Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie, Oh My

The other day I posted a teaser photo on face book of the banana cream pie that I made. I try not to post too many teaser photos because I know everyone wants a recipe after seeing a photo. Usually 9 times out of 10 I am nowhere near ready to post it yet. I had also mentioned that I would be posting the recipe later in the week.

Well, a promise is a promise so here it is my favorite Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie. I have said it before and I will say it again. I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned custard style pie. I just can't help myself, especially the diner style pies those are my all time favorite ones.

I found this recipe over 20 years ago and it's been my favorite banana cream pie ever since. You can also make just a plain vanilla cream pie by just leaving out the bananas. I also don't make a traditional meringue with egg whites. Because I can never make the meringue without it separating.

So to solve that problem I use my trusty meringue powder to make all my pies that require a meringue topping. When I use meringue powder my pies taste just like the ones from a bakery. Also if you don't like raw eggs then this would be a perfect substitution. 

I think I have just about baked and blogged about all my favorite pies here on Mommy's Kitchen. I still have a few up my sleeve to make because you can never have enough pie's can you? Let's get started and I will show you how easy this pie is to make.

Start by pre baking your pie crust. While it cools you can prepare the custard filling. Whisk together the milk, cream, and egg yolks. Combine the sugar and the cornstarch in a heavy saucepan. Whisk in the milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes stir the mixture constantly until it comes to a boil , about 5-7 minutes. Boil and stir the mixture for one minute.

The pudding mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter. Let the filling sit a bit until it cools down some before adding the sliced bananas.

When cooled down add the sliced bananas and pour into the pie shell and smooth. Prepare the meringue topping and spread over the pudding. Place the pie in your ovens broiler and slightly brown the meringue. Watch carefully because it only takes a couple minutes.

 

Ok let's talk meringue. To get the perfect meringue topping I use my trusty meringue powder. The reason I like to use Meringue powder is because my meringue topping turns out perfect every time.

Just look at the picture above it's perfection. Sometimes when using eggs whites they don't set up or if you get any part the egg yolk in them it ruins and then the meringue separates all over your pie.

 So to solve that problem I use meringue powder for perfect meringue every time. I purchase mine at Wal-mart for $4.50 for the smallest can.

Believe me you get a lot of pie toppings from just one small can so don't buy the big one. One recipe only requires 1 tablespoon of meringue powder.

You can find meringue powder in the cake decorating isle. Click here for a link to my chocolate pie recipe and you can see a photo of what the meringue powder looks like.

Bam!!!!!!!!!! I don't know why I said that but that is what I said when I took it out of the oven after I browned the meringue! I feel so Emeril when I do that LOL.

Look how pretty that meringue topping is? Like I said perfection every time. If you want a pretty diner style pie then you need to be using the meringue powder.

Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients:

2 1/2 - cups 2% or whole milk
1/4 - cup heavy cream
2 - egg yolks
2/3 - cup sugar
4 - tablespoons cornstarch
2 - teaspoons vanilla extract
2 - tablespoons butter, room temp
1 - 2 ripe banana, sliced (not over ripe)
1 - 9 inch pie shelled, baked (homemade or store bought)
1 - 2 recipes meringue topping using meringue powder

Directions:

Let's start by getting the pie crust prepared. You can prepare a homemade one crust recipe or use store bought pie crust.

Prick the bottom and sides of your pie crust and bake until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool while you prepare the filling. Whisk together the milk, cream, and egg yolks.

Combine the sugar and the cornstarch in a heavy saucepan. Whisk in the milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes stir the mixture constantly until it comes to a boil , about 5-7 minutes. Boil and stir the mixture for one minute. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter.

Let the filling cool down a bit before adding the sliced bananas. When cooled, add the sliced bananas and pour into the pie shell and smooth.

Prepare the meringue topping and spread on top of the pudding mixture.

Place under your ovens broiler for a couple minutes to brown the meringue topping. Make sure to watch carefully because it only takes a couple minutes. 

After baking, cool on the counter one to two hours and then place in the refrigerator uncovered for at least 3-6 hours before serving. 

Meringue Topping:

1 - 2 recipes meringue topping using meringue powder. Follow the directions on the back of the can of the Meringue Powder for Meringue Pies. I double the meringue recipe. It is the perfect amount for pies. The ingredients required will be meringue powder, sugar and water.

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