Ingredients -
5 ripe bananas total - 2 bananas in part 1; and 3 bananas in part 4
4 tablespoons butter total - 1 tbl in part 1; and 3 tbl in part 3
2 1/2 cups half and half - part 1
1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons - part 2
6 large egg yolks - part 2
1/4 teaspoon salt - part 2
2 tablespoons cornstarch - part 2
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon in part 3 and 1/2 teaspoon in part 5
2 tablespoons orange juice - part 4
1 cup heavy cream chilled - part 5
2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar - part 5
1 recipe fully baked and cooled pie crust - part 4
Suggestion - there is a 40 minute wait after Part 1 and 1 hour wait after Part 3. You could use these times to prepare the pie crust.
Part 1 - Banana and Half-Half Mixture
1. Peel 2 bananas
2. Cut bananas into 1/2 inch pieces
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in medium saucepan over medium-high heat
4. Add sliced bananas to saucepan
5. Cook until softened - about 2 minutes
6. Add half-half
7. Bring to boil for 30 seconds
8. Remove from heat
9. Cover and let cool for 40 minutes
Part 2 - Egg Mixture with Banana-Half and Half Mixture
10. Whisk sugar, egg yolks, and salt in large bowl until smooth
11. Whisk in cornstarch
12. Strain cooled banana-half and half mixture from Part 1 through fine mesh strainer into yolk mixture - do not press down on bananas.
13. Whisk until incorporated
14. Discard remaining bananas
Part 3 - Pastry Cream
15. Transfer mixture to clean medium saucepan
16. Cook over medium-high heat whisking constantly until thickened to consistency of warm pudding - 180 degrees - 4 to 6 minutes
17. Remove from heat
18. With a clean whisk, whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla
19. Transfer mixture to clean bowl
20. Lay sheet of plastic wrap directly on surface of mixture
21. Refrigerate pastry cream for 1 hour
Part 4 - Putting the Pie Together
22. Peel and slice 3 bananas into 1/4 inch thick pieces
23. Toss with orange juice
24. Whisk pastry cream briefly
25. Spread half of pastry cream over the cooled pre-baked pie crust
26. Arrange sliced bananas over pastry cream
27. Spread remaining pastry cream over bananas
Part 5 - Whipped Cream Topping
28. Using a mixer, whisk the heavy cream, confectioner's sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla on medium-low until foamy - about 1 minute
29. Increase speed to high and whip until stiff peeks form - about 1-3 minutes
30. Spread whipped cream evenly over top of pie
31. Refrigerate pie until filling is chilled and set - at least 5 hours or up to 1 day. (It sets up better if left overnight - still does well after 5 hours though)
32. Enjoy
Mark's Notes
In step 18, I suggested using a clean whisk. The previous whisk was used to mix uncooked eggs. In step 18, the eggs are cooked, and so I use a clean whisk here.
I was using Pillsbury pre-made pie crust. I baked the crust for ten minutes. When we were all enjoying the pie and testing it, the crust was still very doughy and detracted from the taste of the rest of the pie. I did not cook the pie crust long enough. When I try this again, I will try baking the pre-made pie crust longer.
Also, I waited until the pastry cream in Part 3 had almost finished cooling to begin working with the pie crust and baking it and cooling it. I should have started on the pie crust after Part 1 or as soon as I put the pastry cream in the refrigerator. If I do that, I will be less rushed, the pie crust will have plenty of time to cook and then cool.
Or I could take the time to make the pie crust from scratch before I start everything else.
Mark's Story -
This recipe for Banana Cream Pie is from America's Test Kitchen New Family Cookbook. Trish got me that for Christmas. I was looking through all the wonderful recipes in there and I came across this - I love Banana Cream Pie.
03/14/15 9:26:53 was a very special Pi day. Pi day is celebrated on March 14 as mathematical Pi 3.14 matches the date 03/14. In 2015, Pi day was extra special as it happens only every 100 years (twice in one day with am and pm). So, for Pi day, I made this Banana Cream Pie. It turned out fairly well. We are having our Pi day celebration at work on Monday, and I will be making another one of these now that I have worked on some of the mistakes I made.
So, this is what I did on this very famous Pi Day!! It was very good.
I made a second Banana Cream Pie for our Pi Day celebration at work and cooked the crust longer. It looks really good.
This recipe is from America's Test Kitchen The New Family Cookbook.
"Banana Cream Pie." The New Family Cookbook. Editors at America's Test Kitchen. Brookline, MA: America's Test Kitchen, 2014. 718.
