How to Make a Really Quick Banana Cream Pie

Everyone loves banana cream pie—and you can make one in a hurry with the method in this article. And if you like chocolate, you can make its chocolate cousins, Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie and Chocolate Banana Cream Pie.

Bavarian Cream and Chocolate Bavarian Cream are used for the fillings. You can purchase premade fillings or make your own from scratch—the recipe is included. Bavarian cream is also used as a filling in pastries and donuts, between cake layers, in crepes, and in many other applications. You may also use other fillings for your pie.

Cream pies are made in pre-baked crusts. The filling is added after baking.

What you'll need

- A just add-water pie crust mix to make a single nine-inch crust or a premade crust from your grocer's shelves.
- 2 or 3 ripe bananas
- A premade Bavarian cream filling
- Whipped cream topping

Step 1: Add water to the pie crust mix, mix together, and roll out. Transfer the pie crust from the counter to the pan, lay out, and line the pan. Trim and finish the edges.

Step 2: Prepare the crust for baking by pricking the bottom and sides with a fork to allow steam to escape from the crust as it bakes. Place a pie chain weight or ceramic pie beads on the crust to keep bubbles from forming in the crust.

Step 3: Bake the crust for ten minutes in a hot oven, 425 degrees, or until it starts to brown. Let cool for at least ten minutes.

Step 4: Slice the bananas and lay them across the bottom of the pie. Cover the pie with Bavarian cream filling. Garnish with whipped cream topping.

To make your own Bavarian cream

1 packet unflavored gelatin, about one tablespoon
3 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup sugar
5 large egg yolks
1 1/4 cups whipped cream
1 tablespoon good quality vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whipped cream (second measure)

1. Place the milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin into the milk and set aside.
2. Whisk the sugar and egg yolks together.
3. Heat the cream until it just starts to simmer. Do not boil. Slowly whisk the hot cream into the egg mixture to temper the eggs.
4. Cook the mixture in a double boiler or over simmering water, stirring, until it starts to thicken and simmer. Remove the cream mixture from heat and stir in the milk and gelatin mixture. Add the vanilla.
5. Pour the cream mixture into a bowl and place bowl in an ice bath and stir until the mixture cools to room temperature.
6. Whip the second measure of whipped cream. Fold in the whipped cream. Refrigerate until you are ready to use the Bavarian Cream.

Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie

For the Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, make as above except add a layer of chocolate ganache across the bottom of the pie crust, a chocolate layer under the banana filling. Ganache is wonderful, all-purpose, chocolate filling that is used in pastries, cake coatings, and as filling between cake layers. Here's how to make it:

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup dark chocolate wafers or dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter

Put all three ingredients in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted, stirring between intervals. The ganache will thicken as it cools. You may thin it further with additional cream.

Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

Make your pie as above but use Chocolate Bavarian Cream. You can purchase Chocolate Bavarian Cream online or make your own by melting dark chocolate and folding it into the Bavarian cream. About 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips per pie is about right for most tastes.