From the Kitchen: Banana Pudding
Dedicated to serving “Imagination in Every Bite,” Mochidoki’s culinary team is always on the lookout for exciting new flavors and ingredients. We find inspiration in all kinds of trends and traditions to take our mochi ice cream in new directions. Throughout the year, we introduce limited edition seasonal flavors so you can keep your menu fresh. How we come up with our seasonals is our secret sauce, but in this series, we invite you to take a sneak peek inside our kitchen.
This September, we’re excited to introduce Banana Pudding, our latest seasonal mochi now available to order!
What was the inspiration behind this flavor?
No matter your age, there’s a sense of nostalgia that comes with the fall. Memories of back to school, cooler weather and turning a new leaf seem to be synonymous with this time of year. We like to think that our fall seasonal flavor, Banana Pudding, appeals to this sense of nostalgia–so many people grew up loving banana pudding and at Mochidoki, we saw an opportunity to give this popular flavor combination a new, modern twist.
What is banana pudding?
Banana pudding is a dessert made up of layers of vanilla custard, cookies and sliced bananas, topped with whipped cream or meringue. Layered in a dish, the cookies (usually vanilla wafers) absorb the sweet custard and together with the bananas, these three ingredients join together to create a bite bursting with flavor.
(Image courtesy of The Spruce Eats)
Where does banana pudding come from?
Banana Pudding may be synonymous with the South, but contrary to popular belief, the classic dessert didn’t actually originate there. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s, with the invention of faster steam ships, that the banana made its way to America from the Caribbean and Central America. By the end of the century, bananas were a staple in produce stores, no matter the season. With their popularity, came more dishes and desserts featuring this exotic new fruit.
The first recipe for Banana Pudding came from the Massachuests based magazine, Good Housekeeping and soon hundreds of publications published their versions of this easy, tasty dessert. After WWII, banana pudding became so closely associated with the South; some theorize that the fact it could be made quickly and in bulk to serve at large gatherings was responsible for its prominence in Southern kitchens.
What does banana pudding taste like?
No matter the recipe, the perfect banana pudding is creamy and sweet. The melding of flavors and textures from the gooey vanilla pudding, the crisp wafer cookies, and the ripe bananas creates a perfect bite.
(Image courtesy of Taste of Southern)
How is banana pudding used?
Another theory for banana pudding’s popularity in the South is its preparation. Traditional recipes call for layering ingredients and placing it in the refrigerator until it's ready to be served – perfect for hot Southern summers. Though this method is still popular, many recipes suggest baking in the oven for just a few minutes to brown the meringue top.
Today, many bakeries and restaurants offer single serving portions in Mason jars or small 4 oz shooters, instead of serving in a large trifle dish– a quick, delicious after dinner treat. No matter how this dessert is prepared and served, banana pudding is as popular as the day it was introduced.
When creating our seasonal mochi ice cream, we kept banana pudding’s history and flavor profile in mind, emulating a layered, textured bite. Our take on this southern classic offers an elevated twist, brimming with the flavors of ripe banana, vanilla cookies and creamy pudding.
We hope you have fun experimenting with a wide variety of toppings to plate and complement Banana Pudding mochi.
Ready to introduce your customers to Banana Pudding? It’s available to order now!