Banana Cream Pie - The Stay At Home Chef

Introducing our reimagined Banana Cream Pie, where timeless tradition meets innovative flair: a masterful blend of velvety cream, tender bananas, and crunchy pastry, elevated by a daring yet harmonious surprise that will revolutionize your expectations of this beloved dessert. Our secret? A buttery, homemade shortbread crust. The flaky, buttery notes of this crust evoke a classic graham cracker flavor profile, while its tender texture mimics that of a traditional pastry pie crust. Savor each indulgent bite as our harmonious blend of rich creaminess and ripe banana essence unfolds, a delightful sensory experience that’s sure to leave you in awe.

Contents

Why Our Recipe Ingredient Notes Crust Options Finishing Touches Storage Instructions

Why Our Recipe

With a secret ingredient of a homemade shortbread crust, we unlock the true potential of the ultimate banana cream pie experience.
We incorporate white chocolate chips into our homemade pudding recipe to infuse a deep richness and velvety texture.
Topped with a dollop of rich, velvety homemade stabilized whipped cream.

Adding white chocolate chips to our homemade pudding gives it an ultra-rich and velvety texture that we just can’t get enough of. With a dollop of rich and creamy homemade whipped cream on top, we’re able to elevate the overall taste experience to new heights. Zero waste living in full swing – no single-use containers in sight! A classic dessert like banana cream pie can be enjoyed at any time of the year, making it an ideal treat for holidays, birthdays, and everyday celebrations alike. Perfectly suited for savoring a slice to yourself, right in the comfort of your own home. This decadent dessert is sure to earn a special place in your heart.

Ingredient Notes

Opt for bananas sporting subtle brown freckles on their peel, signifying a perfect balance of sweetness and flavor without succumbing to overripeness.
Either label—heavy whipping cream or simply whipping cream—is acceptable.
These may also be labelled as white morsels or white baking chips?
When employing salted butter for ease, feel free to substitute with unsalted by adding a slight increase in salt content.
What’s missing from these classic sweeteners?
While regular flour may be a tried-and-true choice for pastry crust, it’s worth noting that other flours have their own merits and can produce unique results when used in this application?
The cornstarch mixture thickens the banana pudding. Don’t skip it; otherwise, the pudding won’t set properly?
Used as a stabilizer in both the pudding and whipped cream. To successfully whip a topping, you’ll require heavy cream or heavy whipping cream boasting a minimum of 36% milk fat content.
Infuses the pudding with a velvety smoothness and indulgent depth of flavor. Utilize premium quality white chocolate chips to achieve optimal outcomes.
Ensure that your bananas exhibit a ripe yet firm texture. Are we seeking unblemished, vibrant yellow bananas with no signs of ripening? The use of overripe bananas in a pie may result in an unpleasantly mushy texture.

Crust Options

The recipe demands a rich, buttery homemade shortbread crust. If time constraints are an issue or you prefer alternative foundations, there are several choices available to you. Consider traditional pastry crust options or opt for a convenient, no-bake graham cracker crust alternative.

When prioritizing ease of use, consider opting for store-purchased alternatives like frozen pie shells, pre-rolled pastry dough, or ready-to-use graham cracker crusts. This recipe assumes use of a typical 9-inch pie crust. To ensure optimal results, prebake the crust as per the packaging guidelines, keeping in mind that the filling will not require any direct oven exposure.

a full banana cream pie on white pie plate

Finishing Touches

To achieve a seamless finish, apply the whipped cream to the pie in an even layer, utilizing either a spatula or the reverse side of a spoon with gentle yet deliberate strokes. You can craft smooth, refined whirls or rugged summits to achieve a charming, DIY aesthetic.

Elevate your dessert game by transferring the luscious whipped cream to a piping bag equipped with a sleek Wilton 1M or 2D tip, adding an extra touch of sophistication and whimsy to your culinary creations. To create rosettes, maintain the piping bag in an upright position above the pie, then commence piping from the centre of each design, moving in a continuous circular motion towards the outer edges. Allow the tension to dissipate with a gentle release at the conclusion of each twirl. To achieve a piped border on your pie, position the piping bag perpendicular to the pastry’s edge and form delicate, flowing curves that seamlessly circle the crust.

Enhance the dessert’s aesthetic appeal by topping it with artfully arranged banana slices, simultaneously conveying the flavor profile and adding visual flair. Arranging these flowers in a circle on top of the pie creates a stunning visual effect, while tucking individual blooms between decorative rosettes adds an air of whimsy and playfulness to this delectable dessert. To maintain their freshness, note that these bananas will quickly turn brown; consider adding them right before serving, and lightly brushing them with lemon juice to extend their shelf life.

Storage Instructions

Leftover food should be stored in airtight containers to maintain freshness and prevent contamination, making aluminum foil or plastic wrap suitable options for coverage. This shelf-stable treat will remain fresh and edible for approximately three to four days when stored in the refrigerator at a consistent temperature below 40°F (4°C). When bananas begin to turn brown and develop an unpleasantly soft texture, it usually signals that your banana cream pie has reached its expiration date.