Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
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This Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie recipe is a totally delicious pie with a sweet cream layer, a smooth and creamy peanut butter layer and plenty of freshly sliced bananas.
March 2nd is National Banana Cream Pie Day. We’re changing up the classic banana cream pie recipe by turning it into a peanut butter lover’s dream and adding an indulgent peanut butter layer! I hope you’ll take the time to bake this pie. It’s super easy to make, and every layer is made homemade without any boxed pudding mix.
A while back, we shared a chocolate banana custard pie, and since that one was so deliciously rich and perfectly sweet, we decided to go for creating a peanut butter banana cream pie too!
Be sure to share the banana cream pie love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalBananaCreamPieDay, #BananaCreamPieDay and #RecipesForHolidays.
Follow my March Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of March!
“Today I just want to eat banana cream pie!”
-Unknown
The History of Banana Cream Pie:
Banana cream pie is a classic American dessert that was created from traditional custard and cream pies. Its origins can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when bananas became more widely available in the U.S. due to improved transportation.
A banana cream pie typically consists of a traditional crust or graham cracker crust, a rich banana-flavored custard or pudding filling, and a topping of whipped cream. Sometimes sliced, fresh bananas are added in too. It gained popularity in the early 1900’s and became a popular pie for home bakers to make, and it has always been a pie featured in diners. Today, it remains a beloved dessert, often associated with Southern and Midwestern American cuisine.
Ingredients Needed:
- Crust: In this recipe, we used a traditional, deep-dish pie crust.
- White Sugar and Powdered Sugar: Smash out any lumps in the powdered sugar.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the 1st, creamy layer.
- Cream: Use heavy cream to help create a nice and creamy layer.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the best results.
- Egg Yolks: This will help add richness to the creamy layer.
- Vanilla: We used a vanilla bean for this recipe. Alternately, you can use 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- Butter: Using Unsalted butter is best since we’re controlling the salty flavor by adding salt separately.
- Bananas: Use fresh, ripe bananas that are still firm when sliced.
- Orange Juice: Since you only need 3 tablespoons, you might as well freshly squeeze an orange!
- Cream Cheese: Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy for the best creamy peanut butter layer!
- Salt
How to make Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie:
- Prepare whatever crust you’d like for the pie.
- The first task is to prep the first layer, which is a creamy vanilla pudding layer made on the stovetop. The warm pudding is then poured into the crust, and the pie is refrigerated for about one hour.
- The fresh banana slices are tossed with orange juice (to help keep them from browning), and those slices are set on top of the pudding layer.
- Next is the peanut butter layer! You’ll need a mixer and a bowl to combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and peanut butter. Then you’ll whip some cream separately to fold into the peanut butter mixture to create the super tasty peanut butter layer. That layer is then spread on top of the bananas. And some more bananas mixed with orange juice are placed around the edges to decorate the top.
How do you keep bananas from turning brown in a banana cream pie?
We’ve done just that in this recipe. Tossing sliced bananas with citrus juice will help to keep them from browning. We used orange juice because lemon juice is too tart.
You can also ditch the idea of adding sliced banana to the top of the pie, and opt to decoratively add some whipped cream on top. Crumble some peanut butter cookies on top instead!
What We Love About This Recipe:
- It’s the perfect, indulgent dessert for people who love bananas and peanut butter!
- It’s made without boxed pudding or Cool Whip.
- Changing up the peanut butter layer is easy to do if you want to use Nutella or Biscoff in place of peanut butter!
Fun Facts About Banana Cream Pie:
- Early versions of banana pies were simply banana-filled, but as cream pies grew in popularity, the banana cream combination was born.
- It’s a variation of classic cream pies like chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and coconut cream pie, which all share a custard-like filling.
- It’s rumored that banana cream pie was a favorite of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd U.S. president.
- While whipped cream is the most common topping today, some variations use meringue for a fancier touch.
- The flavors of banana cream pie have inspired other treats, like banana cream-flavored cakes, milkshakes, and even banana ice cream!
Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients
- One baked DEEP DISH pie shell
- ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
- 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 medium firm, but ripe bananas (peeled and divided)
- 3 tablespoons orange juice, divided
PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:
- 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- ⅔ cup chilled heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in the cream, then milk. Add yolks and the seeds scraped from the vanilla bean; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-heat, whisking constantly, until the filling thickens and boils, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until melted. Spread the warm filling into the cooled crust. Chill until the filling is cool, about 1 hour.
- Thinly slice 3 bananas on the diagonal. In a medium bowl, combine the banana slices and 2 tablespoons of orange juice; toss to coat. Transfer the banana slices to a paper towel, pat dry. Arrange enough banana slices in a single layer over the filling to cover it completely.
MAKE THE PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and then the peanut butter. In another bowl, use clean, dry beaters to beat the cream until firm peaks form. Fold a large spoonful of whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to loosen then fold in the remaining cream in 2 additions. Spread the peanut butter layer evenly over the bananas. Chill for at least 3 hours.
- Thinly slice the remaining banana on the diagonal. Toss with the remaining orange juice, then pat dry with paper towels. Arrange the banana slices around the top edge of the pie.
