Banana Cream Pie Recipe Like Grandma's (2024)

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A classic Banana Cream Pie recipe, topped high with homemade meringue is just like the piemy grandma used to make.

Banana Cream Pie Recipe Like Grandma's (1)

There is one thing I’ve discovered as I havelearned to make homemade pie.The more I do it, the more I miss my grandma.

As I was beating the egg whites together for the meringue of this banana cream pie, tears sprung to my eyes .

Grandma was our family pie maker. She made the absolute best pies. She would make dozens of pies for every family gathering. No matter what, she would always cater to everyones favorites. From apple, to pumpkin, to pecan, to my favorite banana cream pie, if there was a pie someone wanted, Grandmawould bring it. I can only imagine how much work went into her epic pie baking days.

I always remember her pulling up to our house on family occasions, with copy paper boxes full of homemade pies. It would take several trips from her car to our house to bring all the pies in.

Grandma pulling up to our house would stop everyone in their tracks. We all couldn’t wait to see how many of our favorite homemade pies she would bring this time. Once the pies were in the house and displayed on their pie plate, it took every ounce of willpower to not take a nibble. Often times, we’d find pieces of meringue picked off the pies with a chorus of “it wasn’t me” when confronted.

Grandma Sumner has been gone for 13 years now, but I can remember her pies like it was yesterday. I think she’d be really proud of me. I wish I would have learned to love making pie sooner. I’d love so much to make my favorite banana cream pie alongside her. Although, I have no doubt she’s right here beside me anyway. With every fluff of meringue, I’m quickly taken back to those times when she was still with us.

This banana cream pie recipe is the one my Grandma Sumner used to make, my mom makes and now I make. It’s a classic recipe from the most used cookbook on my bookshelf…the Better Crocker’s Cookbook. I actually think this was the first cookbook I have ever owned.

The page this recipe is on is full of the recipes Grandma used for her homemade pies. It is so splattered and worn, you can tell it’s a great recipe. Grandma always said, a messy cookbook page is the map to find the absolute best recipes. With this banana cream pie recipe she was especially right.

Above all, there’s a reason this recipe is a staple. Its rich, creamy full of flavor banana pudding pie filling can’t be beat. Add to that the most perfectly fluffy homemade meringue and you have homemade pie perfection.

Banana Cream Pie is my absolute favorite and is a must have for dessert on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think this pie should be come a tradition in your family too! I hope you’ll give it a try. Enjoy!

For tips and and a recipe for perfectly flaky pie crust, visit my video tutorial post.

Making the perfect pie crust has always been the one thing keeping me from making pie. The post linked above will teach you how to easily make a perfectly flaky pie crust. In fact, there’s a special tip that my friend DeLynn taught me that made all the difference. I’ll tell you now, the secret is in the paste. Wonder what I mean? Make sure to check out the video tutorial! It will change how you make pie crust from here on out. For

For this pie recipe you’ll want to blind bake the crust at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, until light brown.

Banana Cream Pie Recipe Like Grandma's (4)

Tips and tricks for making Banana Cream Pie

Fully ripe, sliced bananas make for the best banana flavor. Bananas that aren’t quite ripe don’t have the same full flavor, so choose ripe bananas for this recipe.

Separating egg yolks from the egg whites is a pain. This egg seperator tool makes it such a simple task for high volume recipes like this one.

The biggest challenge with this recipe is remembering to be attentive when cooking the pie filling. Stir the mixture continuously, as milk products have a high tendency to burn easily. The last thing you want is little bits of burnt pudding ruining your banana cream pie.

If you aren’t a fan of meringue, an alternate topping would be fresh whipped cream. If you make this substitute, just skip the meringue steps in the recipe below. I recommend topping the pie with homemade whipped cream right before serving.

Although I love banana cream pie with traditional pie crust, you can easily make graham cracker crust instead.

Finally, if you want to skip the pie for a simple dessert, this Banana Pudding Recipe would be a great alternative.

Banana Cream Pie Recipe Like Grandma's (5)

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Banana Cream Pie Recipe

A classic Banana Cream Pie just like my Grandma Sumner used to make.

Course Dessert

Keyword banana cream pie, dessert, pie, pudding

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 slices

Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

  • For the pie filling:
  • 1 9- inch pre-baked pie shell follow my instructions here for a perfect pie crust
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups milk
  • 4 egg yolks slightly beaten (reserve the egg whites)
  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 large bananas sliced
  • For the meringue:
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 6 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • For the pie:

  • Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.Boil and stir 1 minute.

  • Stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into egg yolks. Stir into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat.

  • Stir in butter, vanilla.

  • Place sliced banans in single layer in the pre-baked pie shell

  • Pour pudding mixture into the pre-baked pie shell over the bananas.

  • For the meringue:

  • Beat egg whites and cream of tarter in the bowl of an electric mixer until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy and stiff peaks form. Do not underbeat.

  • Beat in vanilla.

  • Spoon meringue onto hot pie filling. Spread over filling, carefully sealing meringue to the edge of crust to prevent shrinking or weeping. Using the back of a spoon, gently press down on the meringue and lift lightly to form peaks all over the top.

  • Place in a preheated 400°F oven and bake for 8-12 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned.

  • Cool pie and slice to serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Notes

Adapted from the Betty Crocker's Classic Cookbook

Finally, ourDisclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information about our site policies, visit our disclosure and site policy page here.

Banana Cream Pie Recipe Like Grandma's (2024)

FAQs

Why did my banana cream pie turn out runny? ›

Several factors could contribute to a runny banana cream pie. It may not have set properly if the custard wasn't cooked long enough or if it wasn't chilled adequately. Ensure you follow the recipe's instructions for both cooking and chilling times, and consider refrigerating the pie for a longer period if needed.

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

Coat the banana slices in a wee bit of lemon juice and that'll stop the browning. Then, once they are in the pudding, the lemon juice and lack of oxygen will keep them looking fresh.

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 I keep my pies from being runny? ›

Partially pre-cook the filling to evaporate its excess juice. Experiment with different thickeners beyond flour — we love Instant ClearJel. Vent the pie's top crust so steam from the juice can escape. For even better evaporation, try a lattice crust or crumb crust.

How do you fix a runny pie? ›

The best way to thicken runny apple pie filling before baking it is to add some cornstarch, tapioca starch, or flour to your mix. To fix a runny pie that's already been baked, simply let it cool to see if it will congeal naturally. If not, you can stick it back in the oven for a bit longer.

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.

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. We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies.

What can you do with old bananas? ›

What to Do with Overripe Bananas
  1. Mash Into Oatmeal. Breakfast is a great time to take advantage of the energy boost that comes from eating the natural sugars in bananas. ...
  2. Blend Into Waffle or Pancake Batter. ...
  3. Make Banana Muffins. ...
  4. Bake Banana Cookies. ...
  5. Add to a Smoothie. ...
  6. Turn Into Ice Cream. ...
  7. Whip Up Beignets.
Mar 12, 2024

What ingredient helps thicken the filling of 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 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 a interesting fact about banana cream pies? ›

Five Fun Facts:
  • In a 1951 survey conducted by the United States Armed Services, banana cream pie was ranked the soldier's favorite dessert!
  • If your banana cream pie has a "black bottom", that means that it has chocolate on the bottom!
  • An English variation is called Banoffee Pie - a merger of banana and toffee.
Mar 2, 2012

What is banana moon pie? ›

Soft and squidgy marshmallow is sandwiched between two circular graham-cracker biscuits, and coated in a sweet candy layer! They're so easy to enjoy, and they taste great! The classic graham cracker and marshmallow creme sandwich that the states have grown to love, but now with a sweet banana coating!

Why is my banana pudding mix not thickening? ›

If you want to try to fix it, you can try dissolving a little bit of cornstarch in water and adding that in. Then try using a handheld or stand mixer to whip the pudding up until is starts to thicken. It will probably never set up completely, though, but it may help a little.

Does banana pudding thicken as it cools? ›

Allow pudding to cool completely, while stirring regularly. It will thicken up even more as it cools. In a glass loaf pan, layer 18 vanilla wafers and top with one sliced banana. Spread half of the cooled pudding onto the layer of banana slices.

Why is my banana liquidy? ›

While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids.

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