As 89 years, my grandmother has a better memory for recipes than I do. When I called her to confirm the strangely satisfying little dessert that I always catch her snacking on, she took up the first ring. “It’s just sliced banana, a splash of milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon,” she said, just as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Well, Helen, I had to be sure.
Her version is not the most photogenic Godbit – a banana in milk doesn’t pop exactly. If she invented it today, it might have more color contrast. But when she was a child, bananas were considered a special-ox fruit-rare and valued, back before global cooling.
There is still something quietly radiant about the dessert; It’s sweet, soft and warm. It reminds me of fruit milk, which is milk that becomes pink or purple of berries or mangoes, a treat that is somewhere between dessert and breakfast. Variations appear across cultures ranging from Korea to Latin America. The Scandinavian version is made with heavy cream and sugar.
Simply Recipes / Alexandra Emanuelli
Why do you need to make my grandmother’s dessert
It is fast, cheap and unexpectedly comforting. Cut up a banana, add some milk and finish with cinnamon and you have a dessert that is more than the sum of its parts. It’s the kind of snack that doesn’t pray much for you, but delivers taste, nostalgia and good vibes. It is light, naturally sweet and infinitely adapted.
A few ways to customize this Godbit
This three-ingredient wonder keeps its own, but if you want to riff on it, this is how to adapt to what you have in your pantry or no matter what you are in.
- Change the milk: Cow, oats, almond, soy or hemp all work here. Oatmeal adds wealth and a creamy structure, or almond milk it keeps it lightly. Just go unsweetened, especially if you add toppings.
- Add sweetness: If your banana is not completely mature, a rainfall of honey or maple syrup brings more depth and sweetness. Or go to crunch with a sprinkle of Demerara or Turbinado sugar.
- Pulled up on texture: This is where it will be fun. A handful of grain (groves, grape mothers and cornflakes are all winners), granola or chopped nuts add crunch and contrast. Hemp hearts or sunflower seeds can cause an extra nutrient increase while giving it crunch.
- Pro Tip: If your banana is a bit firm, microwave oven for 10 to 15 seconds to soften and sweeten it before cutting.
Simply Recipes / Alexandra Emanuelli