If your food processor bowl holds less than 11 cups, puree half the pudding with the roasted bananas and lemon juice in step 3, transfer it to a large bowl, and whisk in the rest of the pudding.

California Fig and Banana Pudding Trifle

At Christmas time, trifle recipes offer a pretty way to serve a holiday dessert in a glass bowl. Dried figs add a chewy bite to this banana pudding trifle.

Nutrition

Servings people

Ingredients

Pudding

7 bananas large, slightly underripe
2 cups Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs stemmed and chopped into 1/4" pieces
1 1/2 cups sugar
8 egg yolks large
6 tbsp cornstarch
6 cups half-and-half
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp lemon juice
12 ounces vanilla wafers

Whipped Topping

1 cup heavy cream chilled
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Pudding

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Place 3 unpeeled bananas on baking sheet and bake until skins are completely black, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk 1⁄2 cup sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch in medium bowl until smooth. Bring half-and-half, remaining sugar, and salt to simmer over medium heat in large saucepan. Whisk 1⁄2 cup simmering half- and-half mixture into egg yolk mixture. Slowly whisk tempered yolk mixture into saucepan. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick and large bubbles appear at surface, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
Transfer pudding to food processor. Add warm peeled roasted bananas and 2 tablespoons lemon juice and process until smooth. Scrape into large bowl and place plastic wrap directly on surface of pudding. Refrigerate until slightly cool, about 45 minutes.
Cut remaining bananas into 1⁄4-inch slices and toss in bowl with remaining lemon juice. Spoon one-quarter of pudding into 3-quart trifle dish and top with layer of cookies, layer of sliced bananas, third of figs, and another layer of cookies. Repeat twice, ending with pudding. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of pudding and refrigerate until wafers have softened, at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.

For the Whipped Topping

With electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. (Whipped cream can be refrigerated for 4 hours.) Top banana pudding with whipped cream. Serve.