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January 11, 2011 (updated Jan 15, 2017) — by Lindsay Landis
We’re not very good at making decisions. It took us 3 months to pick out a sofa for our living room. Out kitten Sgt. Pepper was nameless for nearly a week. I ordered and returned 8 different pairs of winter shoes before I finally liked one enough to keep.
Decisions are not our strong suit.
I mean, who in their right mind can choose between chocolate or banana cream pie? Chocolate, is, well, chocolate. You can’t go wrong with chocolate. But banana… something about it just makes me happy inside. I can’t remember the last time I actually ate a banana cream pie, yet the memories of the flavor are fresh in my mind. Hard as I tried, I couldn’t get the thought of its creamy goodness out of my head. At least I knew I wanted to make a cream pie, that was easy. But deciding between chocolate cream pie or banana cream pie? Impossible.
So, I did what any obsessive, indecisive, sweet-toothed baker would do when faced with such a dilemma.
I made both.
The results were incredible. So much so, in fact, that I’m planning to make a second pie this weekend. And maybe another pie every weekend after that. This pie is so good that I cannot picture my life without it.
This pie begins with a chocolate pastry crust, filled with a layer of rich vanilla cream. Topped with a layer of sliced bananas. Chocolate cream over that. And finally, topped off with a thick layer of freshly whipped cream and sprinkled with chocolate curls. Holy indulgence.
I know it’s the New Year diet season and all, and your resolutions are probably still going strong. Sorry. I just couldn’t wait to post this any longer. Consider this a reward after two weeks of good behavior.
You totally deserve it.
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Makes one 9-inch pie
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Ingredients:
For Pie Crust:
1 cup plain all purpose flour
4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
For Filling:
3/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups whole milk
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 medium bananas, sliced
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate curls, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Prepare pie crust according to the technique outlined here, adding in cocoa powder and sugar. Roll out and gently press into a 9″ pie pan. Place pan and crust in the freezer for at least 10 minutes prior to baking (or while your oven is preheating).
Line crust with foil or parchment paper and fill full with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully remove weights and lining. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes until set. Allow to cool completely.
In a medium saucepan, mix sugar, flour and salt. Stir in 1 cup of milk, mix until smooth, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
Beat the egg yolks with the remaining cup of milk. Temper the egg mixture with a small amount of the slightly cooled milk mixture then blend this into the larger saucepan with the cooling milk mixture.
Return saucepan to the heat and bring to a boil again, stirring constantly, lower heat and simmer until mixture is the consistency of thick pudding, about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and quickly stir in butter and vanilla. Transfer half of the filling mixture to a small bowl and set aside. Add chocolate chips to remaining filling and stir until melted and smooth.
Allow fillings to cool for 5 minutes, then pour plain filling into cooled pie shell. Arrange a single layer of banana slices on top of the filling. Pour chocolate filling on top. Refrigerate until completely cooled.
Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks. Gently spread whipped cream on top of cooled filling, smoothing top into a slight dome. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.
All images and text ©Lindsay Landis / Love & Olive Oil
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Chocolate Desserts Easy Entertaining
posted January 11, 2011 (last updated Jan 15, 2017)
54 Comments »
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54 Comments
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Karen — March 10, 2023 at 11:46 am Reply
Hi Lindsay, I can’t get the crust link to work.
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Lindsay Landis — March 10, 2023 at 11:59 am Reply
The original site appears to be gone (darn it). But I found it on the internet archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160314202011/http://chezpim.com/bake/how-to-make-the-perfect-pie-dough
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Susan Cunningham — February 27, 2022 at 11:26 am Reply
metric please!
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Norhayati Mohamed Sani — August 20, 2019 at 5:37 am Reply
I made this recipe and it turned out good. Couldn’t take a photo coz it was finished as soon as it hit the table.
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Amy — September 11, 2015 at 2:10 pm Reply
I’m just wondering if this should be made day of or day before? will the bananas turn brown if I make it the day before?
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Cindy — December 2, 2013 at 12:21 pm Reply
Thank you Lindsay! I made two last weekend and will be making many more over the holiday season..THE BEST PIE I’VE EVER TASTED!!! Had some issues with the crust shrinking…probably come easy trick I don’t know about to avoid that?
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Lindsay — December 2, 2013 at 3:58 pm Reply
Shrinkage is definitely a problem for me, too. I’m not sure if it’s the technique or just pie crust in general. Definitely bake it with some pie weights, which does help, but doesn’t solve the problem completely.
Glad it was still delicious regardless!
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Karen — February 10, 2024 at 9:19 am Reply
Hi Lindsay, it’s been too long for me to remember how I made this crust but I remember the pie was divine. I read the technique in the link you provided, but it doesn’t use sugar and measures for a top crust. Would you please share when you add the cocoa and sugar to the flour butter mixture?
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Lindsay Landis — February 12, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Oh geez I don’t think I can remember exactly what I did, but most likely the sugar and cocoa were whisked into the flour first so everything is evenly incorporated. Then work in the butter.
(Also for those looking for the crust technique which is no longer accessible, you can still access it on wayback machine here: https://web.archive.org/web/20180606153055/http://chezpim.com/bake/how-to-make-the-perfect-pie-dough)
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Cindy — December 2, 2013 at 12:14 pm Reply
..confused since Lindsay’s recipe for the dough is different than the web site she has referred us to? (different amounts of butter and flour used?)
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Lindsay — December 2, 2013 at 12:20 pm Reply
That link is just for technique. It’s a regular pie crust, the recipe listed here is a chocolate version.
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Marina — August 27, 2013 at 8:22 am Reply
I tried to make it, but my dough looks nothing like the one from “chez pim”. The thing that confused me is that they used double amount of flour and butter than you did, but you put the same amount of water? My dough came out too soft and sticky. But I also used luke warm water instead of ice cold. Well, it’s my first time making pie dough so I hope it’ll be better next time! I’m sure the pie will taste great all the same (:
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Lindsay — August 27, 2013 at 8:48 am Reply
I usually add water a tablespoon at a time. Depending on the weather/humidity the amount of water you need can vary greatly. Just add a little bit at a time until it comes together. The ice water just ensures that the butter stays cold, which is much harder to do in the hot summer months.
Keep at it though! I battle with pie crusts too, sometimes they work, sometimes they are horrible disasters.
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Marina — August 26, 2013 at 12:39 pm Reply
do we really need to use this technique to make the drust? i don’t have the needed equipment. can i just make it in a mixer?
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Lindsay — August 26, 2013 at 1:31 pm Reply
With this recipe, yes. The layering technique makes for a flaky crust almost like a puff pastry, but does use more butter and liquid than standard pie crust recipes. But you can certainly your favorite pie crust recipe in its place, or even a chocolate cookie crust would be fab. :)
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Shawna Lauria — March 4, 2012 at 2:38 pm Reply
Love your chocolate curls. That takes talent and patience. I am going to try this! We have been making a similar recipe in our family for years, except we make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. Regular butter pastry crust, and use 1/2 c. semi-sweet chips for the chocolate layer, and 1/2 c. peanut butter chips for the other layer. Cover with whip cream. If you use sifted powdered sugar when whipping the cream it stabilizes it and the whipped cream will stand for a couple of days instead of breaking down like reg. sugar and whip cream do. Oh… I almost forgot the best tip ever. You get the same results if you cook this in the microwave! NO tempering the eggs! Just mix dry ingredients, mix eggs and milk then combine the two. Microwave for 2 min, whisk, then whisk every 30 sec to 1 min after that. You will have pie filling in approx 5 min total cook time.
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Emily Y. — June 1, 2011 at 7:48 am Reply
I made this yesterday and it came out wonderful. The only thing I changed was the crust because I find graham cracker crust to be so delicious and I’m honestly still a little bit afraid of making a real pie crust. My friends absolutely loved it and I will be making this again!
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Alanna — May 6, 2011 at 1:23 am Reply
I’m incredibly indecisive, too! It’s midnight, and I’ve been pondering all week what to bring to a potluck this Saturday. I thought of banana chocolate cream pie, and am thrilled to have found this post on foodblogsearch.com. It’s beautiful – thanks!
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brilynn — January 24, 2011 at 1:23 pm Reply
See AlsoChocolate Chip Banana BrowniesLooks like the two of us are on the same page! I made banana cream pie this weekend but took ages to try to decide what to make… Love the chocolate in yours!
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Sherry Greek — January 22, 2011 at 1:14 pm Reply
This seems like my kind of thinking. I too am extremely in decisive so this is a great resolution. That is a beautifully photogenic pi and it looks amazing!
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Lucy — January 22, 2011 at 6:13 am Reply
I definitely need this pie! Looks just utterly gorgeous.
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Lynne — January 22, 2011 at 12:41 am Reply
yum! chocolate and bananas are the perfect combination!
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sonia — January 21, 2011 at 7:27 am Reply
Wonderful banana pie !!!
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Becky — January 20, 2011 at 7:44 pm Reply
Gorgeous pie! I can’t resist the banana and chocolate combination…well done!
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Eva — January 20, 2011 at 7:14 pm Reply
Yes! Holy indulgence<3
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Marie — January 20, 2011 at 3:19 pm Reply
I absolutely ADORE those chocolate curls. They literally look like they’re going to jump out of the photo. Beautiful photography and beautiful pie!
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Carrie — January 16, 2011 at 2:32 pm Reply
I made this last night for a dinner party and it was absolutely fabulous!! Every person loved it! I will make it again and again and again!
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Stephanie @ Per l'Amore del Cibo — January 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm Reply
Oh. My. GOSH. Does anything better exist? I’m thinking probably not. Chocolate + Banana + Cream + Pie = HEAVEN.
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Jessica — January 14, 2011 at 1:25 am Reply
This photo is gorgeous! It looks absolutely delicious!
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Mrs. L — January 13, 2011 at 6:17 pm Reply
I know you’re not supposed to leave cliche words like “wow” “yummy looking” etc. but I took one look at the top photo and went ‘wow’! I love both bananas and chocolate together, and with the chocolate crust…well…I just think it’s yummy looking! I need to try to make this soon.
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The Teacher Cooks — January 13, 2011 at 10:48 am Reply
This pie is to die for!
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Chez Sasha — January 12, 2011 at 8:41 pm Reply
This pie is absolutely beautiful. Wow. It reminds me of the dessert I had at Emeril’s once.
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Heather — January 12, 2011 at 12:05 pm Reply
Beautiful, beautiful pictures.
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Shawnda — January 12, 2011 at 10:38 am Reply
Beautiful, beautiful pie! Chocolate and banana were meant to be – did you ever eat those Fudge Bomb ice cream pops wrapped in the nuclear orange wrappers as a kid? Those were my main source of dairy during the summers :)
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Kali @ To Spin a Yarn — January 12, 2011 at 10:17 am Reply
Ooooh, this looks delicious! I can’t wait to have occasion to try it out. :D
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Dana — January 12, 2011 at 10:02 am Reply
Sometimes making a compromise works really well for we the indecisive. This pie, for instance, gives you the best of both worlds.
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Bullet — January 12, 2011 at 9:24 am Reply
Wow! What a picture, this looks decadent! This is one of my favorite desserts, can’t wait to try out the recipe!
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Andrea — January 12, 2011 at 7:46 am Reply
I love this post. I can really feel your joy. And the picture… magnifique!
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Mglòria — January 12, 2011 at 3:31 am Reply
Buah! terriblemente espectacular!
Mglòria de Gourmenderies -
Christine @ The Pantry Drawer — January 11, 2011 at 11:24 pm Reply
oh boy holy indulgence is right! that looks so amazing – and i’ve never even had banana cream pie before! (blasphemous, I know)
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Natalie — January 11, 2011 at 10:51 pm Reply
This looks devine! I want to make one!
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natalie — January 11, 2011 at 8:37 pm Reply
Your beautiful pictures almost make me want to try this! I just wish I liked bananas!
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Winnie — January 11, 2011 at 4:04 pm Reply
One word: SWOON.
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Tiffany — January 11, 2011 at 2:54 pm Reply
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Sarah — January 11, 2011 at 2:14 pm Reply
Mmmm. Perfect to look at while I am eating my plain ol’ salad for lunch.
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féenoménale — January 11, 2011 at 12:59 pm Reply
it’s a beautiful pie!
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Liz @ BLog is the New Black — January 11, 2011 at 1:52 pm Reply
Gorgeous pics! Great recipe!
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Cat Davis — January 11, 2011 at 12:42 pm Reply
Oh goodness – that looks incredible! I often find myself debating between banana and chocolate but it never occurred to me to put the two together.
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Vivek — January 11, 2011 at 11:16 am Reply
DROOOL! This looks amazing, Lindsay!
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Cantstopbaking — January 11, 2011 at 10:43 am Reply
This looks heavenly! Can’t wait to make it!
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heather — January 11, 2011 at 10:21 am Reply
Lindsay! What. A. Pie. Throw some peanut butter in there and my fiancée would have a biblical moment with this.
Cheers,
*Heather*
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Amanda — January 11, 2011 at 9:19 am Reply
I haven’t seen anything as lovely as this that has gotten my motor running. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Leah — January 11, 2011 at 9:29 am Reply
I just had to wipe drool off my monitor. This looks incredible!
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bunkycooks — January 11, 2011 at 9:25 am Reply
I am so wanting this instead of the egg white omelette I am about to fix. This will be on my list of “treats” to have after this whole diet mess is over! Your pie looks scrumptious!!
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