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.