The Banana Hack That Will Give You An Even More Delicious Milkshake
In the 1900s, if you asked one of the people behind a diner counter for a milkshake, you'd be handed a treat mixed with milk, malt, and a little bit of flavored syrup (per South Florida Reporter). While this dessert started with simple ingredients, modern ice cream lovers can sip on a plethora of inventive milkshakes blended with everything from full cake pieces to chunks of candy bars. But there is one way to take any milkshake, whether a traditional chocolate treat or an extravagant multi-flavored sensation, to the next level. All you need is a banana.
Just tossing a banana into your milkshake is not exactly going to have gourmet chefs taking notes. We're not telling you to just peel a banana and blend it into your shake (though banana and honey milkshakes are claimed to be a sweet way to cure your sour hangover). Here's the extra step you need to turn your banana into the secret ingredient your milkshake's been missing.
Caramelize your banana
A treat in its own right, caramelized bananas are best known as the main ingredient of the famously decadent bananas foster. However, Food Network reports a charred banana can also make your milkshake extra thick and extra sweet. You don't have to flambé your fruit to give it that signature caramelized flavor, though. There are two easy ways to caramelize bananas.
First, you can caramelize your fruit by searing it on the stovetop. This method involves buttering up a pan and placing it on medium heat. After your butter turns to liquid, sprinkle in brown sugar. Once this mixture starts to look "bubbly" you can throw your bananas, sliced longways, into the pan. For reference, the recipe recommends using three small-sized or two large pieces of caramelized banana per milkshake serving. After roasting your dessert on both sides for 2 minutes at a time, your bananas will then be ready for a milkshake makeover.
Food Network also reports you can broil your bananas to give them that crisp caramelized touch, and you don't need a broiling pan to do it. You only have to coat your halved bananas with butter and brown sugar. Then, wrap the fruit in aluminum foil and broil them for at least 3 minutes. Once time is up, you can pop your caramelized bananas in your blender and enjoy an extra decadent ice cream treat.
More tips and tricks for transforming your ice cream with caramelized bananas
Now that you have your caramelized bananas, it's time to put them to use. While this treat can, of course, enhance any milkshake, there are a few flavors in particular that will make its taste sing. If you want to bring out your dessert's caramel flavor and love salty and sweet tastes, you can add caramelized bananas to My Baking Addiction's pretzel and caramel milkshake recipe. And if you believe that toast slathered with PB and bananas is the breakfast of champions, you are obligated to make a caramelized version of Food's PB and banana shake.
While caramelized bananas will make for a full-bodied and silky-tasting milkshake, they also pair well with ice cream in general. In fact, you can use your seared bananas to make your own pint of Once Upon a Chef's caramelized banana soft serve. Food Network reports you can trade out your usual banana base with one made of caramelized fruit to make an unforgettable banana split. Now that you're chock full of banana caramelization knowledge, you'll always be able to add some pizzazz to your favorite ice cream recipes.