Best Ever Banana Cream Pie
This Best Ever Banana Cream Pie is truly INCREDIBLE! It has a homemade graham cracker crust, delicious banana cream filling and topped with whipped cream. It is perfect for any occasion!
You guys. This pie is insanely delicious. I am not normally a pie person but this one has quickly soared to one of my new go-to desserts for company. EVERYONE raves about this pie!
It starts with a homemade buttery graham cracker crust that is such a wonderful accent to the the banana cream pie filling. But let’s talk about that cream filling though… The banana cream pie filling is of course the best part of this dessert!
It is silky, creamy with delicious chunks of banana throughout.
It is then topped with a homemade whipped cream that truly completes the pie.
The three parts of the pie work together to create magic in every bite. I kid you not when I say that this pie will be THE BEST Banana Cream Pie you EVER try!
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 6Tablespoons melted butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 cups half and half
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar and mix well. Add melted butter and mix until it is well blended.
- Press into a 9 inch pie pan and bake for 7 minutes.
- Cool completely.
- In medium sauce pan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add half and half and egg yolks and whisk until well combined. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute and remove from heat. Stir in butter, and vanilla.
- Pour ½ of the filling into the crust.
- Top with sliced bananas to cover the filling.
- Pour the rest of the filling over the bananas.
- Cover with saran wrap directly on the filling itself to avoiding a sticky film on top.
- Chill for at least 3 hours.
- Top with another layer of sliced bananas.
- In a medium mixing bow,l beat whipping cream at high speed. Gradually add sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form. You don't want them to be soft but you don't want them to become butter either.
- Spread whipping cream over the top of the bananas and then garnish with a few more slices of bananas. Serve.
Enjoy!
For more Banana Cream Pie Recipes, check out these:
Lina
What is half half. In Australia
Courtney
I'm not sure how helpful this response will be, but half and half is basically equal parts milk and cream.
Noelle
Evaporated milk
Kami
I used this recipe for Thanksgiving yesterday. I've never made a cream pie from scratch before, so i was nervous. It turned out perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Kristina
This was a huge hit for my mother in laws birthday! Requested that I make it again for Christmas dinner. Thank you so much! Followed it step by step, just perfect!
Allison Arana
I made this the way the recipe is given and holy moly it's absolutely the best banana cream pie ever! Unfortunately my husband is lacoste intolerant so I had to remake it so he could eat it. For the cream filling I used 2% Lactaid milk instead of the half and half. So far it tastes delicious. Will know more once it sits for a while. I also took the sugar out of the graham cracker crust to cut back on the sugar but did use honey graham crackers. Haven't figured out the whipped cream though.
Thank you sooo much for giving me an awesome banana cream pie recipe!!!
Allison Arana
I also added a smashed up banana to the cream while it was still hot to give the cream a banana flavor.
SR
Just made this for Pi Day. Loved it! It was my first cream pie and I was very pleased with how it came out.
Shari
This really is the best banana cream pie ever. Thank you for the recipe. I made it last night and my husband loves it and so do I.
Debie Langford
THE BEST!!! Followed the recipe except I didn't make the homemade topping. I used ready whip so I could add the topping when serving since the whole pie wasn't going to be eaten at once. I also found a tip for keeping the bananas from turning brown, without using lemon juice. Use bananas that aren't super ripe (just a bit green on the stalk). Slice them longways (in half) and put cut side down in the pie shell. Mine took 3 bananas and I had to piece in some, but the bananas did not turn brown. Every banana cream pie I have seen slices the bananas horizontally, and the more cuts, the more brown the bananas get. Going to use this technique for banana pudding next time I make it.
Diane
Sorry but in the banana cream mixture what is half and half of thankyou
Chef in Training
It is found in the dairy next to the milks. It is a blend of half cream half milk.
Maia
I was so excited to try this recipe, and it was nothing but a liquid mess! You may want to alter your recipe a bit or rename it because it is definitely not the best.
Heidi
You must have made a mistake. Maybe you didn't boil the filling long enough?Everyone else's pie seemed to work out swell. May want to retrace your cooking steps? Just a thought.....
Hayley
I am not an experienced pie maker and this recipe was SO simple and SO DELICIOUS! My entire family loved it and it was a HUGE hit. 12/10 would I recommend this recipe to anyone and everyone!
Leslie
I made this pie and loved it I ate the whole pie and ready for another one I also made it for a couple of people and they also loved it as well I'm adding this recipe to my favorite list
Maggie
Tried it and the mixture never set, was planning on giving this to my father on father's day and it didn't work out. Extremely disappointed
Heidi
If I had to guess....you didn't boil the filling long enough. Bummer.
Joycelyn
I have made banana cream pie from scratch for years. The recipe I use which is from my Grandma's old cookbook, instructs the cream to be thick before adding the eggs. Then temper the eggs with some of the mixture; add egg yolks to mixture and cook 1 minute. Remove from stove, then add vanilla and butter. It works every time. I recommend putting the milk/half & half in the microwave for about 3 minutes to save me time. I bake from scratch, and microwaving my milk for puddings and cream pie base before adding it to the other ingredients is a big time saver.
Nicole
Made your recipe with my 7 year old son for my grandmothers 93rd birthday. Very easy to make and your directions were very clear. It was light and delicious as well! Thank you!
Becky
I don't have a pie pan can I use an 8×8 square pan?
Heidi
Great recipe! Your directions were simple and clear. Thank you so much! My son loves banana and requested pie for his birthday. We all loved it!
Marisa
Will this pie freeze well? We're going to the cabin for the weekend and I want to make it ahead of time and freeze it. Thanks!
Heather
So is the boiled mixture suppose to go into the pie crust really thick like a pudding consistency??
Onie Panjaitan
Deeeeeeelicious!!! Great crust, delicious cream and the homemade whipped cream is just WOW!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Bethany
Making this right now for my Father-in-law's bday. Never made a banana cream pie before and it's his fave. (Fingers crossed) It's in the fridge chilling now. I will love you forever if I pulled this off. Thank you for the great recipe and excellent instructions, it was so helpful. Just have one more step to go with the whipped cream. (fist bump)
Freda
I made it today and it turned out excellent. Delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
Tiffany
I feel like you should amend your boiling time. I followed the directions exactly and also ended up with a liquidy mess. After reading some of the other comments I reheated the liquid and boiled it for an additional 2-3 minutes and it came out much better.
Kevyn
Amazing recipe!!! I added so many layers of bananas and pudding. I was able to use almost a whole bundle of banana what were going bad (7) ?
I subbed Oreos for the crust too and sprinkled some crumbs on top.
Patricia Solis
This absolutely is the best and easiest recipe I have tried on Pinterest. I had plans to make this myself but wasn't feeling well. Soo my 18 year old daughter and daughter in law stepped in and made the pie. I never saw a slice it was eaten so fast. I came home today and she made another so that I could indulge. I ingredients are few and it was so easy. I don't know how the other geniuses that gave you less than 5 ⭐'s ended up with a soupy mess lol. The recipe does call for cornstarch and eggs. GOOD LORD.
ANY WHO..... THIS WILL BE MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY HOUSEHOLD. THANK YOU.
Cindee
Been looking for one like my Mom use to make. Hers was from scratch with Graham cracker crust also. She did a meringue topping. Thank you!!! She is no longer with us and never found her recipe....
Sara
This was great! I’m a professional chef and baking isn’t my forte. (I tend to bake like I cook which isn’t great for baking.) I’m fairly impatient with the measuring and baking process so I’m often on the lookout for easy sweets recipes. This satisfied all of that. I noticed that some people had trouble with the process and its helpful to include in your recipe that the filling will thicken up a bit in the pot, if done correctly, before it should be poured into the pie. (Mine actually thickened right up in the pot.) I added a little salt to the filling to round out the flavors. I had so much fun with your ratios, I was able to make some fun variations. Your recipe was so good, in fact, I was able to double up without a hitch and create mini pies for a special event I was hosting. So thank you! From a professional chef to a chef-in-training. ;)
david
This recipe worked perfectly and scored big points with the banana cream pie lover in my life. Thanks very much!
Jessica
I heard the comments and some complained about the filling not thicking up, so I boiled for an extra minute or two. The filling came out way too thick. I also only had heavy cream so I did half heavy cream and half milk - which could have caused the thick filling as well. I prefer more of a pudding consistency.
Heather
A five star for sure! I make it every year for my dads birthday. Thank you!!
Kathryn
I’m worried I boiled the mixture too long. Is it suppose to be pretty thick or more liquid lily? Mine is a pudding ish mixture.
Heather
The first pie I made was an epic fail, but after reading the comments I realized I didn't boil the filling long enough. The second pie I made was AAMMMMAAZING!! We let it set for 3 hours, and it was good, but it was even better the next day!
Jamie fisher
First time making a pie that wasn't pumpkin. It tasted wonderful and looked beautiful! Love this recipe! Thank you!!!
Celia
I've made this many times and everyone thinks it's scrumptious! Thank you!
amanda MacDonald
I plan on making this pie for my church's pie auction this Sunday and I was planning on making the pie Saturday morning and I was wondering if the whipped topping would hold up if i made it the day before?
Jennifer Townsend
This is absolutely the BEST pie I have ever made. It gets requested over and over. It is simple to make and tastes so fresh. Everyone in my family makes it their Birthday "cake" and I have to bring it to all pot lucks, school events, picnics, etc. You won't be disappointed
Liz
Hi! I have made this pie multiple times before and Always comes out deliscous ! The only problem I’ve run into is the crust is extremely hard to cut it’s fine once your eating it but it’s hard to get a clean slice. Is there anything I can do to make it better ? Maybe not cook it as long ? Let me know what you think thanks !
Joshua H
Turned out amazing. I didn’t layer bananas though I just mixed them in. Thank you for the recipe!
Liz
Should I use unsalted butter?
Jenn
It was good! My first pie turned out great, however the crust was a little hard and was difficult to cut. You'll want to boil the curd a little more, although I cooked it a little too long, I cut a little sugar out of the whipped cream. It took about 7-8 mins on high speed to get the right consistency, overall it was a great pie and i will definitely make it again
Christina
My husband was craving a banana cream pie, so I turned to Pinterest. Found this and decided to give it a try. He is obsessed! Says it is the best ever! Thanks for making me look good - I never make pies - usually cakes and cookies. He says it tastes like it’s from an old fashioned diner.
PS - My husband said you’re on his list (a la Friends and the laminated list episode) for how good this is, lol!
Sharon
I absolutely love this recipe,iv made it many times. Just delicious
Julie Crosnoe
Can you refrigerate overnight before putting on the whipped topping?
Elaine Moore
Before I make this, I'd like to confirm that you boil the pudding mixture for just one minute...? I see in some of the comments you suggest "maybe you didn't boil it long enough". I'm a bit of a beginner, but I'd love to try this for Thanksgiving, but want to make sure I do it properly. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thank you.
Gucci
Super easy, super good
Sandy
It really was the best, and the easiest... I’ve been making pies for decades and I loved you didn’t have to worry about fussing about adding the hot to the eggs,
Cindee
My Mom use to make this with a meringue topping in stead. I will have to try this. I never found her recipe after she passed. Thank you!
Stacy
Dumb question: In your recipe the vanilla extract and vanilla are the same? Or no?
Chef in Training
yes they are the same :) So sorry for the confusion.
Sherrie
Alright, this banana cream pie recipe is AMAZING. I'm sorry for those few who didn't have this recipe work out...you must have undercooked the filling. This is literally the easiest pie recipe and comes together really quick. My filling basically set up in the pot on the stove. This will be my go-to banana cream pie for now on. I added vanilla and pure rum extract to the whipped topping (and used only about a tablespoon of sugar for the whip). I also lessened the sugar for the graham crust. Even though you are only putting slices of banana in layers, it has a lot of banana flavour. Thanks for the recipe. This has inspired me to make coconut cream pie and chocolate cream pie next.
Chef in Training
Oh I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for sharing! I have some awesome recipes for coconut cream and chocolate cream pie on the blog! You will have to try them and let me know how you like those! Thanks for the amazing comment :)
Diane Dellinger
Disappointed that it takes 10 pages to print this recipe. For that reason I won't follow you. Too many are more professional.
Chef in Training
Sorry we are working on this issue. Sorry to see you leave. If you are on a phone or tablet if you rotate it sideways the print option shows up on the recipe and prints as normal. It is an issue we are aware of and will be fixing soon.