Banana Cream Pie Recipe: How to Make Banana Cream Pie
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Nov 10, 2024 • 3 min read
Banana cream pie is a classic dessert pie that is deeply sweet and light as air. This fruit-forward variation on the traditional cream pie is easy to make and chock full of fresh banana flavor.
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What Is a Banana Cream Pie?
Banana cream pie is a popular cream pie variation consisting of a cooked custard or pudding, fresh slices of banana, and a whipped cream topping. You can make banana cream pie with a standard pie crust or a cookie-based crust made with graham crackers or vanilla wafer cookies. Early banana cream pie recipes called for warming fresh banana slices tossed with powdered sugar for a few minutes in the oven until soft and then covering with a whipped cream topping. Modern recipes mingle the sliced bananas with the custard or swap them entirely for banana pudding. While some variations feature a toasted meringue top, whipped cream remains the staple topping for the sweet dessert.
4 Tips for Making the Perfect Banana Cream Pie
If you’re making banana cream pie for the first time, check out the following tips:
- 1. Avoid overripe bananas. While banana bread’s signature flavor comes from overripe bananas, the classic banana cream pie requires just-ripe bananas for the best results. Overripe bananas can affect the pudding’s color and impart an unbalanced amount of banana flavor into the pie filling.
- 2. Evenly distribute banana slices. Sliced fresh bananas give this signature dessert a boost of unbeatable banana flavor and a more pleasing texture. (Using banana essence can make the filling too cloying.) Distributing the bananas evenly throughout the pie ensures the signature flavor is present at every bite. Layer slices along the bottom of the crust, then cover with pudding, and add another layer of banana on top. Top the pie off with clouds of whipped cream, and serve.
- 3. Protect the bananas from browning. To prevent the bananas in the pie from browning during the baking process, ensure they’re completely covered with a layer of custard before you place them in the oven. When decorating the pie’s top layer with sliced bananas, lightly brush them with lemon juice to slow down oxidation, helping them maintain their pale-yellow hue.
- 4. Cover with plastic wrap. Leaving uncovered homemade pudding out to cool allows it to develop an unpleasant thick skin. The easiest way to stave off this skin is to place a single piece of plastic wrap directly on the pudding surface to trap moisture as it sets to help it maintain its smooth texture and prevent it from drying out.
Classic Banana Cream Pie Recipe
makes
1 9-inch pieprep time
5 mintotal time
5 hr 20 mincook time
15 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- 2
In a food processor, blend the graham crackers until they are the consistency of coarse sand. Add the melted butter and pulse until incorporated—the mixture should hold together when pressed in your hand.
- 3
Transfer to a pie pan or pie plate and use a measuring cup or drinking glass to press the graham cracker mixture into an even layer. Bake the crust until it sets, 8–10 minutes, and let it cool completely.
- 4
To make the vanilla pudding, combine the milk, ¼ cup of the cream, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk to incorporate. Once steam begins to rise from the surface of the milk mixture, lower the heat.
- 5
Whisk together the eggs and cornstarch, then slowly add the egg mixture to the saucepan, whisking until thickened, about 2–3 minutes. When the pudding coats the back of a spoon without running, it’s done.
- 6
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter. Rest a sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding, and let it cool.
- 7
Layer the banana slices evenly along the graham cracker crust. Cover entirely with the pudding, smoothing the top with a spatula. Replace the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
- 8
When you’re ready to assemble, add the remaining cup of heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Whip until stiff peaks form, fold in the maple syrup, and take care not to knock all the air out of the mixture.
- 9
Decorate the top of the pie with another layer of banana slices, then dollop with the whipped cream. Serve garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon, shaved chocolate, or chopped peanuts.
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