, read more

Chocolate Banana Bread Puddings
From Silvana Nardone

1 teaspoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 bananas, sliced 1/3 inch thick
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 slices of white bread, lightly toasted
Six 1.55-ounce milk chocolate bars, broken into small pieces (they melt better than chocolate morsels)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper or foil liners.
2. In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter with the brown sugar over moderately high heat. Add the banana slices and cook, turning once, until caramelized, about 3 minutes. The bananas should be softened and sticky. Remove from the heat and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and vanilla.
4. Stack the toasted bread, slice off the crusts and cut the bread into 4 triangles.
5. Add the bread to the custard and let soak until the custard is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
6. Stir in the cooled caramelized bananas and the chocolate.
7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin cups (they'll be full).
8. Bake the puddings until puffy and golden, about 25 minutes.

Serves 12.