Description
Banana Crumble is a warm, comforting dessert featuring tender chunks of banana coated in a cinnamon-scented orange glaze and topped with a crunchy pecan oat crumble. Baked to golden perfection, this easy skillet dessert is perfect served with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Topping
- 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes
- 3/4 cup pecans, toasted
Filling
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup light or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 6 medium size bananas, cut into 1 inch chunks
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped topping, for serving
Instructions
- Make the Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, and flour. Using your fingers, work in the cold butter cubes until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the toasted pecans evenly. Chill the topping mixture in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
- Prepare the Filling Sauce: Place a 10-inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet over low heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the brown sugar and stir continuously until it dissolves and forms a wet, syrupy mixture, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon and salt for flavor.
- Add Orange Juice: Carefully pour in the orange juice; expect some sizzling and slight splattering. Cook for about 1 minute more until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Bananas: Gently add the banana chunks to the skillet and toss carefully to coat them evenly with the sauce. Spread the bananas out in an even layer in the skillet.
- Assemble and Bake: Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle the chilled topping mixture evenly over the bananas. Place the skillet in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake until the topping turns golden brown, approximately 20 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the crumble to cool in the skillet for about 10 minutes to set. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping for an indulgent dessert experience.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas for optimum sweetness and softness.
- To toast pecans, spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes until fragrant.
- For a nut-free version, omit pecans or substitute with sunflower seeds.
- Refrigerate leftovers and reheat gently before serving to maintain texture.
- Adjust sugar levels based on your preference for sweetness.
