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Whole banana cream pie with whipped cream rosettes in a crumb crust — Desert Dishes
Desert Dishes Team

Banana Cream Pie Recipe

Classic banana cream pie — vanilla custard, fresh bananas and a flaky crust, topped with whipped cream. The key is chilling it at least 4 hours for a clean slice.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pie
  • 1 baked 9-inch pie crust homemade or store-bought, cooled
  • 135 g granulated sugar 2/3 cup
  • 35 g cornstarch 1/4 cup
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 590 ml whole milk 2 1/2 cups
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 28 g unsalted butter 2 tablespoons
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 ripe but firm bananas
Topping
  • 240 ml heavy cream 1 cup, whipped with 2 tablespoons sugar

Equipment

  • 9-inch (23 cm) pie dish
  • Medium saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer (for whipping cream)
  • Plastic wrap
  • Sharp knife
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

  1. Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and salt together in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the milk and egg yolks until smooth.
  2. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens and bubbles — about 6–8 minutes. Boil for 1 minute, whisking, then remove from the heat. The full minute of bubbling is what activates the cornstarch, so the custard sets firmly.
    Smooth vanilla custard in a glass bowl, dusted with spice — Desert Dishes
  3. Stir in the butter and vanilla until melted and smooth.
  4. Slice the bananas directly into the cooled crust, arranging them in an even layer.
    Empty blind-baked pie crust with a fluted edge in a pie dish — Desert Dishes
  5. Pour the hot custard over the bananas and smooth the top with a spatula.
  6. Press plastic wrap directly onto the custard surface to stop a skin forming, and chill for at least 4 hours, until fully set.
  7. Top with whipped cream just before serving, spreading it to the edges or piping rosettes.
    Banana cream pie with a slice removed, showing the custard layers and whipped cream topping — Desert Dishes
  8. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the blade clean between cuts, and serve cold.
    Slice of banana cream pie with custard, banana and whipped cream topping — Desert Dishes

Notes

Slice the bananas straight into the hot custard so they do not brown, and chill the pie for at least 4 hours — a fully set custard is what makes a clean slice.