Sunday, May 20, 2012

banana peanut butter pie

When mother's day rolled around, it just so happened that the next recipe on the Baked Sunday Mornings recipe schedule was perfect for my mom, who has a banana with peanut butter on it for breakfast almost every single morning. I had fully intended to make if for her, but life got in the way, and I brought morning glory muffins to breakfast instead. (My dad's favorite, kinda weird, the breakfast being for mother's day...)


Although I don't think I ever had banana pie, I still wanted to make this recipe because I skipped a lot  of Baked Sunday Mornings recipes, and felt bad. And it was straightforward enough. Plus it wasn't banana flavored pudding, which sounds gross, but vanilla pudding topped with bananas.

Made the crust one morning, the pudding in the afternoon, and the banana layer and peanut butter topping the next morning.


The crust was easy enough, but dirtied the appliance I most hate washing, the food processor. I was scared that the crumbs wouldn't hold together to make the crust, but of course, they did. The pudding was next, and I must have read the directions wrong, as I was fully prepared to boil the mixture for 5 minutes. I was surprised to see that it took no time at all to make. But with pudding, you really have to go with your gut. And when the pudding is thick enough, it's time to take it off the heat!  I always love being reminded how easy it is to make pudding from scratch.I loved the look of this one, with the vanilla bean seeds throughout.


The peanut butter topping gave be a bit more trouble, as it was a bit too thick to easily accept the folding in of the whipped cream. I'm sure I lost some airiness with my vigorous "folding" but I managed to get it fully incorporated, eventually.


I topped the pie with Godiva chocolate pearls, mainly because in between the time I decided to make the pie and bought chocolate covered peanuts, and when I actually made the pie, we had eaten all the peanuts. But I really like the look of the chocolate pearls! Too bad they are so insanely expensive!


Turns out, it's a pretty yummy pie! I was test tasting a tiny slice before lunch, and gave a bit to the toddler who, when she got around to putting the spoon in her mouth, immediately demanded more, then pointing up at the pie wanting a slice of her own. She had a big piece after lunch too! I liked that I was able to cleanly slice it. (Presentation is important!) The peanut butter topping was much richer than I would have expected, but was quite good. The only thing is those chocolate pearls... did absolutely nothing for this pie! Wish I had left them off completely!

To see how the other Baked Sunday Mornings members thought of this pie, click on through to the blog! Oh, and the recipe is posted here!



26 comments:

  1. This is a beautiful looking pie! Your photographs of all the layers turned out fantastically. What a great treat for mom!

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  2. Beautiful, simply beautiful! Great idea to use a springform pan! I was surprised at how quickly the pudding came together too, but happy!

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  3. I like how you used a springform pan!!! Looks so pretty!

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  4. What a beautiful pie. I also like that you used a springform pan. And I also like your chocolate pearls which, I think, did lots for your pie...they were the jewelry added to the top which made it all the more elegant. Your photos, presentation, etc are all magazine cover worthy. Very nice baking!

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  5. I love that you made yours in a springform. And your photo... so pretty. It's what my photos aspire to be!

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  6. Fantastic step by step photos! Really helpful to see how it all came together. Beautiful!

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  7. Wow - that is SOME pie! Looks wonderful - I am so behind on BSM, but have this on my list to make in the next week or so - glad it's somwhat easy. And I'll try it in the springrorm too - love the look of it!

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  8. like everyone else, i'm loving the pie in the springform! looks so good!

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  9. It looks beautiful in the springform pan. I love the edges! You will have to make this for your mom another time - she will love it!

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  10. Wow! This looks perfect! Very nicely done!

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  11. This is just awesome. I want to eat it right off the computer, and that RARELY happens to me. I think the pearls look gorgeous, but know how you feel!! YOu did a beautiful job. Thanks for posting.
    Cheers,
    Kathleen

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  12. I'm so gonna make that pie on the weekend! Looks soooo good!

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  13. That looks delicious, and I think I'm going to have to make it very soon. If you wanted to make the peanut butter layer a little more mellow and easier to fold in the whipped cream, you could whip the peanut butter with some cream cheese before folding in the whipped cream. Yum!

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    1. Ooops, looks like I should probably have read the recipe before mentioning that. Still looks amazing!

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  14. Presentation is important, and yours is flawless! Such beautiful photos and a gorgeous pie! I love the look from the springform pan and chocolate pearls... Simply amazing!

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  15. I love the raw edge presentation, think it looks much better than being perfectly smooth. Shame the chocolate pearls didn't work out, they look great. I've seen Godiva stuff before but never bought any.

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  16. I love the edging of this crust and the flavour combination....delicious!!

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  17. I love banana cream pie and pudding but I never thought about topping it with peanut butter, I may have to try that soon... Oh and the vanilla specks are so cute hehe.

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  18. I don't see a recipe for this pie? Am I looking in the wrong place?

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  19. http://bakedsundaymornings.com/2012/05/11/in-the-oven-peanut-butter-banana-cream-pie/ the link to the recipe is in the last paragraph. they're not very obvious, sorry!

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  20. How long did the entire pie take to make from start to finish? I am in a pie baking contest on Thanksgiving, but I only have a limited amount of time to make this on the Wednesday night before. Thanks!

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    1. sorry, it's been a while, but you have to make and bake the crust, then cool it completely, make the pudding, then pour it over the crust, then let that chill for an hour. then make the topping, assemble the whole thing, and chill again...

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    2. Do you think it would be okay to make the pie crust ahead of time and freeze it; then thaw it and complete the pudding and complete the rest? Thanks for your help.

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    3. i'm sorry, i really don't know for this one... i would be afraid of it becoming soggy? but i don't have much experience with pie in general...

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  21. Am I crazy or is there no reciepe on here? Just wondering if I am overlooking it somehow. Would love to make it. :) Thanks.

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    1. oh I see the link in the comments now! :)

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