# Banana Cream Pie

An elevated take on classic banana pudding in pie form, featuring a brown butter Nilla wafer crust, caramelized bananas, homemade vanilla pudding, and salted caramel whipped cream.

- Cuisine: American
- Category: Dessert
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 2.25 cups crushed Nilla wafers
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 ripe but firm bananas, sliced ½-inch thick
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 0.25 cup light brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups whole milk
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup cornstarch
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 0.25 cup heavy cream, warmed
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1.5 cups cold heavy cream
- 3 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup cooled salted caramel sauce
- crushed freeze-dried banana chips
- crushed Nilla wafers
- flaky salt

## Instructions

1. Brown the butter over medium heat until deeply golden and nutty. Once brown bits form on the bottom, stir constantly so it doesn’t burn.
2. Immediately remove from heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl.
3. Stir in crushed wafers, sugar, and salt until evenly combined.
4. Press firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish, using a flat-bottomed measuring cup to compact the crust.
5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden. Allow to cool completely.
6. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
7. Add both sugars and salt; cook until bubbling.
8. Add bananas in a single layer.
9. Cook 1–2 minutes without touching, then continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes, until a thick, glossy sauce forms and a spatula leaves a trail in the pan. Do not overcook, we want the bananas tender but intact, not completely broken down.
10. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and let cool slightly.
11. Spread bananas evenly over the bottom of the cooled crust.
12. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
13. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth.
14. Add egg yolks and whisk thoroughly.
15. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and bubbling, about 6–8 minutes.
16. Once thickened, cook 30 seconds longer, then remove from heat.
17. Stir in butter and vanilla.
18. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.
19. Pour pudding directly over the banana layer and smooth the top.
20. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and chill overnight.
21. Cook sugar over medium heat until melted and deep amber in color.
22. Remove from heat and carefully whisk in butter, followed by the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously, just keep stirring until smooth.
23. Stir in salt and cool completely before using.
24. Whip cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to soft-medium peaks.
25. Gently swirl in caramel with a spatula, leaving visible ribbons.
26. Spoon whipped cream over the fully chilled pie.
27. Use the back of a spoon to create soft swoops.
28. Drizzle additional salted caramel over the top and gently swirl.
29. Finish with crushed freeze-dried banana chips, crushed Nilla wafers, flaky salt, or a little bit of everything.
30. Refrigerate up to 3 days and slice cold using a hot, clean knife for the best cuts.

## Equipment

- 9-inch pie dish
- flat-bottomed measuring cup
- large skillet
- medium saucepan
- fine-mesh sieve

## Tips

- Cook caramelized bananas long enough to create a thick, glossy sauce, but not so long that they completely fall apart.
- Making vanilla pudding from scratch is a game changer.
- The pie needs to chill overnight, making it a perfect make-ahead dessert.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding while chilling to prevent a skin from forming.
- To cut cold slices, use a hot, clean knife.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8x5bJKn/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/77535ab0-1d61-470f-9421-b24ce14c3204
- Extracted: 2026-03-03

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt