Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (2024)

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Home » Recipe Index » Dessert: Pies and Crisps » Banana Cream Pie Recipe

by Kara Cook 16 Comments

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Made from scratch Banana Cream Pie is one of the most delicious pies you will ever taste! The homemade pudding knocks the boxed pudding out of the water. So rich and creamy!

My food assignment for Thanksgiving involves baking. Which is perfect, because I love baking! I am usually in charge of rolls or pies, or some of both. My family doesn’t love pumpkin pie, so I usually leave that one for someone else and make other pie recipes. We always have an apple pie, and then a few non-traditional pies.
Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (1)

I’ve noticed the last few years that the Banana Cream Pie is always the first one gone. I knew my boys loved it, but apparently so does everyone else!
Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (3)
Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (4)

If you’ve never had a homemade banana cream pie with pudding that doesn’t come from a box, and real whipped cream on top, you are missing out! Yes, the instant pudding/Cool Whip variety is faster, but I think this one is so worth it. Especially for Thanksgiving. It only comes once a year after all. 🙂
Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (5)

Banana Cream Pie

Yield: 8 servings

Banana Cream Pie

Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (6)

Homemade vanilla pudding and fresh whipped cream make this the best banana cream pie ever!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

Filling

  • 9 inch pastry crust, baked and cooled
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 bananas, sliced

Topping

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 Tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Stir sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a large saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks till smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk; mix well. Slowly stir the milk mixture into the saucepan, whisk together.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, till mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1-2 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. (If desired, pour through a metal strainer to remove any lumps.)
  3. Place saucepan in an ice water bath to cool the pudding. ( I usually fill my sink with 2-3 inches of ice water and place the pan in it.) Stir often to prevent a skin from forming on the top of the pudding.
  4. Slice the bananas into the pie shell. Pour the lukewarm pudding over the bananas. Chill for at least 2 hours.
  5. Whip the cream till soft peaks form. Whip in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread on top of the chilled pie. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 326Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 137mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 5g

Doesn’t it look amazing? It’s no wonder it is always the first pie to go!

Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (7)

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Comments

  1. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (8)Debra

    I followed your directions, and the pie was runny and too sweet. Next time I would use 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup sugar. Perhaps that is what you meant.

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (9)Kara Cook

      Not sure why it was too runny, but my guess is that you just needed to cook it a little longer. You could use 1/3 cup of sugar if you like it less sweet. Using 1/2 cup of cornstarch would ruin both the flavor and the texture.

      Reply

  2. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (10)Allison

    Assuming Butter needs to be melted before adding in?

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (11)Kara Cook

      No, you don’t need to melt the butter first. The heat of the cooked pudding will melt it even if it is cold.

      Reply

  3. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (13)RossC

    I have baked this pie a number of times since finding this recipe..
    Each time has been a delightful success..
    I keep thinking that I must comment and thank you..
    I’m finally doing so.. :O)

    Reply

  4. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (14)Cathleen

    Dear Kara : I just made your banana cream pie recipe and it turned out great. I cooled it off in the freezer for awhile, whisking it after 10 minutes, but found out not to cool it so much that it doesn’t stay spreadable. I put banana slices on the bottom, middle and top, then plastic wrap. I like that the filling gets nice and solid, won’t run out onto the plate when cut. I don’t have whipping cream so I’m going to use whipped topping for the top. Your photos are stellar! I know this takes some skill and ability, good job! I took pictures of mine, would like to share them with you. I will save this filling recipe. Thank you so much for the recipe. Cathleen ????

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (15)Kara Cook

      It can be tricky getting the filling cool enough without it setting up to much, although I can usually whisk it if it sets up too much. Thanks so much for your comment about my photos. It is still sometimes a challenge for me to take great photos, so I appreciate it! I would love to see your photos, you can email them to me!

      Reply

  5. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (16)Lui Recto

    I made this using the ready made small pie crust that you can buy in Publix. My husband loved it. thanks for the recipe ???????? cheers!

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (17)Kara Cook

      So glad to hear that your husband loved it! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (18)Laura

    Does homemade whip creme get runny after a day or 2 in fridge ?

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (19)Kara Cook

      I haven’t had it get runny, but we usually eat it pretty fast. The bananas turning brown is more of an issue than the cream getting runny. 😉

      Reply

  7. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (20)Daryl

    How to stop the pie from being running. When you cut that peace stay frim

    Reply

  8. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (21)Debbie

    What do put on the bananas to prevent them from browning?

    Reply

    • Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (22)Kara Cook

      We always eat it fast enough that they don’t turn brown. But you can dip them in Sprite or 7-up, or even lemon or lime juice.

      Reply

  9. Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (23)denyse@crazy beautiful life

    Oh my goodness! That looks really yummy. I am definitely going to have to try it!

    Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

    Reply

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Recipe for banana cream pie made from scratch (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken banana cream pie filling? ›

For thickening, you'll use cornstarch. (The egg yolks and cream help, too.) A fork works for whisking the cornstarch and egg yolk mixture.

What is banana cream pie made of? ›

Old-fashioned banana cream pie is basically a buttery pie crust layered with fresh bananas, a thick vanilla pudding/custard mixture, and topped with whipped cream. My world's best banana cream pie recipe jazzes up the traditional version by using an epic peanut butter cookie crust.

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

Lemon Juice: Toss the sliced bananas in a mixture of lemon juice and water. The citric acid in the lemon juice will help to slow down the oxidation process and keep the bananas from turning brown.

Why doesn t my banana cream pie set? ›

Another possible reason for a runny banana cream pie is that the pie filling was not chilled properly before being added to the crust. Be sure to chill the pudding mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before adding it to the crust. Finally, make sure you are using ripe bananas in your pie.

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

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.

How do you keep banana cream pie from getting watery? ›

Why is my banana cream pie runny? When cooking the filling, it is important to cook it at a low boil, in order to activate the corn starch and heat the egg yolks to a temperature that they will adequately thicken the custard. Once chilled, this should keep your banana cream pie from being runny.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

What is cream pie filling made of? ›

A cream pie, crème pie, or creme pie is a type of pie filled with a rich custard or pudding that is made from milk, cream, sugar, wheat flour, and eggs and typically topped with whipped cream.

Why is my banana cream pie so runny? ›

Why is my banana cream pie filling runny? It's either your filling has too much liquid or is undercooked. If it's too much liquid, just add more cornstarch and let it cook to thicken the mixture. Or add some whipped cream to the custard mixture and whisk until you get the desired consistency.

Will lemon juice keep bananas from turning dark? ›

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.

Does pineapple juice keep bananas from turning brown? ›

Keep cut fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas, and peaches from turning brown by: Coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon, orange, or pineapple juice. Use a commercial anti-darkening preparation with fruits, such as Fruit-Fresh®*, and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Why is my homemade banana pudding runny? ›

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.

Should banana cream pie be refrigerated? ›

Should banana cream pie be refrigerated? You should definitely refrigerate banana cream pie as it is filled with dairy, which should not be left out for longer than an hour or so. Cover with a large cloche or arrange some tin foil loosely over the pie and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Why is my banana cream pie filling not thickening? ›

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.

How can I make my cream filling thicker? ›

Thickening a cream sauce is easy! You can make a cream sauce thicker by reducing it on the stovetop. If reducing the sauce doesn't work, or if you're in a rush, you can use a thickener to bulk up your sauce. Flour, butter, eggs, and cornstarch are simple ingredients that can make your cream sauce thicker.

How do you thicken runny pie filling? ›

Flour as Pie Filling Thickener

Teaspoon for teaspoon, you will need to use about twice as much flour as you would cornstarch or tapioca to achieve the same thickening effects. Adding too much flour to your pie filling will turn it cloudy and pasty, with a distinctly floury taste.

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