Classic Banoffee Pie

Banoffee Pie is a classic British dessert, first invented at a pub in East Sussex in 1971. Even so, I always think of it around St. Patty’s Day (probably because the first time I tried Banoffee was while visiting Northern Ireland). So even though it isn’t technically Irish, I still think it makes the most delightful St. Patty’s Day treat. Plus, Pi day happens a few days before St. Patty’s Day (3.14, get it?), so this pie can pull double duty.

If you’re not familiar with Banoffee Pie, it’s made with layers of bananas, dulce de leche, and whipped cream, all inside a buttery graham cracker crust. In other words, heaven on a plate. And in addition to being incredibly delicious, it is also one of the quickest, easiest pies to make.

First things first, the graham cracker crust:

You can feel free to buy a pre-made crust if you want, but it’s so darn easy to make that it’s almost faster than running to the store to pick one up. All you need is about 10-11 graham crackers, a couple tablespoons of sugar, and some melted butter. If you have a food processor, use that to grind up your crackers into crumbs – if not, toss them into a large ziploc bag, seal it, and use a rolling pin to crush them (this method doubles as a great way to relieve stress). Mix the crumbs with sugar and butter, press into your pie pan, and bake for 10 min. Easy peasy.

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Next, the dulce de leche:

You can make your own quite easily – though it is time consuming, so you’ll want to make it ahead of time. I have a blog post with a simple recipe here. If you don’t want to make your own, go ahead and buy some pre-made. Regular caramel will be too sugary and thin – dulce de leche is much thicker and creamier – so make sure you get the real deal. Here’s one on Amazon that looks good.

And last, but certainly not least, the whipped cream:

Again, if you don’t want to make your own, feel free to buy some, though if you have a stand mixer or a hand mixer, you can easily and quickly make your own. You’ll need a pint of heavy whipping cream, a couple tablespoons of sugar and a little vanilla, and in less than 5 minutes you’ll have the best whipped cream. Trust me, you’ll never use store-bought again.

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Put it all together:

Now that you have all of the components of your pie, all you need to do is put it all together. Sliced bananas first, then dulce de leche, then your whipped cream. And that’s it. Time to eat some pie.

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Oh, and one more thing: Banoffee Pie is usually topped with chocolate shavings, but I was out of chocolate (which is strange – I’m NEVER out of chocolate!), so I skipped it this time around. If you want to do that though, grab a bar of your favorite chocolate and a vegetable peeler or grater, and peel/grate some chocolate onto the top. Yum.

This pie is quick, delicious, and a definite crowd-pleaser. Bring it to work for Pi(e) Day or to your St. Patty’s Day celebration, and I guarantee you’ll be everyone’s favorite person.

Enjoy!