Hufflepuff's Enchanted Banana Cream Tarts
Step into the magical world of Hufflepuff with these delightful Banana Cream Tarts, crafted with a creamy, dreamy banana pudding nestled in a golden pie crust. Topped with a whimsical checkerboard of chocolate and finished with fresh mint, these tarts bring together comforting flavors and enchanting aesthetics. Perfect for any celebration or to satisfy your sweet tooth, these tarts are sure to transport you to the halls of Hogwarts with every creamy, chocolatey bite.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
7
Ingredients
Ingredients
Instant banana cream pudding
1 (3 1/2 ounce) box (None)
Milk
2 cups (None)
Lemon yellow gel food coloring
1/4 teaspoon (None)
Refrigerated pie crusts
1 (14 1/8 ounce) package (Unroll and cut)
Black candy melt candy
1 cup (Melt and pipe)
Bananas
2 (Peeled and sliced)
Mint leaf
To garnish (None)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease four 5-inch tart pans and arrange them on a baking sheet for easy handling.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the instant banana cream pudding mix, milk, and yellow gel food coloring. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is well combined and has slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Once prepared, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring the wrap is in direct contact with the surface of the pudding to avoid a skin forming. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until fully set.
3
Unroll the pie dough onto a clean surface. Using a 6-inch round cookie cutter, cut out four rounds of dough. Carefully press each round into the tart pans and use a fork to prick the dough, preventing it from puffing up during baking.
4
Bake the prepared crusts in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Once baked, allow them to cool completely before gently removing them from the tart pans.
5
For the chocolate checkerboard topping, place a printed checkerboard template beneath a sheet of parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the black candy melts and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted and smooth. Transfer the melted candy into a piping bag and carefully pipe out four rounds of the checkerboard pattern as guided by the template. Refrigerate the piped patterns until set, about 10 minutes.
6
Once the banana pudding has thickened, peel the bananas and slice them into thin rounds. For each tart, arrange an even layer of banana slices at the bottom of the cooled pie crusts, then top with a generous layer of the banana pudding mixture.
7
Carefully separate the set chocolate rounds from the parchment paper using a small offset spatula. Place each checkerboard round on top of its corresponding tart, with the smooth side facing up.
8
To finish, garnish each tart with a fresh sprig of mint. Slice, serve and enjoy your magical treat!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Hufflepuff's Enchanted Banana Cream Tarts?
These are magical desserts featuring creamy banana pudding in golden pie crusts, topped with a chocolate checkerboard and fresh mint, inspired by the Hufflepuff house from Hogwarts.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe is designed to make 4 individual tarts.
What is the recommended oven temperature?
The oven should be preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius.
What size tart pans should I use?
You will need four 5-inch tart pans for this recipe.
How long should I whisk the pudding mixture?
Whisk the pudding mix, milk, and food coloring vigorously for about 5 minutes until it thickens.
How do I prevent a skin from forming on the pudding?
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap so that the wrap is in direct contact with the surface of the pudding while it refrigerates.
How long does the pudding need to chill?
The pudding should be refrigerated for at least 30 minutes or until it is fully set.
What size cookie cutter is needed for the dough?
Use a 6-inch round cookie cutter to create the dough rounds for the 5-inch tart pans.
Why do I need to prick the dough with a fork?
Pricking the dough, also known as docking, prevents the crust from puffing up while it bakes.
How long do the tart crusts take to bake?
The crusts should be baked for 15-20 minutes or until they reach a golden brown color.
Should the crusts be warm when filled?
No, allow the crusts to cool completely before removing them from the pans and adding the filling.
How do I make the Hufflepuff checkerboard topping?
Place a checkerboard template under parchment paper and pipe melted black candy melts to follow the pattern.
What is the best way to melt the candy melts?
Microwave them in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each session until smooth.
How long does the chocolate checkerboard take to set?
The piped chocolate patterns should be refrigerated for about 10 minutes until firm.
When should I slice the bananas?
Slice the bananas into thin rounds just before you are ready to assemble the tarts to ensure freshness.
What is the order of assembly for the tarts?
Start with a layer of sliced bananas in the crust, followed by the banana pudding, and top with the chocolate checkerboard.
What type of pudding mix is required?
The recipe calls for one 3.5-ounce box of instant banana cream pudding mix.
Can I use a different type of food coloring?
Lemon yellow gel food coloring is recommended for the best Hufflepuff-themed aesthetic.
How much milk is needed for the pudding?
You will need 2 cups of milk to prepare the instant pudding.
Is the pie crust made from scratch?
This recipe uses one 14.125-ounce package of refrigerated pie crusts for convenience.
How many bananas are used in this recipe?
The recipe requires 2 bananas, which should be peeled and sliced.
What is used for the final garnish?
Each tart is finished with a fresh sprig of mint for added color and flavor.
Do I need to grease the tart pans?
Yes, lightly grease the tart pans to ensure the crusts can be removed easily after baking.
How do I handle the delicate chocolate toppers?
Use a small offset spatula to carefully lift the set chocolate rounds from the parchment paper.
Which side of the chocolate checkerboard should face up?
The smooth side of the chocolate pattern should be facing up when placed on the tart.
What represents the Hufflepuff colors in this dish?
The yellow pudding and the black chocolate checkerboard represent the yellow and black house colors.
Can these tarts be made in advance?
While components can be prepared early, it is best to assemble them close to serving to keep the crust crisp and bananas fresh.
Is the food coloring essential?
The food coloring is used for the theme; the tarts will taste the same without it if you prefer to omit it.
How do I arrange the tart pans for baking?
Arrange the four tart pans on a baking sheet to make them easier to move in and out of the oven.
What type of candy melts are used?
The recipe specifies 1 cup of black candy melt candy for the decorative topping.