Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie

overhead image of banana butterscotch cream pie

Luscious and mouth-watering. Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie! Come on…go ahead! Say it! OH MY! Yes, it is as glorious as it looks. Swoon-worthy. Drool-worthy. Don't be jealous! You can make one too!

Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie

It was one of those nights I keep talking about. Teresa and I were watching cooking shows half asleep on the couch. Half asleep until this luscious beauty flashed before our droopy eyes. WOW!
We both wanted to dart into the kitchen and make it. Immediately! But really. I had some sleep to catch up on and who am I kidding. I'm not superwoman. So I waited until Easter and until I had some energy back to show off to her again my fancy baking skills. I was going to make this pie all by myself. Well, Teresa did roll out the dough.
I used Martha's Stewart's pie crust recipe that I ADORE! The filling is a little time-consuming to make, but not impossible. You have to watch the caramel. You don't want it to burn.
I always make Salted Caramel Apple Pie and pecan pies. I'm very happy to add this to my collection of delicious pie recipes. It's a buttery and flaky pie crust filled with a luscious buttercream and banana filling. OH! And all that chocolate on top! OFF the hook fabulous! I recommend you add this to your pie recipe collection too!
This Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie recipe is from pastry chef Alan Carter from the Mission Beach Cafe in California. I did use my favorite pie crust recipe.

overhead image of a pie with a black and white drizzle on top
Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie
by: Alan Carter

Ingredients
  • 1  portion  or ½ of a 15-ounce package rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust (1 crust)
  • 1  tsp.  unflavored gelatin
  • 1  Tbsp.  cold water
  • ¼  cup  butter
  • 1 ½  cups  packed dark brown sugar
  • 1  cup  whipping cream
  • 1 ½  cups  whole milk
  • ¼  cup  cornstarch
  • 1  Tbsp.  all-purpose flour
  •   Dash  salt
  • 3    egg yolks, beaten
  • 1    egg, beaten
  • 1  tsp.  vanilla
  • 3  large ripe bananas
  • 2  oz.  white chocolate, melted
  • 2  oz.  dark chocolate, melted

Directions:
Pie Crust Recipe:

Yield: Makes 1 double-crust for a 9-inch pie (I saved my other crust to bake with another time in the refrigerator)

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons margarine or chilled vegetable shortening
¼ cup ice water

Directions

Hand Method: In a large bowl, sift the flour and salt. Cut the chilled butter and margarine into 1-tablespoon bits and add to the flour. With a pastry cutter, work flour and shortening together until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water little by little pressing the pastry together into a ball. Wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.

It is very important to work the pastry as little as possible. Don't over handle. A secret to light, flaky pastry is to keep the mixture cool, add as little water as possible, and mix only as much as necessary.

Food Processor Method: Put flour and salt in bowl of machine. Cut butter and margarine into flour. Process a few seconds until mixture resembles coarse meal. Drop by drop add the water, processing very briefly. The whole process would take 20 to 30 seconds. Wrap and chill the pastry for at least 1 hour.

If pastry has been chilled for a long time, let it sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before rolling.

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly flour a pastry board, marble counter, or kitchen counter. Divide the pastry in half. Pat each piece of pastry into a flat round. Lightly flour the rolling pin. Roll pastry in one direction only, turning pastry continually to prevent it from sticking to the surface.

Using pie plate as a guide, measure rolled-out pastry -- it should be slightly larger than the pie plate and 1-8-inch thick. Fold rolled pastry circle in half so you can lift it more easily. Unfold, gently fitting the pastry into the pie plate, allowing pastry to hang evenly over the edge.

Trim edges with scissors, leaving a ½-inch overhang. Fold bottom pastry overhang over top and press firmly to seal. Crimp rim, using fingers or the tines of a fork.

Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Place in freezer for 10 minutes. Line pastry with an 8 ¾-inch foil pie pan**; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.

Carefully remove foil pie tin. Bake 15 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. (Or bake refrigerated piecrust according to package directions.)

When your pie crust is all ready, the next step is the luscious filling!

Combine gelatin and cold water in a 6-ounce custard cup; set aside to soften.

On medium heat, combine the butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Cook and stir until it has changed to a slightly dark brown color and smells almost burnt (about 10 to 12 minutes). Remove pan from heat and slowly pour in the whipping cream. Take care as it may splatter. Set the pan aside.
overhead image of cream pouring into a saucepan
In another saucepan on medium high heat, heat milk  just until bubbly on edges; remove the pan from heat and set aside.

In a bowl combine remaining ½ cup brown sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt.
Whisk in egg yolks, egg and vanilla. Whisk until fluffy (about 1 minute).

overhead image of whipped egg yolks and a bowl with flour

 overhead image of an egg mixture in a metal bowl
Gradually stir hot milk into egg mixture.
overhead image of hot milk in a whipped egg mixture
Add brown sugar mixture.
overhead image of brown sugar mixture pouring into a whipped egg mixture in a metal bowl
Return mixture to saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 15 minutes).(* It does take about exactly 15 minutes until it turns into this rich custard. Don't walk away from the stove.) And keep stirring until it thickens.
overhead image of butterscotch in a metal bowl
Remove from heat; stir in softened gelatin.

Peel your ripe bananas and slice ½ inch thick; fold into custard mixture.

overhead image of sliced bananas and a pan with homemade butterscotch
Pour the banana buttercream mixture into baked pie crust. Take a piece of plastic wrap and cover directly the top of pie. Cool slightly. Chill 4 to 24 hours.

Remove plastic wrap. Place melted chocolates into two small self-sealing plastic bags. Snip a corner on the bottom of each bag (make sure it's a tiny corner) and drizzle chocolates any way you like on top of your gorgeous pie!

Pie is fine refrigerated for two days. I guarantee it won't last longer than one hour!
overhead image of a banana butterscotch cream pie

Do I sound sad and depressed? Am I worrying you with my lack of sparkle? Is it THAT obvious?
My in-laws left today. My house is much quieter and we do really miss the nonni. They brightened our days for 5 weeks with amazing food and loving company. They planted vegetables and flowers in my garden. They brought seeds and even an Italian sweet zucchini (or as we call, a chayote).
Is it legal to travel overseas with vegetables and seeds? I'm not sure if it is…but they did and now it's my job to nourish what was planted all over my yard with love. If my elusive green thumb decides to show up one day soon, I will soon be eating broccoli rabe and carrots, as well as yellow zucchini and the chayote. How sweet are they?
My cabinets are stocked with enough canned tomatoes to feed my whole neighborhood for a month. I am still finding chili pepper seeds in random places in my kitchen. There are canned ground chili peppers. (I LOVE these spicy peppers, but they don't love me that much.)
I have a freezer full of gnocchi. And the last night she was here, Teresa asked me if I would like some more fresh ricotta cheese. How do you think I responded?? Of course I said, "Well, if you really want to…" I couldn't resist. And I know that this is what she loves. Cooking and fattening us up with her dishes made with amore. Hopefully I will remember all she taught me these weeks.
I count my blessings and I am thankful for all I have. I am thankful for good pie and my cuties that demand it. Hope you have a happy and healthy weekend!

Banana Butterscotch Cream Pie

Fold chunks of sweet bananas into a luscious homemade butterscotch custard. This decadent filling is poured into the most flaky homemade pie crust. A white and dark chocolate drizzle on top make this pie stunning and decadent!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana, custard filling, pie, pie crust
Servings: 1 9-inch pie
Author: Lora

Ingredients

  • FILLING
  • portion  or ½ of a 15-ounce package rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust 1 crust
  • tsp.  unflavored gelatin
  • Tbsp.  cold water
  • ¼  cup  butter
  • 1 ½  cups  packed dark brown sugar
  • cup  whipping cream
  • 1 ½  cups  whole milk
  • ¼  cup  cornstarch
  • Tbsp.  all-purpose flour
  • Dash  salt
  • 3    egg yolks beaten
  • 1    egg beaten
  • tsp.  vanilla
  • large ripe bananas
  • TOPPING
  • oz.  white chocolate melted
  • oz.  dark chocolate melted
  • PIE CRUST
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons margarine or chilled vegetable shortening
  • ¼ cup ice water

Instructions

  • PIE CRUST
  • This pie crust recipe does make two crusts. Makes 1 double-crust for a 9-inch pie (I saved my other crust to bake with another time in the refrigerator)
  • Hand Method: In a large bowl, sift the flour and salt. Cut the chilled butter and margarine into 1-tablespoon bits and add to the flour. With a pastry cutter, work flour and shortening together until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water little by little pressing the pastry together into a ball. Wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
  • It is very important to work the pastry as little as possible. Don't over handle. A secret to light, flaky pastry is to keep the mixture cool, add as little water as possible, and mix only as much as necessary.
  • Food Processor Method: Put flour and salt in bowl of machine. Cut butter and margarine into flour. Process a few seconds until mixture resembles coarse meal. Drop by drop add the water, processing very briefly. The whole process would take 20 to 30 seconds. Wrap and chill the pastry for at least 1 hour.
  • If pastry has been chilled for a long time, let it sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before rolling.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly flour a pastry board, marble counter, or kitchen counter. Divide the pastry in half. Pat each piece of pastry into a flat round. Lightly flour the rolling pin. Roll pastry in one direction only, turning pastry continually to prevent it from sticking to the surface.
  • Using pie plate as a guide, measure rolled-out pastry -- it should be slightly larger than the pie plate and 1-8-inch thick. Fold rolled pastry circle in half so you can lift it more easily. Unfold, gently fitting the pastry into the pie plate, allowing pastry to hang evenly over the edge.
  • Trim edges with scissors, leaving a ½-inch overhang. Fold bottom pastry overhang over top and press firmly to seal. Crimp rim, using fingers or the tines of a fork.
  • Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Place in freezer for 10 minutes. Line pastry with an 8 ¾-inch foil pie pan**; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Carefully remove foil pie tin. Bake 15 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. (Or bake refrigerated piecrust according to package directions.)
  • When your pie crust is all ready, the next step is the luscious filling!
  • FILLING
  • Combine gelatin and cold water in a 6-ounce custard cup; set aside to soften.
  • On medium heat, combine the butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Cook and stir until it has changed to a slightly dark brown color and smells almost burnt (about 10 to 12 minutes). Remove pan from heat and slowly pour in the whipping cream. Take care as it may splatter. Set the pan aside.
  • In another saucepan on medium high heat, heat milk  just until bubbly on edges; remove the pan from heat and set aside.
  • In a bowl combine remaining ½ cup brown sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt.
  • Whisk in egg yolks, egg and vanilla. Whisk until fluffy (about 1 minute).
  • Gradually stir hot milk into egg mixture.
  • Add brown sugar mixture.
  • Return mixture to saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 15 minutes).(* It does take about exactly 15 minutes until it turns into this rich custard. Don’t walk away from the stove.) And keep stirring until it thickens.
  • Remove from heat; stir in softened gelatin.
  • Peel your ripe bananas and slice ½ inch thick; fold into custard mixture.
  • Pour the banana buttercream mixture into baked pie crust. Take a piece of plastic wrap and cover directly the top of pie. Cool slightly. Chill 4 to 24 hours.
  • Remove plastic wrap. Place melted chocolates into two small self-sealing plastic bags. Snip a corner on the bottom of each bag (make sure it’s a tiny corner) and drizzle chocolates any way you like on top of your gorgeous pie!
  • Pie is fine refrigerated for two days.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Tried this recipe?Mention @savoringitaly or tag #savoringitaly!

49 Comments

  1. The pie is positively delectable Lora! And I too enjoyed hearing about your in-laws and seeing all the delicious food you were cooking up together. It sounds like they took good care of you and will be missed - I wish someone would come plant my garden! xoxo

  2. wow this looks fabulous fabulous and fabulous! Anything with butterscothch is just irresistible.

  3. Aw! We will miss the stories of your MIL in the kitchen!
    Butterscotch banana cream pie - now theres a flavor combo I have never tried - but I want to!

  4. This cake is so tempting! I can almost taste it. Just met your mom and she told me about your blog. Your mom told me that she lived outside of Agrigento, I was so surprised! I'm following you from Trapani, Sicily.

  5. Your post made me miss my grandparents. When we were children, they would visit me and my sisters for a month at a time. My grandmother wasn't a cook but she showed her love in so many other ways. One was for her to organize my mom's grocery bag drawer. It was tradition that she would spend hours folding paper and plastic bags neatly upon arrival. It was cute--she couldn't stand anything in disarray. They're both gone now but the good memories remain. You and your mother in law cooked up so much great stuff together--this cream pie is no exception. 🙂

  6. Oh, wow!!! I fell in love with butterscotch pudding earlier this year...and the addition of bananas and chocolate drizzle push my new favorite pudding over the top. Brava!

  7. Wow..what gorgeous bake and awesome presentation! Love the frosting, I need to develop patience to frost my bakes like you 🙂

  8. I think you were blessed with in-laws. (I hope it is legal to bring back seeds...) The pie is soul-satisfying. I love seeing the butterscotch flavor - it doesn't seem to be "in fashion" anymore and it's a treat.

  9. Lora,
    Glad that your feeling better! You are very lucky to have such a loving family in your life, and lots of canned tomatoes:)

    Your pie is gorgeous, and well worth the time

    Have a great weekend and enjoy your garden.

  10. Such a lovely pie! It's always sad when family departs...but I must admit I hope we get to hear about what comes of "i gnocchi della nonna"...

  11. Love this pie! I usually put a bit of Scotch in mine and top with whipped cream/will try this next. Thanks

  12. Delicious, comforting pie. It looks and sound great. Sorry that you are missing your in-laws. They are sweet. So are you.

  13. Just the name of this pie makes me want to come visit you 🙂 Looks absolutely delightful!
    Sounds like you had such a wonderful time with your in-laws, and have quite a stock of goodies to keep the memories of their visit fresh 🙂

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