Recipe > Coffee Syllabub
Coffee, Peach and Banana Syllabub
The 'syllabub' was an elizabethan drink made by adding fresh milk to a cup of cider, beer or wine, however as the centuries passed 'syllabub'came to mean any dessert made with whipped cream, alcohol and fruit.

The addition of coffee, peach and banana is a slight twist on a more traditional syllabub. Because of the coffee flavours I like to add cardamon, this is a personal taste and can be added or removed at your discretion

Serves 4

Ingredients
For the banana mix:
3 bananas
4 cardamon pods
1/2 lemon, juice of
1/2 Tsp vanilla essence
2 Tblsp soft brown sugar
85ml / 3fl oz water

For the syllabub:
2 peaches
570ml / 1pint double cream
2 Tblsp icing sugar
1 Tblsp brandy
2 shots of espresso (4 Tblsp strong coffee)
Cocoa powder to garnish

Mise-en-Place:
Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 / 180°C / 350°F
Reduce the espresso by rapid boiling in a saucepan to a thick syrup. Allow to cool
Cut the peaches into segments (sixths)
Cut the bananas into rough chunks, juice the lemon
Crush the cardamon pods, remove the seeds and discard the husks

Method:
Roast the peach:
Place the peach segments into a roasting tray
Cook in the oven for 6-10 minutes (until the segments are soft and gently coloured)
Allow to cool

Make the banana mix:
Place the banana, vanilla, sugar, lemon, cardamon seeds and water in a saucepan
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer
Cook the banana for 3-5 minutes (until soft and thick)
Beat the mix into a thick mash
Allow to cool

Bring the dish together:
Whip the cream, brandy and icing sugar to a 'soft peak'
Add the coffee to the cream and stir through
To serve arrange the peach, cream and banana in alternating layers. Dust cocoa powder over each layer of cream

Adjust:
The banana mix:
Too bland: Add more lemon juice and vanilla essence
Too sour: Add more sugar
Too thick: Add a little water

The whipped cream:
Too sour: Add more icing sugar
Too bland: Add more coffee and brandy
Too thin: Continue to whip until it thickens
Over whipped / Split: Discard the cream and start again

Presentation:
To serve individually arrange the syllabub in a 'slim jim', wine or flute glass.

Chef Tip: Quick cooling
Coffee syrup:
Once you've reduced the coffee pour onto a plate to increase it's surface area then transfer to the fridge for a couple of minutes
Banana mix:
Place the mix into a bowl, then stand it in a roasting tray filled with water and ice. Leave the mix for a couple of minutes and stir from time to time