Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
Written by joythebaker on February 18, 2009 – 11:08 pm -
Pie takes time. Pie requires attentions. Pie demands love and care. Pie, even for an everyday baker like me, is a lost art.
I needed a good, old fashioned, pie contest to help me slow down, take a breath, and dream up the most delicious pie I could.
The most delicious thing I could dream up was this: bananas, homemade peanut butter, chocolate, graham crackers, butter, whipped cream, and as much sugar as I could reasonably pack into a single pie dish…. and some chocolate shavings for good measure.
The result: one mad Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie. The contest: inspired by Whitney and several bottles of wine. The contestants: as serious about pie as they are about being incredibly fashionable and audaciously cool. The competition: stiff. The winner: one devastating, delicious and perfectly tart Key Lime Pie.
Did you need a use for you homemade Honey Roasted Peanut Butter? I’m sure you found some toasted bread to enjoy it with. Just in case you needed an over the top excuse to enjoy life just a bit more… here’s a pie that, while it may not win any pie contests, is sure to make life a whole hell of a lot sweeter.
You’ll need some homemade peanut butter, but if you’re not feeling that ambitious, the jarred stuff will work too.
You’ll need a graham cracker crust, melted chocolate, peanut butter, banana cream pie filling, fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Here’s how it all comes together.
Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
adapted from Martha Stewart, but mostly from me.
For the Crust:
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
For the Chocolate Layer:
2 ounces of dark chocolate, melted over a double boiler
For the Peanut Butter Layer:
3/4 cup homemade peanut butter, or the jarred stuff, chunky or smooth as you see fit
For the Banana Layer:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large egg yolks
2 cups whole milk
2 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter
3 ripe bananas, thinly sliced
For the Whipped Cream Layer:
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make the crust, stir the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt together in a medium bowl. Pour over the melted butter and stir until all of the dry ingredients are uniformly moist. I use my fingers. Turn the ingredients into a 9-inch pie pan and pat with your fingers to create an even layer of crumbs of the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan.
Put the pan in the freezer while you preheat the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Once heated, place the pie crust on the center rack of the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and set crust aside to cool.
For the chocolate layer, put two inches of water in a medium sauce pan, once simmering, place a larger bowl with the 2 ounces of chocolate in it over the simmering water. Melt the chocolate in this double boiler situation. Once cooled, pour into the baked graham cracker crust and spread around with a spatula. Place in the refrigerator to cool and harden.
Prepare the peanut butter. Once the chocolate is cooled, spread the peanut butter over the melted and hardened chocolate.
To prepare the banana filling, combine granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add egg yolks, and whisk until smooth. Bring milk to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup milk to yolk mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour mixture into pan with hot milk, and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble and is very thick, about 6 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on this and whisk constantly over a low flame. The cornstarch will make the mixture thicken quickly.
Pour milk mixture through a large-mesh sieve into a bowl. Add butter, and stir until melted. Fold in bananas. Pour into crust. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of filling to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Make the topping: Beat together cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream over filling. Using a rubber spatula or the back of a spoon, shape topping into peaks.
Make chocolate shavings: Carefully run a sharp knife along the back side of a dark chocolate bar towards yourself. Quickly sprinkle the shavings on the top of the pie. It’s that easy!
Tags: banana, Chocolate, Fruit, graham cracker crust, peanut butter, Pie, pudding, yummy
Posted in Fruit, Pie, Recipes, Tips and Tricks | 64 Comments »
Wow, your photography on this pie is heavenly!
YUM! I love all the ingredients in this pie.
How deliciously comforting! YUMMY! Congrats on making the Top 50 Food Blogs in the London Times. I’m in complete agreement: I love your blog!
I would get my sister, my boyfriend, my coworkers AND my dog to vote for that pie in any contest. But first, I kinda want to dive in and swim around in all those yummy layers…
This looks deeeeeeeelicious!
Now this is a pie fit for a King!
I. Freaking. Love. This.
Gorgeous! Sounds sooo good!
Oh, I could eat this for breakfast.
Cute apron!
OMG! Count me in. That looks yuuuuuuummmmmmm-AZING!
What??? This didn’t win??? Criminal I tell you! This pie rocks!
Ehi
BTW this cake is evil but looks too goood! thanks for the idea to combine two different must together (chocolate-banana and chocolate-peanut butter)!
don’t you forget something??? I’ve still been waiting … for the answers!!!
cheers Martina
Your pics on this post should win! The pie looks amazing. I was wondering what that peanut butter was going into when I read the peanut butter post. Now I know
. Divine!
Oh yum! I usually don’t like banana cream pie, but it is Mr. B’s favorite. I bet with peanut butter I would love it!
Phoo-D
I just wanted to tell you how in love I am with your blog. The layout and design pulled me in to start, then I discovered that I thoroughly enjoy viewing pictures of baked goods (especially here, with your artistic approach). And to top it off, I actually read the post today- along with a few previous posts, and you’re just so entertaining! I never realized this before because I was just scrolling through the pictures. I’ll definitely be taking my time in reading future posts! Anyway, thanks for brightening my day!
-Kyndal
Looks delicious! Love those flavors together, as I have been known to take a banana, slather it with peanut butter and dip it into melted chocolate. Thanks for the idea of throwing it all into a handy little pie shell!
Holy sinful!! Wow, this looks amazing. I’m not usually much of a cream pie type of gal, but I think I have to give this one a try. Beautiful photography, too.
oh
my
gosh
woman!
this is a killer pie!
Woman, seriously. You toy with my heart and my emotions. How am I supposed to get through my day without this now that I know it exists?
This pie looks good!! I LOVEEE bananas, and I love peanut butter. My stomach is grumbling.
shoot–that looks so tasty! just read The Times (London) named you one of the world’s 50 best food blogs! congratulations!!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5561425.ece
This looks yummy and the pics are awesome!
Yeah! This looks fab.
I am so happy to see you use a REAL home-made recipe (except the graham crackers — we’ll let that slide
). Instead of the semi-made, Sandra Lee-esque recipes that most Banana Cream pies use. No boxed pudding mix — yeah!
Thanks Joy. Glad to see you leaving the boxed stuff behind and embrace more of the home-made goodness.
We’ll work on replacing those Graham Crackers another time.
Joy, you take my breath away. Love your apron.
This looks dangerous!!!!
mmm pie. Congrats on the Times mention
This looks so good! I love peanut butter and bananas together. Congrats on the Time recognition!
Aaaa, i want a piece of this! It sounds just so perfectly overthetop!
That pie is so dreamy!! And congrats again on your honored blog!! Yahoo for you!
My goodness–you’ve outdone yourself again, Joy! Great job
I am a banana cream pie lover but sadly my hubby and daughter hate bananas. I have never thought of combining with peanut butter though-maybe I can convert them with this recipe.
Just saw you made top fifty Foodie Blogs in that UK paper. Awesome and many congrats! I totally agree. Go #34!!!
This looks wonderful!!! I am new to food blogs, love your site…and offer you a similar (and fabulous) recipe on my site, unconfidentialcook.com. It’s a Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, yum!
I love this recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Joy,
Did you see you made it into The Times this weekend in their 50 best food blogs?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5561425.ece?token=null&offset=24&page=3
So great to see you getting the recognition you deserve.
It’s all about that homemade peanut butter!
DAMN incredible looking – WOW your pictures are awesome!! Cannot wait to try this killer culinary creation!!
dangerously delicious! this pie looks so so good. It’s got all the best ingredients in one. yummy!!
This looks really good! I baked today and prayed for husband hugs for you.
Be still, my beating heart.
I would choose this for my last supper.
I want a slice of that right now. With a big glass of milk. Or a really dry cappuccino.
YUM.
I am drooling!!! Peanut butter and banana is my favorite combo ever! I eat it daily, no joke! I love this pie idea! I will defiantly be trying it out! thank you!!!
Looks fantastic!
This pie, particularly the peanut butter layer, melted minds and taste buds at the pie-party. hmm.
it’s delicious!!!!!! photohografh is perfect
DD
ps: I tried red velvet cupcake! we loved!
xoxo byyy
That sure looks like a winner in my book. I have a brother who loves peanutbutter and banana sandwiches. I bet he would adore this pie. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
That pie looks awesome. I want some right now.
This looks DIVINE!!! I so wish I could have a slice right now! Great job Joy!
Great Post. And beautiful photos. May I ask the lens/camera you use? I’m jealous. LOL