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4 from 1 vote

Banana Cream Pie

Vanilla Pudding and Salted Whiskey Caramel Sauce adapted from Bon Appetit
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 12 full-size graham crackers
  • 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.

Notes

This is best eaten the day it's made, and likely the next. After that, things may start to weep or separate.

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 1616IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 1mg