Have you heard this song? It's basically impossible to listen to it and not instantly be in a good mood. At least for me. It reminds me of those songs my girlfriends and I used to listen to when we were in high school and drive around in our cars with the music blasting, singing at the top of our lungs, laughing, smiling and having a ball. It reminds me of home. Tucson, AZ.
I've been having some serious Tucson withdrawals. And high school withdrawals. Back then the most important decision of the day was what I was going to wear to school, because god forbid I should repeat the same outfit ever. I actually remember one year before school starting, picking out something like my first 43 outfits for the first few months of school. Who am I? Clearly I had some issues. And way too many clothes. Could you image if Lululemon was around back then? Picking out clothes would have been so much easier because all I'd had to pick was which shirt looked okay with black yoga pants.
I'm in the middle of planning a little book tour once Absolutely Avocados comes out next month and I'm beyond excited to head home for a bit and visit with everyone. Seriously counting down the days.
I'm also counting down the days until Sunday when I can over indulge and eat this Banana Cream Pie again. It's been at least 3 weeks since I was recipe testing this pie and it's 100% time to make it again.
To say this is decadent would be the understatement of the century. Let me tell you what it's all about.
- It starts with a homemade graham cracker crust. Because it's the best, and that's how we roll in the Dalkin/Dawson household.
- Next comes some sliced bananas
- Wait for it, okay, now let's add some homemade vanilla bean laced pudding
- Then we'll top it off with some homemade whipped cream.
- And lastly, this is going to push you over the edge, we're drizzling it with some salted whiskey caramel sauce.
It's the perfect ending to an Easter Brunch. I'd highly recommend it for basically any occasion that calls for dessert. I made it for some friends when they were over for a dinner party and while everyone had their fair share, one of my girlfriends and I ditched all etiquette and sat with our 2 forks eating the pie straight out of the pan once everyone else finished their servings. We're classy ladies. And this is one classy Banana Cream Pie with Salted Whiskey Caramel Sauce.
Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 12 full-size graham crackers
- â…› cup white sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
For the Vanilla Pudding
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cut into ½" cubes
- 1 vanilla bean seeds removed
For the Whipped Cream and Salted Whiskey Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream divided
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons whiskey divided
- ½ teaspoon corn syrup
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into ½" cubes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ripe bananas
Instructions
For the Crust
- Place the graham crackers and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to break the crackers up and then process for 1-2 minutes until the crackers are the same consistency as the sugar.
- Add the melted butter and pulse to combine so the crackers look just damp.
- Remove the mixture from the food processor and transfer the crumbs into a 9 inch pie pan. Press the the crumbs into a crust evenly along the bottom and up the side.
- Heat the oven to 375° F.
- Bake the crust for about 10 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and let cool.
For the Vanilla Pudding
- Bring milk and cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
- Meanwhile, whisk sugar, cornstarch, flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the egg yolk to the sugar mixture and whisk until smooth but very thick.
- While whisking constantly, gradually add the warm milk mixture to yolk mixture. Once the 2 mixtures are fully combined, return everything back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until thick, about 2–3 minutes. Add the butter and vanilla and stir until the butter has melted.
- Transfer everything to a medium bowl; press plastic wrap directly onto surface of pastry cream. Chill until set, at least 2 hours.
For the Whipped Cream and Salted Whiskey Caramel Sauce and Assembly
- Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat ¾ cup heavy cream and powdered sugar until medium-stiff peaks form. Cover and chill.
- Stir sugar, 1 tablespoon whiskey, corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon water in a medium deep saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat, bring to a boil without stirring, and cook, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until sugar is deep amber in color, 6–8 minutes. Remove caramel from heat; whisk in remaining ¼ cup cream, butter, and salt (mixture will bubble vigorously).
- Let cool for 5 minutes; whisk in the remaining ½ Tbsp. whiskey and vanilla.
- Let the whiskey caramel cool slightly.
- Spread ¼ cup vanilla pudding evenly over bottom of graham cracker crust. Slice bananas into ¼"-thick rounds. Layer half of the bananas over the pudding. Top with 1 cup of pudding. Arrange remaining bananas on the next layer and top them with the remaining pudding. Garnish with whipped cream and drizzle with whiskey caramel. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Looks SO good!!
That sauce looks magical. What a rocking pie!!
Did you know that graham cracker crusts are meant for me? I mean, I know the rest of the world eats them too, but all should really be devoured by me. Go ahead and just dedicate this post to me. mwah! 😉
done and done 🙂
The addition of caramel sauce makes this so much better than any other banana cream pie by a mile! Love it.
Thanks girl!! It totally does step it up a notch
Holy Cow, girl, you know how do do it up right. Happy Easter!
Happy Easter to you too lady! xoox
Oh Gaby! This is so gorgeous! Want...Need 🙂
Come on over!! I'll make another one for you and me!
Mmmmm. Can you make this for us on Sunday?????
I bet you were the same stylish self you are now. I bet we would have been besties if we went to high school together. 😉
So, I have two things... 1) I love this banana cream pie... whiskey caramel sauce? Wtf. Drooling and 2) Come to Boston on your book tour!!! Please!!!
we would have totally been besties in high school!! and I am trying to figure out a way to come to Boston! I'll be there sometime this year for sure
Girl.... we need to have a cream pie party, so we can try them all! Looks awesome!
yes. cream pie party STAT!
You had me at salted whiskey.....love the pie!
LOVE your new whiskey thang!!
That looks so good and I am really liking the addition of the caramel sauce!
OMG this just sounds amazing right now. Banana cream pie w/ caramel is one of my faves! I can't imagine adding whiskey would hurt anything 🙂
hahaha you're right! Adding whiskey sure didn't hurt
Hi Gaby,
What alterations will I have to make to the recipe if I do not want to use Whiskey in my Banana Cream pie with salted whiskey caramel sauce.
You can leave it out entirely!! Or just a dash of vanilla in its place 🙂
I want a piece...or the whole pie:)
omg i LOOOOVE that song!! every time it comes on the radio, I jam out to it and look like a fool - but i don't care cause it really makes me feel good! haha
wow, salted whiskey caramel sauce sounds divine!!
we were meant to be besties 🙂
1. I love that you picked out your outfits for the first few months of school - so awesome. I went to private school so we wore a uniform (wah wah), but every month or so we would have a free dress day... and oh man. Picking your outfit for that one sacred day was almost as big of a deal as your prom dress that year.
2. This. pie. My mom and I have been talking about what to make for dessert on Sunday... and I think this has got to be it! Or we might just eat the whiskey caramel all on its own. Either way.
omg that free dress day must have been like gold!!