Fess up: how many of you jumped on the panini bandwagon and purchased an expensive panini maker, only to have it sit in the cupboard collecting dust? No worries, I’m guilty as well.
In between writing articles, being a mother and wife, and doing household chores, if I have a chance to watch the tele I love watching Food Network. It just so happens that I was watching Pioneer Woman and she made a fun take on paninis and swapped out the savory with sweet. With only a few ingredients that can be swapped out depending on allergies or preference, dessert paninis are easy and fun to make. AND they give you an excuse to pull the panini maker out of storage.
We made two styles: Peanut butter, chocolate, banana fluff & strawberry fluff. Both were equally delicious.
Dessert Panini Ingredients
- Sourdough Bread
- 1 banana for every two paninis
- Nutella or other chocolate hazlenut spread
- peanut butter
- Marshmallow Fluff
- Butter
Directions
First, plug in the panini maker and wait for it to ready itself. Mine has a green light to show proper temperature.
If you choose to make the banana style, you’ll need one banana for every two paninis.
Have I mentioned I adore Aldi? They had a fun, special buy spread made with dark chocolate and peanut butter. Can’t find it? Go ahead and use Nutella or any other hazelnut spread and peanut butter.
We had a giant loaf of bread, so one slice cut in half per panini worked well.
Cut large slices in half. If you’re using a smaller loaf, you’ll need two slices for each panini.
Slice the bananas pretty thin; I tried to get 1/4 inch slices. I cut mine right in the skin as it tends to not be so slippery and the slices hold each other in.
Spread one half with marshmallow fluff.
Spread the other with the hazelnut spread and peanut butter.
Add the banana slices.
Put both slices together and butter the top half only.
Put the buttered half face down on the heated panini maker and then butter the top.
Close the lid and resist temptation to keep checking for doneness. Ours took about five minutes.
Once both sides are golden and crunchy, use a spatula to remove the dessert paninis. Yep, you’re bound to see some spillage, so don’t worry.
A variation filled with sliced strawberries and marshmallow fluff.
Ready to eat!
These were so much fun to make and the simplicity factor was way up there. If you make a different variation than what we tried, please let me know in the comments. I’ll give it a shot!