Hazelnut Pudding Parfait

I am a huge dessert lover.  It's all I can do to stop myself from making some sort of baked good everyday.  And then of course on the days I don't, I'm scrounging around the kitchen trying to find any sort of treat I can stuff in my face after the kids go to bed.  Which makes me wish I had made some sort of baked good.  Of course now that summer is here I am much less inclined to want to turn the oven on so I have to come up with non-baked desserts to satisfy my pesky little sweet tooth.  Enter this delightful pudding parfait.  The hazelnut is a perfect summer flavor, in my opinion.  It isn't too heavy or strong, and it pairs really nicely with fresh fruit and chocolate.  The creamy homemade pudding and the bright fruit flavor of this dessert are really perfect for a hot summer evening.

Hazelnut Pudding Parfait

Number of Servings: 4-6
Time to Prepare: 4 hours 20 minutes

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 5 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups milk
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 tsp hazelnut extract
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2-3 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp hazelnut extract
•  12 Oreos, crushed
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1 lb strawberries, sliced

Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan.  Add milk and stir until smooth.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a gentle boil.  Remove from heat.

Stir egg yolks just until blended.  Add a small amount of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, stirring quickly and constantly.  Slowly whisk the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan, again stirring quickly and constantly.  Return to a gentle boil and cook for 1 minute.  Remove from heat and stir in butter and 2 tsp hazelnut extract.

Pour pudding into a glass or plastic bowl and cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic wrap directly against the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming.  Chill until completely cooled, about 4 hours.

Once the pudding is cooled, whip the cream until soft peaks form.  Add the powdered sugar and hazelnut extract and continue whipping until firm peaks form.

Spoon the pudding into serving dishes.  Spread Oreo crumbs over the top, then add the sliced bananas and strawberries.  Top with a dollop of the hazelnut whipped cream.

Produce Used: Bananas, strawberries
Source: Me