Banana Cream Pie! Macadamia-graham cracker crust is filled with fresh bananas and pastry cream. The pie is topped with a mound of whipped cream and candied macadamia nuts. The nuts are optional
With rich custard filling and mounds of sweet cream on top, cream pies are definitely decadent. The problem with cream pies is that are often soft and sweet without contrasting flavors and textures.
Salted and roasted macadamia nuts in the crust and topping bring a nice savory and crunchy element to this pie.
Recipe Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs – The base for a tasty pie crust.
- Macadamia nuts – Macadamia nuts add a savory crunch to the pie shell and the topping. The nuts are optional. The nuts can be replaced with extra graham cracker crumbs.
- Granulated sugar – For sweetness
- Butter – Butter binds the crust and enriches the custard filling.
- Semi Sweet Chocolate – Coating the crust with melted dark chocolate will help keep it from getting soggy
- Milk – For the pastry Cream
- Vanilla bean – For flavor
- Eggs – To bind the custard
- Corn starch- To thicken the custard
- Rum – The rum is optional, but alcohol enhances other flavors.
- Ripe bananas – The bananas soften and mellow as they bind with the custard filling.
- Heavy cream – A mound of lightly sweetened cream is the perfect topping.
How to make Banana Cream Pie
- To make candied nuts for the topping, boil the macadamias with the sugar, water and vanilla bean
- You can skip this step if you don’t want to use the nuts.
- Bake the macadamias until they are caramelized and crunchy.
- Store in an air tight container
- Bake the graham cracker crust until lightly browned.
- Sprinkle the chopped chocolate onto the hot crust and allow it to melt.
- Spread the melted chocolate over the crust.
- Make the vanilla pastry cream.
- Fold the sliced bananas into the warm pastry cream.
- Pour the banana cream into the chocolate lined shell.
- Cover the pie and refrigerate until the custard is completely cooled. At this point the pie can be held for a day in the refrigerator. The flavors develop over several hours.
- Top with whipped cream and decorate with optional candied macadamias and chocolate curd or chips.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.
Banana Cream Pie Recipe
This recipe is really quite easy when you put it together. This pie is great the day it's made, but it's even better the next day. The flavors meld and the bananas soften into the filling. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert.
servings
Ingredients
Candied Macadamia Nuts
- 4 oz granulated sugar (½ cup)
- 4 oz water (½ cup)
- 1 vanilla bean (cut in half)
- 4 oz salted & roasted macadamia nuts (1 cup)
Graham Cracker Macadamia Nut Crust
- 8 oz graham cracker crumbs (1 ½ cups)
- 1 oz macadamia nuts (see note)
- 2 oz granulated sugar (¼ cup)
- 3 oz unsalted butter (melted)
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate (chopped fine)
Banana Pastry Cream
- 12 oz whole milk (1 ½ cups)
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ½ vanilla bean (split)
- 2 eggs
- 2 yolks
- 5 oz granulated sugar (½ cup plus 2 tablespoons)
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 ½ oz unsalted butter
- 1 oz dark rum
- 4 each ripe bananas
Assembly
- 16 oz heavy cream (2 cups)
- 1 oz confectioner’s sugar (¼ cup)
- 2 teaspoons dark rum
- chocolate curls or chocolate chips
Instructions
Candied Macadamia Nuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Combine the sugar, water and half the vanilla bean in a small saucepan. Bring the sugar syrup to a boil. Add the nuts all at once and return to a boil. Boil for 1-2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the nuts onto the prepared baking sheet.4 oz granulated sugar, 4 oz water, 1 vanilla bean, 4 oz salted & roasted macadamia nuts
- Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set the nuts aside to cool completely. Leave the oven on.
Graham Cracker Macadamia Nut Crust
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, macadamia nuts and sugar in food processor. Process until the nuts are finely ground. Sprinkle melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to combine.8 oz graham cracker crumbs, 1 oz macadamia nuts, 2 oz granulated sugar, 3 oz unsalted butter
- Press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of a pie plate. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
- While the crust is still warm sprinkle the chopped chocolate into the bottom of the pie shell. Allow the chocolate to melt and then spread it across the bottom and sides of the pie shell. Allow the shell to cool completely until the chocolate is set.4 oz bittersweet chocolate
Banana Pastry Cream
- In a medium pan, combine the milk and salt. Scrape the seeds out of the half vanilla bean and add them to the milk along with the pod. Heat over medium high until scalding hot.12 oz whole milk, ¼ teaspoon table salt, ½ vanilla bean
- While the milk heats up, combine the eggs, yolks, sugar and corn starch and whisk until smooth.2 eggs, 2 yolks, 3 tablespoons corn starch, 5 oz granulated sugar
- When the milk is scalding hot pour it into the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Return the custard to the pot and cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until it just begins to boil. Immediately remove from the heat and strain back into the bowl. Add the butter and rum to the hot custard and whisk to combine. Slice the bananas and fold into the pastry cream. Pour the banana cream into the pie. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely cooled and set.1 ½ oz unsalted butter, 1 oz dark rum, 4 each ripe bananas
Assembly
- Whip the cream with the confectioner's sugar and rum and spread the cream onto the filling.16 oz heavy cream, 1 oz confectioner’s sugar, 2 teaspoons dark rum
- Sprinkle the chopped candied macadamia nuts and chocolate shavings over the cream to garnish. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.chocolate curls or chocolate chips
Equipment
My Book
Pyrex Glass Pie Plate
Whisk
Offset Spatula
KA Stand Mixer
Food Processor
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Notes
The nuts are optional. Replace the nuts with an extra ounce of graham crackers crumbs.
The pie can be eaten several hours after it’s made, but it’s even better the second day.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 649kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 1146IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 3mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @eileen.bakingsense or tag #bakingsense!