This Banana Cream Pie Recipe has a three-ingredient graham cracker crust followed by an easy made-from-scratch vanilla pudding loaded with fresh bananas and topped with homemade whipped cream. The result is pure heaven, and a banana lover’s dream come true with natural banana flavor and no pudding mix.
Indulge in the ultimate comfort dessert with this easy banana cream pie recipe. This pie will satisfy your sweet cravings with a graham cracker crust, creamy filling, and fresh bananas.
My husband and daughter are huge banana fans, and this is one of our favorite cream pies. I mean, it’s off-the-charts crazy good! If you like this recipe, try homemade banana pudding, chocolate chip banana bread, banana cake, and banana nut bread.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Graham crackers: Crush your graham crackers with a rolling pin or a mini food processor, or use graham cracker crumbs. Or pick up a prebaked graham cracker crust.
- Butter: preferably unsalted, but salted will work in a pinch; remove any added salt.
- Milk: preferably whole or 2%
- Vanilla extract: the pure stuff, please
- Powdered sugar: also known as confectioners’ sugar
How to make Banana Cream Pie
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Start by combining the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press them into a 9-inch pie pan and bake for about 7 minutes. Let it cool on a wire rack.
Then, in a medium saucepan, whisk the milk, cream, sugar, salt, and cornstarch over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture simmers and slightly thickens.
Remove 1 cup of the hot mixture and slowly whisk it into the egg yolk mixture. Whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan in a very slow stream, cooking until bubbly and thick, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and butter.
Cool for 15 minutes, whisking several times so a skin does not form. While the pudding is cooling, place sliced bananas in the bottom and up the sides of the graham cracker crust. Pour the cooled pudding into the crust and cover it with plastic wrap. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium, whip the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe the cream onto the pie. Finally, top with banana slices and graham cracker crumbs. For best results, serve promptly.
Preparation Tips
- This pie is also delicious with traditional pie dough. Cookie crusts made from vanilla or chocolate wafers, vanilla or chocolate Oreos, shortbread, or pecan sandies cookies also taste delicious.
- To keep the banana slices at their optimum, bake the crust the night before, then make the pudding in the morning. Add the banana slices and pudding to the crust. Now refrigerate until close to serving or at least 4 hours. Then top with the whipped cream, more banana slices, and graham cracker crumbs, and serve.
- To keep the vanilla pudding texture smooth and creamy, whisk almost continuously.
- Even though the bananas in your pie may turn slightly brown, the pie will still be incredibly delicious.
How To Freeze It
The whipped topping is best added to the dessert right before serving. Follow the directions up to the point of pouring the custard into the pie crust. Then, place it on a level surface in the freezer and flash freeze. Once frozen, wrap it with several layers of plastic wrap and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw for several hours in the refrigerator, prepare, and top with the whipped cream and fresh banana slices. For best results, serve promptly.
Storage
The whipped cream topping should be made and added right before serving or up to 24 hours in advance if making stabilized whipped cream.
Store the dessert in the refrigerator until serving, and all leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Delicious Pies
Banana Cream Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- ⅓ cup sugar
Filling
- 2 bananas sliced
- 1 ¼ cups 2% milk
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 4 large egg yolks room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Whipped Topping
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- bananas for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar. Press into a 9-inch pie dish and bake in the oven for 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, layer the bottom and sides with banana slices.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, cream, sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture bubbles. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks together. Remove 1/2 cup of the hot mixture and whisk it into the egg yolk mixture slowly. In a very slow stream, whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan, cooking until bubbling. Cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. It should be fairly thick and leave a whisk trail as you drag the whisk through it. It would also pile slightly when poured, as in the picture of the pudding added to the pie crust.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and butter. Cool for 15 minutes whisking several times so a skin does not form. Pour the pudding into the crust over the bananas. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Chill bowl and beaters in the freezer for 20 minutes. Add whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to the bowl. Beat on low until the mixture starts to increase in volume. Turn to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe over chilled pie. Garnish with banana slices and reserved graham cracker crumbs.
Notes
- This pie is also delicious with traditional pie dough. Cookie crusts made from vanilla or chocolate wafers, vanilla or chocolate Oreos, shortbread, or pecan sandies cookies also taste delicious.
- To keep the banana slices at their optimum, bake the crust the night before, then make the pudding in the morning. Add the banana slices and pudding to the crust. Now refrigerate until close to serving or at least 4 hours. Then top with the whipped cream, more banana slices, and graham cracker crumbs, and serve.
- To keep the vanilla pudding texture smooth and creamy, whisk almost continuously.
- Even though the bananas in your pie may turn slightly brown, the pie will still be incredibly delicious.
- Add the chipped cream topping right before serving or up to 24 hours in advance if using stabilized whipped cream.
Nutrition
Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Jersey Girl Cooks
This banana cream pie is terrific! And the more whipped cream the better!
Sandra Flegg
Such a delicious banana cream pie. My new favorite pie recipe. Thanks for sharing, Beth.
Melanie W
Can you use nilla wafers for the crust instead of graham crackers?
Beth Pierce
Yes use 1 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers, 5 tablespoons melted butter, and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar.
Steve
Great filling… I used Lady fingers dipped in bourbon for the crust and used almond extract instead of vanilla in the whipped cream
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Steve! I love your ideas! Yummy!
Yeah LIfestyle
This looks absolutely lush! We are having some friends and family come over the weekend so will give this a go as I have some bananas at hand
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Marysa
I have never made a cream pie. This sounds like a nice combination of flavors. And a nice option for a cold pie to make in the summer.
Risa Lopez
I love bananas and this banana cream pie is scrumptious. My whole family enjoyed it! Thanks for the recipe.
Tammy
One of my favorite desserts for summer. There is something so refreshing about banana cream pie. This is so yummy and easy to make!
Talya Stone
I’ve never tried this before but it looks so good and I have a whole bunch of uneaten bananas that this would be perfect for – thanks for the inspiration!
Carolyn
So delicious. It turned out great for Father’s Day dessert!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Carolyn! So happy that you liked it!
Loril Bosworth
This banana cream pie does look easy to make! I love that it contains vanilla pudding!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Loril! Enjoy!
Sue
I don’t see vanilla pudding in the recipe.
Help Sue
It’s homemade “vanilla pudding” haha
Janis
I haven’t had Banana Cream Pie in ages. Your recipe looks so good and I can’t wait to try making it.
Beth
I haven’t had banana cream pie in years! But now I’m craving it. I’ll make this as soon as I can.
Catalina
Mmmm…. This pie was simply amazing! My family gobbled it up or I would have another big slice this morning!
Richelle Milar
That looks absolutely delicious and tasty! I would really love to try this recipe!
briannemanzb
This was absolutely delicious. My daughters gave it a 10 out of 10 ratings!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! So happy that she liked it!