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Craving a sweet treat that’s easy to make and perfectly portioned for you? Let’s talk about this Mini Banana Cream Pie recipe! It’s a delightful single serve dessert inspired by a traditional Southern recipe, particularly my mother’s version. This pie combines a simple, crunchy vanilla wafer crust with a rich, homemade banana cream filling. The beauty of this mini pie recipe lies in its simplicity and the joy of getting a taste of banana in every bite.
At One Dish Kitchen, we’re passionate about every recipe we develop and share, but some truly stand out. This exceptionally tasty and incredibly easy mini Banana Cream Pie recipe ranks high among our favorites.
This recipe is a delightful mini take on the classic Banana Cream Pie. For those who adore creamy, banana-rich desserts, this single serving pie is sure to be a hit. Its ease and deliciousness make it a must-try for banana dessert lovers!
Are you on the hunt for more delightful single serving and small batch banana recipes? Discover our moist Banana Nut Bread, decadent mini Hummingbird Cake, fluffy Banana Muffins, and rich Bananas Foster. Each recipe is packed with delicious banana flavor and perfectly sized for smaller servings!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortlessly Simple: With clear, uncomplicated steps, this individual banana cream pie recipe is a breeze even for beginners.
- Perfectly Portioned: Tailored for one, this small banana cream pie eliminates the worry of leftovers. It’s just the right size for a satisfying single serve dessert.
- Fresh, Homemade Taste: Unlike store-bought versions, this pie boasts a fresh and authentic flavor, especially noticeable in the homemade banana pudding.
- Customizable to Your Taste: Feel free to tweak the recipe by adding different toppings or using alternative crusts to suit your preference.
What Is Banana Cream Pie?
If you’re new to banana cream pie, prepare to fall in love with this classic dessert! The traditional old-fashioned banana cream pie typically features a pie crust layered with fresh bananas, rich vanilla pudding, and is crowned with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
In our version, we’ve tailored the traditional recipe to create a perfect single serving dessert, and we’ve simplified the process by replacing the conventional pie crust. Our easy method uses cookies to form a quick, no-fuss crust, making this delightful mini banana cream pie recipe more accessible and just as delicious.
Check out our other Mini Pie Recipes for more wonderful small pie ideas!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Whole Milk: Key for a creamy pudding. 2% milk works too, but the pudding will be less thick.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness to the pudding. Heavy whipping cream can be used interchangeably. We use heavy cream in many of our single serving and small batch recipes like a small White Cake, Strawberry Scones, and Butterscotch Pudding.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the banana pudding to perfection.
- Salt and Vanilla Extract: Essential for enhancing flavor.
- Cornstarch: The thickening agent for your pudding.
- Salted Butter: Just a bit for added richness in the pudding.
- Banana: The star of the show! One banana is enough for this single serving. See below for more banana recipes.
- Vanilla Wafers: Makes a simple, no-bake crust. You can use your favorite cookie as a substitute.
Substitution Notes
- Vegan Options for Banana Cream Pie: Many might wonder if it’s possible to make this banana cream pie vegan. While the current recipe is tried and tested with non-vegan ingredients, creating a vegan version hasn’t been experimented with yet. Therefore, I cannot guarantee the same results with vegan substitutions.
- Using Lower Fat Milk: It’s possible to use lower fat milk instead of heavy cream or heavy whipping cream. However, be aware that the pudding may not achieve the same level of thickness and richness as it does with higher fat content milk.
Recipe Variations
Explore these creative and delicious variations to add a unique twist to your banana cream pie:
- Chocolate Banana Cream Pie: Add a layer of melted chocolate or chocolate chips between the crust and banana layer.
- Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie: Swirl in some peanut butter into the pudding mixture.
- Caramel Banana Cream Pie: Drizzle caramel sauce over the banana layer for a gooey, sweet addition. The caramel’s rich flavor pairs exquisitely with the creamy filling.
- Berry Banana Cream Pie: Add a layer of fresh berries, such as strawberries or blueberries, beneath the banana layer. This brings a refreshing, tangy contrast to the sweet banana and cream.
How To Make Mini Banana Cream Pie
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a single serve banana cream pie. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Prepare the Pudding: Start by warming milk in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add sugar and salt, stirring occasionally. Wait until the milk mixture begins to steam, which should take about 5 minutes. In the meantime, in a separate small bowl, whisk cream and cornstarch together until it forms a smooth mixture.
- Thicken the Pudding: Once the milk is heated, blend in the cornstarch mixture. Keep stirring frequently as the mixture starts to simmer.
- Finalize Pudding Consistency: Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring for about 5 minutes, until the pudding thickens to the desired consistency.
- Add Final Touches to Pudding: Take the pan off the heat. Mix in butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter is completely melted.
- Cooling the Pudding: Transfer the pudding to a bowl and let it cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools down.
- Pie Assembly: Line the bottom and sides of a small dessert dish or cup with cookies.
- Adding Banana Layer: Slice a banana and neatly arrange the slices over the cookies in your dish.
- Adding Pudding Layer: Gently pour the cooled pudding over the banana layer. Cover the dish and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to set.
- Final Touches: Before serving, top the pie with whipped cream and additional banana slices, if you like. Enjoy your homemade Banana Cream Pie!
Expert Tips
- Optimal Use of Bananas: This recipe is ideal when you have just one banana. However, if you happen to have two bananas, simply double the pudding ingredients, add a few extra vanilla wafers, and you can easily make a second pie.
- Milk Selection: For the best results, whole milk is recommended. It contributes to the creamy and rich texture of the pudding.
- Cornstarch and Cream Mixture: It’s crucial to whisk the cornstarch with the cream thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth. This ensures a lump-free pudding when added to the pot.
- Adding Butter and Vanilla: Incorporate the butter and vanilla into the mixture after removing the pot from the heat. Adding them at this stage enhances the vanilla flavor, making it more pronounced and aromatic.
- Crust Variations: Besides vanilla wafers, try making a graham cracker crust using graham crackers or digestive biscuits for a different texture and taste.
- Parfait Alternative: For a simpler version, skip the crust entirely and create a banana and pudding parfait. Layer the banana slices and pudding in a glass for an elegant presentation.
- Flavor Variations: Experiment with different flavors like chocolate or coconut. Use a chocolate pudding recipe for a chocolate banana cream pie twist, or a sweet coconut cream pudding recipe for a tropical coconut cream pie variant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but homemade gives a fresher flavor and better texture.
Absolutely! You can prepare the pudding a few hours or even a day before you need it and store it in the refrigerator. If you assemble the entire dessert, it will stay fresh for up to 3 days when covered in the fridge. However, wait to add whipped cream or fresh banana toppings until you’re ready to serve. This prevents the bananas from browning and the whipped cream from getting runny.
Yes, cream pies, including this small banana cream pie, must be refrigerated. Properly covered, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To make a gluten-free version of this banana cream pie, simply omit the cookie crust or use gluten-free cookies. The remaining ingredients in the banana cream filling are naturally gluten-free.
Explore More Banana Recipes
Got one or two bananas on hand? Put them to delicious use with these easy and delightful banana recipes:
- Small Batch Banana Muffins – Perfectly moist and flavorful, requiring just 2 bananas.
- Chocolate Banana Bread – A decadent twist on classic banana bread with just 1 banana.
- Caramelized Banana Pudding – Indulge in this sweet treat made with 1 banana.
- Banana Bread for One – A single-serving delight using just 1 banana.
- Frozen Chocolate Banana – A fun, frozen snack needing only 1 banana.
- Banana Pancakes – Start your day right with these pancakes made from 1 banana.
- Mini Hummingbird Cake – A tropical-flavored cake using 1 banana.
- Tropical Smoothie – A refreshing drink made flavorful with 1 banana.
- Green Smoothie – A healthy, energizing smoothie with 1 banana.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this easy banana cream pie or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Mini Banana Cream Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup heavy cream , or heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon salted butter
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6-8 vanilla wafers or similar cookie (use as many cookies as you need to cover the bottom and sides of your dessert dish)
- 1 medium banana
- whipped cream , optional for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the Pudding: Start by warming milk in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add sugar and salt, stirring occasionally. Wait until the milk mixture begins to steam, which should take about 5 minutes. In the meantime, in a separate small bowl, whisk cream and cornstarch together until it forms a smooth mixture.
- Thicken the Pudding: Once the milk is heated, blend in the cornstarch mixture. Keep stirring frequently as the mixture starts to simmer.
- Finalize Pudding Consistency: Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring for about 5 minutes, until the pudding thickens to the desired consistency.
- Add Final Touches to Pudding: Take the pan off the heat. Mix in butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter is completely melted.
- Cooling the Pudding: Transfer the pudding to a bowl and let it cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools down.
- Pie Assembly: Line the bottom and sides of a small dessert dish or cup with cookies.
- Adding Banana Layer: Slice a banana and neatly arrange the slices over the cookies in your dish.
- Adding Pudding Layer: Gently pour the cooled pudding over the banana layer. Cover the dish and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to set.
- Final Touches: Before serving, top the pie with whipped cream and additional banana slices, if you like.
Notes
- Optimal Use of Bananas: This recipe is ideal when you have just one banana. However, if you happen to have two bananas, simply double the pudding ingredients, add a few extra vanilla wafers, and you can easily make a second pie.
- Milk Selection: For the best results, whole milk is recommended. It contributes to the creamy and rich texture of the pudding.
- Cornstarch and Cream Mixture: It’s crucial to whisk the cornstarch with the cream thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth. This ensures a lump-free pudding when added to the pot.
- Adding Butter and Vanilla: Incorporate the butter and vanilla into the mixture after removing the pot from the heat. Adding them at this stage enhances the vanilla flavor, making it more pronounced and aromatic.
- Crust Variations: Besides vanilla wafers, try making a graham cracker crust using graham crackers or digestive biscuits for a different texture and taste.
- Parfait Alternative: For a simpler version, skip the crust entirely and create a banana and pudding parfait. Layer the banana slices and pudding in a glass for an elegant presentation.
- Flavor Variations: Experiment with different flavors like chocolate or coconut. Use a chocolate pudding recipe for a chocolate banana cream pie twist, or a sweet coconut cream pudding recipe for a tropical coconut cream pie variant.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Could I substitute banana favouring for the vanilla?
Yes.