If you’re a banana enthusiast searching for a sumptuous, easy-to-make dessert, look no further. The Banana Bliss Cobbler is the sweet treat you’ve been dreaming of. It encompasses all the delectable flavors reminiscent of Bananas Foster, with a warm, cinnamon-vanilla brown sugar filling enveloping fresh banana slices and crunchy walnuts. Hidden within are pockets of luscious cream cheese, providing a burst of caramel cheesecake delight.
Making the Banana Bliss Cobbler is a breeze! From start to finish, this dessert is ready in less than an hour and requires only a few minutes of your time. Despite its gourmet appeal, this sweet treat is crafted from everyday pantry staples and a couple of ripe bananas. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your cobbler will be. For an extra dose of banana flavor, consider roasting your bananas in the oven before slicing them.
Banana Bliss Cobbler is a layered dessert that starts with a cake batter at the bottom, which bakes up around the fruit and cream cheese. It’s essentially assembled upside down compared to a typical fruit crisp or cobbler recipe. The key tip to remember when preparing a cobbler like this one is not to mix the batter into the melted butter. Instead, gently spread it over the melted butter so that the layers remain distinct and work their magic during baking.
This Banana Bliss Cobbler pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The sweet cream melds with the gooey banana-vanilla cake and cream cheese filling, creating a heavenly, indulgent bite. If you’re craving even more rich sweetness, drizzle some Salted Caramel Sauce or add a dollop of fluffy homemade Whipped Cream. Consider doubling the recipe to prepare an extra Banana Bliss Cobbler for freezing. Reheat it from frozen for a simple, elegant dessert whenever you desire!
How to Make Banana Bliss Cobbler
Prep: Begin by preheating your oven and generously spraying a baking dish with baking spray. Pour melted butter into the bottom of the dish.
Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together milk, flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. The batter should have a thinner, pancake-like consistency. Slowly pour the batter over the melted butter to avoid mixing them.
Banana Filling: Arrange the banana slices evenly on top of the batter and sprinkle chopped walnuts over everything. The banana slices will partially sink into the batter.
Creamy Topping: In a microwave-safe medium-sized mixing bowl, warm the cream cheese until soft enough to stir easily. Whisk in the egg, brown sugar, and vanilla until combined. Spoon the mixture evenly in dollops over the banana filling.
Bake: Bake the cobbler until it’s golden brown and the crust is set. Allow the cobbler to cool for 10 minutes before serving, as the filling will be very hot.
FAQs For Banana Bliss Cobbler
What is Bananas Foster?
Bananas Foster is a delightful, rich dessert originating from Bourbon Street in New Orleans. It features bananas sautéed in a pan sauce made from brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, banana liqueur, and dark rum. The mixture is then ignited to burn off excess liqueur and caramelize the bananas, resulting in a warm topping served over vanilla ice cream.
What does Bananas Foster taste like?
Bananas Foster offers a delicious blend of buttery and sugary flavors, complemented by deep caramel notes. It also boasts warm spiced notes from the rum and cinnamon. The flames used during preparation eliminate the alcohol taste from the liquor, leaving a delightful banana-butter-rum flavor.
How ripe should my bananas be for this recipe?
To achieve the best results, use very ripe bananas. Their sweetness and softness make them easier to incorporate into the cobbler batter. Overripe bananas also contribute a more intense banana flavor compared to firmer ones.
Key Ingredients
Unsalted Butter: Unlike many baking recipes, the unsalted butter isn’t part of the batter. Instead, you melt it and pour it into the bottom of the baking dish. As the cobbler bakes, the batter and bananas sink into the butter, creating a crust on top of the creamy, gooey banana filling.
Cobbler Batter: The cobbler batter is a unique blend, resembling a cross between cake batter and pancake batter. It consists of milk, flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and a touch of salt to balance the sweetness. This batter is thinner than regular cake batter and doesn’t contain eggs, allowing it to maintain a relatively soft texture during baking.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a key flavor enhancer in both Bananas Foster and banana-based desserts. Its natural woody, warm spice pairs wonderfully with the sweet banana flavor.
Bananas: Fresh banana slices are arranged on top of the batter instead of being mixed in. This technique allows the bananas to brown and caramelize as the dessert bakes, resulting in the signature Bananas Foster taste.
Walnuts: Walnuts are added to provide texture and a slightly savory element to this gooey, sweet dessert. For a deeper nutty flavor, you can toast the walnuts in a hot skillet until fragrant before incorporating them.
Cream Cheese Topping: To mimic the vanilla ice cream traditionally served with Bananas Foster, this cobbler boasts a delectable cream cheese topping. It consists of cream cheese, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla, offering the flavors of vanilla brown sugar cheesecake.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare this cobbler in advance, but it should be baked before storing. The batter must be cooked for the best results. After baking, let the cobbler cool completely, cover it with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, place it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Variations
Berries: Add a burst of sweet, fruity flavor to your Banana Bliss Cobbler by sprinkling half a cup of fresh berries such as blueberries, cherries, or strawberries. Canned or thawed frozen peach slices can also be a delightful addition alongside bananas.
Cream Cheese: Instead of cream cheese, consider using alternatives like sour cream, Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese, or Mascarpone cheese. Opt for full-fat dairy options and strain out excess liquid for a thicker consistency.
Liqueur: If you’re seeking an adult twist, add a tablespoon of dark rum, brandy, or banana liqueur to the cake batter mixture. For a non-alcoholic alternative with a rum-like taste, incorporate a teaspoon of butter rum flavoring into the cream cheese topping.
Nuts: Swap out the walnuts with pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts for a different nutty dimension. Toasting the walnuts in advance in a hot skillet until fragrant can intensify their nutty flavor.
How To Store
Serve: Allow your Banana Bliss Cobbler to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving, as the filling can become extremely hot. You can keep this cobbler at room temperature for up to 2 hours, considering it contains cream cheese.
Store: Once the cobbler has cooled, you can store it in an airtight container or cover the pan with aluminum foil. Refrigerate the Banana Bliss Cobbler for up to 4 days, and when you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheat it in the oven at low heat until it’s hot throughout.
Freeze: To save some for later, wrap the Banana Bliss Cobbler tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or transfer it to a sealed container. It can be frozen for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, reheat it directly from the freezer in the oven, covered with foil.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and generously spray a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray. Pour the melted butter into the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together milk, flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. The batter should have a thinner, pancake-like consistency. Slowly pour the batter over the melted butter to avoid mixing them.
- Arrange the banana slices evenly on top of the batter and sprinkle chopped walnuts over everything. The banana slices will partially sink into the batter.
- In a microwave-safe medium-sized mixing bowl, warm the cream cheese until soft enough to stir easily. Whisk in the egg, brown sugar, and vanilla until combined. Spoon the mixture evenly in dollops over the banana filling.
- Bake the cobbler for 40-45 minutes or until it’s golden brown.
Indulge in the heavenly flavors of this Banana Bliss Cobbler, and savor the rich, buttery goodness combined with creamy banana, brown sugar, and warm cinnamon vanilla notes. Whether enjoyed fresh from the oven or reheated for a delightful treat later, this dessert is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings.
