Irresistibly Delicious Strawberry Banana Cream Pie: Your New Favorite Dessert!
Prepare to be captivated by this stunning Strawberry Banana Cream Pie! Featuring a golden, buttery graham cracker crust, a rich vanilla custard base, and perfectly sliced bananas, all chilled to perfection before being crowned with an artistic display of fresh, vibrant strawberries. This dessert isn’t just a treat for the taste buds; its beautiful presentation makes it a true showstopper for any occasion.
There’s something truly magical about the combination of strawberries and bananas, especially when they come together in a luscious cream pie. This particular recipe has quickly become a beloved staple in my kitchen, especially during the peak strawberry season. The sweetness of ripe strawberries paired with the creamy, subtle flavor of bananas, nestled in a dreamy vanilla custard, creates a symphony of flavors and textures that is simply irresistible.
As an avid baker, I have a deep affection for pies. My blog is home to an extensive collection of pie recipes, each one a testament to the versatility and comfort that a good pie brings. Among these cherished recipes, my classic Banana Cream Pie holds a special place in my family’s heart. It’s the kind of dessert that evokes warmth and nostalgia, making it a frequent request for gatherings and celebrations.
Discovering Inspiration: A Sweet Find from Well Dined
This delightful Strawberry Banana Cream Pie recipe came to me through the wonderful Secret Recipe Club, a fantastic online community where bloggers are secretly assigned another’s blog to cook from. This month, I had the pleasure of exploring Well Dined, a blog crafted by the talented Sarah. As soon as I landed on her page, her Strawberry Banana Cream Pie recipe immediately caught my eye.
While Sarah’s blog offers a plethora of enticing dishes – from a refreshing Greek Style Zucchini Salad to decadent Salty Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies – the allure of a cream pie filled with fresh fruit was undeniable. It felt like the perfect seasonal treat to adapt and share.
This wasn’t my first time being assigned Sarah’s fantastic blog. Last November, during a holiday baking theme, I had the pleasure of making her incredible recipe for S’Mores Treats. Sarah is not just an avid home cook with a flair for delicious recipes; she also shares insightful restaurant reviews on her blog, Well Dined, making it a go-to resource for culinary inspiration and dining adventures.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Strawberry Banana Cream Pie
This pie truly exceeded all expectations! The flavor profile is beautifully balanced. The vanilla custard, while rich and creamy, offers a wonderfully subtle banana taste, perfectly complemented by the layers of thinly sliced fresh bananas nestled within. The base of this masterpiece is a buttery graham cracker crust, enhanced with a hint of cinnamon that adds an extra layer of warmth and spice, contrasting beautifully with the cool, smooth filling.
Beyond its incredible taste, the visual appeal of this pie is simply breathtaking. The fresh strawberries, meticulously arranged in a “spoke pattern” just before serving, transform a simple dessert into an elegant centerpiece. The vibrant red of the strawberries against the creamy yellow custard creates a feast for the eyes, making it as delightful to look at as it is to eat. It’s a dessert that practically begs to be photographed and shared!
Key Components of This Irresistible Pie:
Creating this dream pie involves a few straightforward components, each contributing to its overall deliciousness:
- **The Crust:** A sturdy yet tender foundation made from crushed graham crackers, butter, sugar, and a touch of cinnamon.
- **The Custard:** A luscious, homemade vanilla custard, thickened to perfection with milk, sugar, cornstarch, eggs, and enriched with butter and vanilla extract.
- **The Fruit Layers:** Freshly sliced ripe bananas layered within the custard, adding natural sweetness and texture.
- **The Topping:** Bright, juicy fresh strawberries, sliced and arranged artfully just before serving for ultimate freshness and visual appeal.
What You’ll Need to Bake This Delightful Strawberry Banana Cream Pie
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this show-stopping dessert. Most items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at your local grocery store:
- For the Crust:
- Graham crackers (finely ground into crumbs)
- White sugar
- Melted butter
- Ground cinnamon
- For the Vanilla Custard:
- Milk (whole milk works best for richness)
- White sugar
- Salt
- Cornstarch (for thickening)
- Egg and additional egg yolks (for richness and emulsification)
- Unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
- Vanilla extract (pure vanilla extract makes a big difference!)
- For the Fruit Layers and Topping:
- Ripe bananas (thinly sliced)
- Fresh small strawberries (sliced, about two cups)
If you’ve been a long-time reader of my blog, you know my heartfelt passion for pies. While I certainly enjoy baking a variety of cakes and other desserts, pies hold a truly special place in my culinary repertoire. I believe there’s an unparalleled charm and satisfaction in crafting a homemade pie from scratch. If you’re here today, perhaps you share that same sentiment!
Before you dive into making this Strawberry Banana Cream Pie, I wanted to share a few more of my absolute favorite pie recipes from my collection. Each one is tried and true, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
More Pie Inspirations from My Kitchen
For those who, like me, believe pie is always a good idea, here are some other cherished recipes you might enjoy:
- S’Mores Cream Pie: Indulge in the nostalgic flavors of a campfire treat, transformed into a creamy, dreamy pie with chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker goodness.
- Coconut Cream Pie: A tropical escape in every bite! This pie boasts a rich coconut-infused custard, flaky crust, and a cloud of whipped cream, perfect for coconut lovers.
- French Silk Pie: Experience pure decadence with this silky-smooth chocolate pie, a classic that’s surprisingly easy to make and always impresses.
- Grandma’s Rhubarb Pie: A timeless recipe that captures the essence of homemade comfort. Sweet and tart rhubarb baked in a perfect crust, just like grandma used to make.
- Chocolate Meringue Pie: A stunning pie with a rich chocolate filling topped with a light, airy, and perfectly browned meringue. A true classic dessert.
- Spiced Peach Pie with Crumb Topping: Celebrate summer flavors with juicy peaches, warm spices, and a delightful buttery crumb topping.
See ALL of my Pie Recipes Here for More Inspiration!
I absolutely adore that bright, perfectly heart-shaped strawberry right in the middle of the pie! It’s those little touches that make homemade desserts so special and unique.
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Print Recipe
Strawberry Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 6 Tablespoons butter melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter cut in pieces
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 banana thinly sliced
- 1 pint small strawberries sliced (about two cups)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
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In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon until thoroughly blended and crumbly. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
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Bake the crust for 7-10 minutes, or until lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
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To prepare the vanilla custard: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 2 cups of the milk, the sugar, and salt over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in a separate medium-sized heatproof bowl, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup milk with the cornstarch until smooth. Then, whisk the whole egg and the three egg yolks into the cornstarch mixture until well combined.Once the milk mixture in the saucepan is boiling, slowly temper the egg mixture by whisking about 1/3 of the hot milk into the egg-cornstarch mixture. This gradually raises the temperature of the eggs, preventing them from scrambling. Once tempered, slowly whisk the warmed egg mixture back into the boiling milk in the saucepan. Continue whisking constantly over medium heat. The mixture will begin to thicken noticeably within a few minutes. Continue whisking and cook for an additional 30 seconds to ensure proper thickening. Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately whisk in the unsalted butter pieces and the vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
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Pour half of the hot vanilla custard filling into the cooled pie crust, spreading it evenly. Carefully arrange the thinly sliced banana rounds over this first layer of custard. Pour the remaining half of the custard filling over the bananas, scraping the pan clean with a rubber spatula, and gently smooth the top surface.To prevent a skin from forming, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard filling. Refrigerate the pie until it is thoroughly chilled and set, which will take at least one hour (or preferably 2-3 hours for best results).Before serving, remove the plastic wrap and let the pie sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom slightly. Just prior to serving, arrange the fresh sliced strawberries in a beautiful spoke pattern over the top of the pie for a stunning presentation and burst of fresh flavor. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
This incredible recipe was inspired by and adapted from Well Dined.
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