Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2024)

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This easy banana cream pie recipe is filled with layers of banana encased in a rich, creamy, vanilla custard, atop a flaky pie crust. It’s a family favorite!

For more fruity pies try Cherry Pie, Peach Pie, and Strawberry Pie.

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (1)

calling all pie lovers!

I love a good easy banana cream pie recipe. It is simply delicious and refreshing!! That cool creamy custard filling atop layers of bananas is dessert perfection in my book.

Variations of banana cream pie have been around for centuries, but the classic American banana cream pie we all love became popular in the 1950s and fortunately, we still get to enjoy it today!

What’s not to love?!

  • Simple. The prep is easy but still includes a delicious homemade vanilla custard.
  • Delicious. Cream pies are by far one of my favorite pies to eat, and this rich and creamy banana cream pie always hits the spot!
  • Great for any occasion. Whether it’s for a BBQ or or a holiday like Easter or Memorial Day, this pie is perfection.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • sugar
  • corn starch
  • salt
  • milk Using whole milk will help create a creamy custard, but 2% will also work. Avoid skim milk.
  • egg yolks See this post on How to Separate Egg Whites for tips
  • butter
  • vanilla extract
  • pre-baked pie crust – make a Homemade Pie crust from scratch or use pie crust dough from the freezer section at your grocery store
  • bananas
  • whipped cream store bough or Homemade Whipped Cream.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (3)

How to Make Banana Cream Pie

  1. CUSTARD. Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the milk slowly, and whisk until combined. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching.
    • Once the mixture has reached a simmer, simmer for one minute, until thickened. Remove from heat and pour about ½ cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, quickly stirring to prevent the eggs from curdling. Pour the egg mixture into the custard mixture, and stir to combine. Return the pot to the heat and bring the custard back to a simmer. Simmer for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla until smooth.
  2. CHILL. Pour the custard into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cooled to room temperature.
  3. ASSEMBLE. Slice three of the bananas into the cooled pie crust (Graham Cracker crust works too). Pour the custard over the top of the bananas, spreading evenly. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to overnight.
  4. SERVE. Just before serving, pipe or spread the whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of the pie, and garnish with slices of the remaining banana.

Tempering the Eggs

Do not add eggs to hot liquid or they will cook into scrambled eggs. They must be tempered. This method brings the eggs to a hot temperature without cooking them fully. Once the eggs are hot and fully combined add them all to the main mixture.

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (4)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (5)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (6)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (7)

Homemade Crust

Blind bake. Blind baking pie crust just means that it is baked before adding the pie filling. After the dough has been placed into the pie pan, poke holes all over the bottom and sides of the dough. This helps to keep the crust from shrinking.

Add pie weights or cover the pie dough with parchment paper fill the pie with dry beans and then bake in the oven.

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Recipe Tips

  • Brown bananas. The banana slices covered with the custard will not brown but those placed decoratively on top will. Slow the process down by treating them with citrus juice or Ball’s Fresh Fruit powder.
  • Check consistency. Dip the back of a spoon into the custard. It should be thick enough that it will not drip off the spoon.
    • Run your finger right through the middle of the spoon. The custard should stay in two separate sections and not run together. It needs to cook longer if it drips off the spoon or forms back into one after separating.
  • Thicken the custard. If the custard isn’t setting after being cooked sufficiently, add more cornstarch. In a separate bowl, mix 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. Pour the mixture into the custard and whisk to activate.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (9)

Storing Info

  • This easy banana cream pie needs to be made several hours ahead of time so that it has time to chill and set. More ways to prep/make this pie in advance:
    • Pie dough. Make the dough for the crust. Wrap it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or wrap it again with foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw, if applicable, roll and bake when ready to use.
    • Baked crust. Allow the pie crust to cook and wrap it in foil. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days or freeze for 1 month.
    • Custard. Make the filling the day before and store it in the fridge. Add a piece of plastic directly on top of the custard to avoid a skin from forming.
    • Fully assembled pie. Cover a cooled pie with a piece of plastic directly on top of the custard for up to 4 days. Do not add toppings until right before serving.
  • STORE leftover pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • FREEZE Banana cream pie using a freezer-safe container, but keep in mind the texture may not be quite the same.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (10)

For More Pie:

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Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (15)

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (16)

5 from 26 votes

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna

This easy banana cream pie recipe is filled with layers of banana encased in a rich, creamy, vanilla custard, atop a flaky pie crust!

Servings: 8

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Chill time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total: 2 hours hrs

Ingredients

for the custard:

  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 egg yolks beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

for the pie:

  • 9 inch pre-baked pie crust cooled
  • 4 bananas sliced
  • 2 cups whipped cream

Instructions

  • To make the custard, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the milk slowly, and whisk until combined. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching.

  • Once the mixture has reached a simmer, simmer for one minute, until thickened. Remove from heat and pour about ½ cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, quickly stirring to prevent the eggs from curdling.

    Pour the egg yolk mixture into the custard mixture, and stir to combine. Return the pot to the heat and bring the custard back to a simmer. Simmer for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla until smooth.

  • Pour the custard into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cooled to room temperature.

  • To assemble the pie, slice three of the bananas into the cooled pie crust. Pour the custard over the top of the bananas, spreading evenly. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to overnight.

  • Just before serving, pipe or spread the whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of the pie, and garnish with slices of the remaining banana.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 1402kcal, Carbohydrates: 161g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 75g, Saturated Fat: 26g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 33g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 99mg, Sodium: 1146mg, Potassium: 577mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 427IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 151mg, Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Making this recipe? Tag us!

Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Categorized as: American Recipes, Cuisines, Desserts, Holiday Desserts, Holidays, , Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in a cream pie? ›

You can toss the sliced or diced banans in a bit of lemon juice before adding them to pie. or you can simply refrigerate them for long before adding to pudding, this may cause cold. Both of the above will restricts the bananas from turning brown.

Is banana cream pie made of pudding? ›

Take the pie crust and place sliced Bananas on the bottom of crust. Meanwhile, remove the wax paper and fold half of the whipped topping into the cooled Pudding Mix. Spoon the Pudding Mixture evenly over the Bananas. Now spoon the remaining whipped topping over the Pudding Mixture in the pie shell.

How to thicken banana cream pie filling? ›

Flour: All-purpose flour helps thicken the creamy filling. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, but it won't make your pie taste salty.

How long can a banana cream pie last? ›

Banana cream pie will keep stored in the refrigerator, covered loosely with foil or plastic wrap, for up to three or four days.

Why does my banana cream pie get watery? ›

Why is my banana cream pie filling runny? A runny filling can occur if you don't cook the filling long enough or chill the pie adequately. The key is to cook the filling over medium heat until it's thick. You must also let the pie chill for at least 2 to 3 hours to allow the filling to set properly.

How long will lemon juice keep bananas from turning brown? ›

However, if you sprinkle them with a little lemon juice, it lowers the pH levels and will keep browning at bay. Following the lemon trick, put them in the fridge, either wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight food storage container or bag. Stored this way, sliced bananas can stay fresh for three to four days.

What is a interesting fact about banana cream pies? ›

In 1951, the Banana Cream Pie was named the Armed Forces' favorite dessert. The Banana Cream Pie is a work of culinary magic with old-fashioned custard pie; it is a combination of creamy vanilla custard, sliced bananas and fresh whipped cream layered in a graham cracker crust.

What's the difference between custard pie and cream pie? ›

In North America, "custard pie" commonly refers to a plain mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and sometimes nutmeg combined with a pie crust. It is distinctly different from a cream pie, which contains cooked custard poured into a cooled, precooked crust.

What is humble pie made of? ›

An umble pie is a pie filled with chopped or minced offal, especially of deer but often other meats, called umbles in Middle English, which derived from the word numble (after the Middle French nombles), meaning "deer's innards".

What thickens a cream pie? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy solution, as you're sure to have it in your pantry. Since it's lower in starch, you'll use more of it than you would higher-starch thickeners. Quick-cooking tapioca makes filling bright and clear, but also gives it a stippled and somewhat sticky texture.

What is the best ingredient to use in thickening the filling of cream pies? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

Why is my banana pudding so watery? ›

Pudding is usually runny because it has been stored in the refrigerator for too long or in an open space. Another cause could be due to improper cooking methods.

How do you keep bananas from turning dark in banana cream pie? ›

* Treat the bananas with citrus juice: Lemon, orange or pineapple juice will prevent browning. To avoid changing the flavor of the pie, you want to use as little as possible. Brush it lightly on the slices, or place the juice in a spray bottle and spritz them.

Is it OK to leave a fruit pie out overnight? ›

If a pie contains eggs or dairy products, it should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Pies that do not contain dairy products, such as fruit pies can be stored, loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days.

Does snack pack banana cream pie pudding need to be refrigerated? ›

Snack Pack Pudding Cups don't have to be refrigerated, making them perfect snacks for packed lunches.

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in a recipe? ›

Just toss your banana slices in some lemon juice to inhibit enzymatic browning. Full coverage, particularly on the cut sides, will help prevent the slices from turning brown. In addition to lemon juice, vinegar will also work.

How to make banana pudding without the bananas turning brown? ›

To keep the sliced bananas from turning brown, they are gently tossed or brushed with a small amount of lemon juice. You'll just need a few minutes to mix up the pudding and stack the layers in a trifle dish, glass bowl, or individual dishes.

Will bananas go brown in custard? ›

Prepare now, eat later. This custard is easy and quick to prepare and is best eaten as soon as chilled. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge, but eat within 1 day as the fruit will begin to turn brown and the caramel topping will soften.

Does putting bananas in the fridge stop them from browning? ›

There are a few cautionary points to keep in mind when refrigerating your bananas. Bananas are very temperature sensitive, so the cold temperature of the fridge will cause the skin of the bananas to darken after a few days, at which point they should be discarded.

References

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