Caramelized Banana Cream Tart

As part of my cookbook testing, I made this delicious banana tart from Unforgettable Desserts by Dede Wilson. It's a pecan crust, caramelized bananas, vanilla pastry cream, fresh banana, whipped cream, and caramelized pecans. This was one of those all-day projects.

The pecans were hand-caramelized, using a water/sugar mixture that I let cook until thick and golden brown. The caramelized bananas were made in a similar way. The pastry cream involved letting some milk steep with a vanilla bean before forming a custard.

The final result was amazingly delicious and over-the-top rich. It was worth every minute of prep time. Only problem? The fresh bananas on top of the pastry cream start browning after the initial serving. By the next day, they were turning. This is definitely a one night only dessert, but it sure is a stunner!