
I've been getting tons of compliments at my bakery since I came up with this twist on banoffee pie for Grandparents' Day. I wanted to do something different that would make good use of my leftover puff pastry scraps. The way the soft caramel works with bananas and my crunchy arlettes has turned into a real hit with my customers.
The magic behind my dish
I love playing around with different textures in my kitchen. This tart is all about mixing things up - you get the crunch from my arlettes alongside gooey caramel and smooth vanilla diplomat cream. My customers can pick their favorite topping between my homemade praline and my handcrafted chocolate spread.
What you'll need
- Puff pastry: 550 g homemade of course
- Sugar: Half the weight of your pastry
- For diplomat cream: 60 g fresh egg yolks 60 g sugar 250 g farm milk 20 g cornstarch and 250 g heavy cream
- Vanilla: 2 plump Madagascar pods
- Gelatin: 4 g for stability
- Homemade toppings: Caramel praline or chocolate spread
- Powdered sugar: For finishing touch
Creating perfect arlettes
- Getting the right thickness
- I roll my dough to 4 mm using sugar instead of flour as my little trick.
- Folding it just right
- I spray a bit of water sprinkle some sugar roll it up and toss it in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Watching the bake time
- I cut slices about 1.5 cm thick flatten them slightly and bake between two baking sheets at 180°C for 10 minutes. I always check near the end for that golden color.
My special diplomat cream
- Starting with basics
- I let vanilla steep in warm milk then make pastry cream with egg yolks sugar and cornstarch. Add a bit of gelatin and cool it down.
- Making it light
- I whip cold cream and then gently fold it into my pastry cream for an airy texture.
Putting it all together
- Building tasty layers
- I stack my arlettes with cream and toppings taking turns. Each layer brings a new flavor to enjoy.
- Adding the final touch
- A light dusting of powdered sugar and it's ready to eat. I always tell folks to enjoy it right away to get the full crunchiness.

My insider tips
I carefully save my puff pastry scraps by stacking them to keep their layers intact. Everyone can pick their favorite topping in my shop. And I always make sure the arlettes are completely cool before assembly - that's super important for getting the texture right.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What’s the trick for perfect arlettes?
- Roll the dough super thin and coat it well with sugar. Bake it sandwiched between two trays for even browning and flat, crispy layers.
- → Can I prep the parts in advance?
- Yes, arlettes stay fresh for a day in an airtight box, and you can make the cream a day ahead. Just put it all together right before serving.
- → Which bananas work best?
- Go for bananas that are ripe but still firm. Fully yellow with a few brown spots gives the best flavor while holding their shape.
- → My cream isn’t thick enough, what now?
- Ensure the pastry cream is chilled before adding whipped cream. Fully dissolve the gelatin and let it set in the fridge for at least two hours.
- → Can this dessert be frozen?
- You can freeze arlettes before baking, but the assembled dessert shouldn’t be frozen since the cream and bananas lose their texture.