Banana Cream Pie Recipe

5 from 1 vote

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Buttery pie crust filled with bananas and sweet creamy filling, this Banana Cream Pie is what dreams are made of. Perfect for Easter! Be sure to check out this Banana Coconut Cream Pie while you’re at it 🙂

banana cream pie with a slice taken out of it. the slice is on a white plate next to the whole pie

Banana Cream Pie

A flakey pie crust filled with a creamy custard that is laced with bananas then it is all topped with freshly made whipped cream and even more sliced bananas, this Banana Cream Pie recipe is a killer. So simple to make with my step-by-step instructions and just in time for Easter too! This light yet sweet dessert is perfect for springtime. It can even be made ahead of time, winner! If you like my Banana Pudding Recipe you’re going to love this pie.

banana cream pie with a slice taken out of it

Main Ingredients Needed

Lot’s of pantry staples are used to make this delicious banana cream pie. Drop by the store if you’re missing anything, here’s what you’ll need:

For the Filling

  • Whole Milk – for all of the creamy goodness use whole milk!
  • Sugar – to sweeten.
  • Salt – to balance the flavors.
  • Flour – to thicken and stabilize.
  • Egg Yolks – these create extra creamy smoothness in the filling.
  • Butter – used for flavor and texture.
  • Vanilla – used for flavor.
  • Bananas – sliced. Make sure these are ripe, used in the pie, and decorate on top.

For the Whipped Cream Topping

For all whipped cream issues, see my how-to on whipped cream!

  • Heavy Cream – this is whipped up to build volume and add creaminess.
  • Powdered Sugar – to sweeten.
  • Vanilla – to flavor.
banana cream pie in a pie dish on top of a cake platter

How to Make Banana Cream Pie

For full details on how to make banana cream pie, see the recipe card down below 🙂

1. Blind Bake the Pie Shell

Blind bake a deep pie crust or one that is large enough to hold 3 cups of filling. Set aside to cool.

2. Make Filling

In a large bowl, whisk sugar, flour, and salt together. Slowly add the milk to the flour and sugar to incorporate and prevent lumps. Transfer this carefully to a pot. Heat milk mixture over medium to medium-low heat, whisking constantly to ensure as the filling is heating up, it is not coming to a rolling boil. As it heats, you will notice that it will start to thicken. Once it starts to thicken, cook an additional couple of minutes and remove it from heat.

Helpful Hint: if the mixture starts to bubble consistently once it has started to thicken, reduce the heat. If you were to NOT stir, you should see the occasional bubble. If you are continuously stirring, you shouldn’t really see any bubbles. (If your whisk doesn’t reach into the corners of the pot, switch every so often to a wooden spoon or rubber scraper to ensure the bottom isn’t scorching around the edge of the pot.)

Temper Egg Yolks

Whisk egg yolks in a separate bowl. Temper the egg yolks by whisking in 1/2 cup of the hot, thickened milk mixture. Then whisk the tempered egg yolks back into the pot. Replace back onto the heat and cook on medium to medium-low. It will continue to thicken. Remove from heat.

Stir in butter and vanilla.

3. Chill Filling

Pour into a shallow dish, cover directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. Chill until the filling has set, is completely cold, and plastic wrap peels off clean.

4. Assemble + Chill

Remove plastic wrap and stir chilled filling. Add about 1/3rd of the filling to the bottom of the pie crust. Add sliced bananas and cover with remaining filling. Cover the top again with plastic wrap and chill until set. Overnight is fine!

5. Top with Whipped Cream

To serve, whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. Top pie with cream and any extra sliced bananas, if desired. Cut into 8 pieces and serve.

slice taken out of a banana cream pie

Make-Ahead

Because the banana filling has to set in the fridge to set, this makes banana cream pie the perfect make ahead dessert! Make this recipe the day before, then when you are ready to serve, quickly whip up some whipped cream. Seriously could it get any easier than that?

Freezing Banana Cream Pie

Alternatively, you can freeze this pie to make up to 3 months in advance! Simply make the recipe as directed up until it has set in the refrigerator. After it is set, cover with another couple of layers of plastic wrap and foil, then freeze away!

To serve, defrost in the fridge for 24 hours. Make whipped cream, top pie, and serve!

a slice of banana cream pie on a white plate

More Cream-Based Pies to Try!

Make this banana cream pie soon friends, especially as the weather gets warmer!

The recipe card is down below, enjoy 🙂

banana cream pie with a slice taken out of it. the slice is on a white plate next to the whole pie
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5 from 1 vote

Banana Cream Pie

Buttery pie crust filled with bananas and sweet creamy filling, this Banana Cream Pie is what dreams are made of. Perfect for Easter!
servings 8 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the Filling:

For the Whipped Cream Topping

Instructions

  • Blind bake a deep pie crust or one that is large enough to hold 3 cups of filling. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, whisk sugar, flour and salt together. Slowly add in the milk to the flour and sugar to incorporate and prevent lumps. Transfer this carefully to a pot. Heat milk mixture over medium to medium-low heat for about 7 minutes, whisking constantly to ensure as the filling is heating up, it is not coming to a rolling boil. As it heats, after about 5 minutes, you will notice that it will start to thicken. Once it starts to thicken, cook an additional 2 minutes and remove from heat.
    Helpful hint: if mixture starts to bubble consistently once it has started to thicken, reduce the heat. If you were to NOT stir, you should see the occasional bubble. If you are continuously stirring, you shouldn't really see any bubbles. (If your whisk doesn't reach into the corners of the pot, switch every so often to a wooden spoon or rubber scraper to ensure the bottom isn't scorching around the edge of the pot.)
  • Whisk egg yolks in a separate bowl. Temper the egg yolks by whisking in 1/2 cup of the hot, thickened milk mixture. Then whisk the tempered egg yolks back into the pot. Replace back onto the heat and cook on medium to medium-low for 2-3 minutes more. It will continue to thicken. Remove from heat.
  • Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour about 1/3rd of the filling to the bottom of the pie crust. Add sliced bananas and cover with remaining filling. Cover the top directly with plastic wrap and chill 4-6 hours or until set, completely chilled and plastic wrap removes cleanly. Overnight is fine!
  • To serve, whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. Top pie with cream and any extra sliced bananas, if desired. Cut into 8 pieces and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 778IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana cream pie
5 from 1 vote

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4 Responses
  1. Yjames

    My pie didn’t set/thicken in the fridge. Isn’t it supposed to be like pudding or should it be more like soup? So sad! Otherwise it tastes really good. Just wondering if I did something wrong, I did everything down to the T!

      1. y James

        Oh no it all worked out in the end! I let it set out in the fridge overnight to see if it would thicken some more, it didn’t. In the morning I scraped the pudding out (I know probably not supposed to) to see if it would thicken back in the pot and it did!! So I guess just needed more time on the stove. It was delicious. Thank you for your recipe!

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