Saturday, May 16, 2009

Homemade Banana Split Toppings



Ground instant tapioca is an incredible thickening agent. Just pulverize some instant tapioca in a clean spice grinder until almost powder. That’s all there is to it, and the taste of the tapioca powder is much cleaner than that of flour or cornstarch. Just be careful not to add too much, or you'll be making cement!

Now on to the banana splits! In addition to the toppings, you’ll need ice-cream, bananas, whipped cream, some chopped peanuts, and maraschino cherries if you like the works on your banana splits.

Chocolate Sauce
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder, sugar and salt and stir together. Next, add the evaporated milk. Stir until thickened enough to moderately coat the back of a spoon.

Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Allow the chocolate sauce to cool to room temperature. Sauce will thicken upon standing.

Strawberry Topping
1 tub (16 ounces) sliced strawberries with sugar, thawed
1 Tablespoon ground instant tapioca

In a saucepan over medium heat stir together the strawberries with juice and the ground tapioca. Stir occasionally until thickened to your preference.

Pineapple Topping

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon ground instant tapioca

In a saucepan over medium heat stir together pineapple with the juice, sugar, and ground tapioca. Stir occasionally until thickened to your preference.

Notes: You can always add more ground tapioca if needed, but you can’t take it away.

Chocolate sauce recipe via Scott the dish boy who prefers to remain anonymous. Other recipes by Laura Flowers.


13 comments:

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

I tried to grind tapioca in my blender a while back, no go. A coffee/spice grinder, yes I can see that would work. It is a lovely thickening agent so is arrowroot.
Love the sauces.

The Cooking Photographer said...

I really need to try arrowroot. I think I'll pick some up. Thanks!

The Cooking Photographer said...

MyKitchenInHalfCups, I'm not sure if you'll come back here but I wanted to tell you I can't comment on your posts. The box doesn't work for me. I've been trying for awhile now.

Mary Bergfeld said...

I've never used tapioca powder but I use arrowroot, potato starch and cornflour as thickeners depending on what I working with.

The Cooking Photographer said...

I love it for sweet things Mary. I need about 1/4th to 1/3rd as much as any other thickener.

Donalyn said...

Love the simplicity if these Laura - I will be giving them a try for sure!

Marta said...

I hadn't thought of instant tapioca, what a great idea! thanks for introducing us to it :)
I love banana splits, retro-classic! I can't remember the last time I had one, maybe I'll break the fast with this!

Sarah said...

It looks delicious! Perfect for a lovely summer day :)

Pink Little Cake said...

Great toppings. Do you have a recipe for rich and creamy caramel sauce? I rather make it than buy the jar.

Jamie said...

You are really on a fattening roll, here. Is it the warmer weather? But I would love a banana split! Mmmm.

Sophie said...

Oh yum! Exactly what I crave on a hot day like today, this one looks like a classic!

Jeanine - The Baking Beauties said...

YUMMY!!! That chocolate sauce is definitely one I'll have to try. Looks great!

marc said...

once i get back home i'm going to make this for my wife.

Related Posts with Thumbnails