Open-Face Ice Cream Sandwiches with Caramelized Bananas and Walnuts

If you were to ask me what’s the very best thing I could think of to make with this Chocolate Bread I’ve been talking about all week, it would go something like this:

I’d grill a slice to get it nice and warm and a little bit toasted on the outside. Then I’d mound a generous scoop of Haagen-Dazs vanilla bean ice cream (or homemade if I had some) right in the middle, not minding in the least if some…or a lot…of it decided to melt on down the grilled ridges of the chocolate bread. After that I’d ladle on some caramelized bananas…and an extra ladle of that yummy caramel from the skillet. To finish it off, I’d sprinkle on some freshly toasted walnuts.

See, I told you I saved the best for last.

Thanks for joining me for Chocolate Bread Panini Week! If you missed them, check out my Brie & Basil Grilled Cheese on Chocolate Bread and Almond Butter & Raspberry Panini on Chocolate Bread recipes. I think we’ll have to go savory for a little while to counteract all this sugar. 🙂

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Open-Face Ice Cream Sandwiches with Caramelized Bananas and Walnuts
Caramelized Bananas adapted from Simmer Till Done

Makes 4 sandwiches

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup walnut halves
3 bananas, slightly green, not quite ripe, sliced crosswise into 1/4″ slices
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Dash of cinnamon
4 slices Chocolate Bread (recipe can be found here)
1 pint vanilla ice cream

DIRECTIONS:

Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in a toaster oven or regular oven at 350° for about 10 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Chop the nuts coarsely.

Place a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, sizzle one tablespoon of butter in the pan for a few seconds, then add bananas. Allow bananas to brown for about 30 seconds without stirring or moving them. Use a heat-proof spatula to turn bananas over, then add brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining tablespoon of butter. Shaking pan to keep bananas moving, cook about one minute more, until sugar is melted and bananas are caramelized, but still solid. Remove from heat.

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.* Grill bread slices for 2 to 3 minutes until toasted.

Top each slice of bread with a scoop of ice cream, caramelized bananas and a sprinkling of toasted walnuts. Enjoy!

*Alternatively, you can toast the bread in a regular toaster or toaster oven.

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