Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
If you’ve ever bitten into a dessert that’s simultaneously creamy, crunchy, sweet, and utterly comforting, you’ll understand why I’m so excited to share my Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe with you. This is the kind of pie that you’ll find yourself craving months after making it, and honestly, it’s one of those recipes where the simple ingredients come together in the most magical way. If you love the combo of luscious caramel and ripe bananas, trust me, you’re going to adore this.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredient Harmony: Each component, from the buttery biscuit base to the ripe bananas, perfectly balances sweetness and texture.
- Quick Caramel Method: The homemade caramel step makes the filling thicker and richer without spending ages in the kitchen.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prep the base and caramel in advance, so pie day is smooth and stress-free.
- A Crowd-Pleaser: It’s a classic dessert that everyone loves, perfect for both casual family dinners and special celebrations.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Getting the right ingredients really sets you up for success with this Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe. Each element shines individually but harmonizes beautifully in the end. You’ll want to pick ripe bananas (not mushy, not green) and find a good quality dulce de leche because that’s the heart of the caramel goodness.
- Arnott’s Granita biscuits (or Marie, digestives, butternut snaps): These provide a sweet, crisp base that holds the pie together without overpowering the flavors.
- Butter (melted): Melting and mixing it with the crushed biscuits creates that perfect, sturdy base that’s rich and buttery.
- Dulce de leche (canned caramel): Using dulce de leche instead of condensed milk ensures a creamy, thick caramel perfect for the pie’s filling.
- Light brown sugar and butter (for caramel filling): These ingredients enhance the caramel’s flavor and give it depth and richness.
- Thickened cream, icing sugar, and vanilla: Whipped together, they create a light, sweet topping that contrasts wonderfully with the dense caramel.
- Ripe bananas: The star fruit that adds freshness and natural sweetness without any fuss.
- Dark chocolate, grated or shaved: Adds a bit of bitterness and texture to cut through the creamy layers beautifully.
Tweak to Your Taste
I love making this Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe my own by switching up the toppings or even playing with the biscuit base. Feel free to tweak it as you go—cooking is all about what you enjoy!
- Variation: Sometimes I add a pinch of sea salt to the caramel for a salted caramel twist—it’s incredible how it balances the sweetness.
- Dietary Modifications: If you want a gluten-free pie, swap out the biscuits for gluten-free cookies, and it works like a charm.
- Seasonal Change: During summer, swapping the banana slices for fresh sliced strawberries can add a nice refreshing berry note.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
Step 1: Crush and Bind the Biscuit Base
First things first, crush your biscuits into fine crumbs—the easiest way is to toss them into a food processor, but if you’re like me and don’t want to drag that out, just pop them in a sturdy zip-lock bag and bash away with a rolling pin until you get fine crumbs. Then stir in the melted butter until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Press this mix firmly into the tart tin, making sure it goes right up the sides for a nice edge. Pop this in the fridge to firm up—it sets the foundation for your pie perfectly.
Step 2: Whip Up That Caramel Goodness
The caramel filling is where this recipe shines. Add the dulce de leche, cubed butter, and brown sugar to a small saucepan. Warm it gently over low heat, whisking constantly until everything melts together to a silky, smooth caramel. Keep it on a low simmer and whisk for a few minutes—the key here is patience and constant stirring to avoid burning. Once it thickens just right, let it cool briefly then pour it evenly over your chilled biscuit base. I love smoothing it out with the back of a spoon, then I refrigerate it for a few hours to let it set beautifully.
Step 3: Whip Up the Cream, Slice the Bananas
When it’s time to assemble, whip the cream with icing sugar and vanilla until firm peaks form, but don’t go too far or it will turn buttery, and nobody wants that! Meanwhile, slice your bananas thickly—the ripeness is key here; I use fruit that’s yellow with a few brown spots for perfect sweetness and texture. If you want to keep the bananas from browning, a quick brush with a little lemon juice works wonders.
Step 4: Assemble Your Banoffee Pie Layers
Start by layering those banana slices right over the caramel, then either spoon or pipe on the whipped cream in a generous layer. Top it all off with those buttery dark chocolate curls for a touch of crunch and flavor contrast. From here, keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to slice and serve—it’s best enjoyed chilled!
Pro Tips for Making Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
- Avoid Burnt Caramel: Always whisk constantly on low heat to keep your caramel perfectly smooth and prevent that burnt-metal taste.
- Use Ripe Bananas: Pick bananas that are just spotty for ideal sweetness and to avoid them turning mushy quickly.
- Set the Base Well: Chill the biscuit crust long enough so it holds together when sliced — this stops your pie from falling apart.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: This keeps the bananas fresh and the whipped cream fluffy without sogginess or browning.
How to Serve Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
Garnishes
When garnishing, I always go for a little extra elegance with finely shaved dark chocolate or a light dusting of cocoa powder over the cream. Sometimes I add a few torn mint leaves for freshness, which pairs surprisingly well with the caramel’s sweetness.
Side Dishes
While Banoffee Pie is rich enough on its own, I like serving it alongside a simple cup of strong coffee or a fruity berry compote. These sides help balance the sweetness and refresh the palate perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I sometimes make mini individual banoffee pies in jars or ramekins—layering caramel, banana, and cream separately looks stunning through the glass, plus guests love the personal touch. Plus, it’s a neat way to control portions!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I tightly cover leftover pie with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge—just keep in mind the bananas may darken slightly overnight. If that bothers you, wait to layer the bananas and cream until right before serving.
Freezing
I don’t recommend freezing fully assembled banoffee pie because the texture of bananas and cream can suffer. But the biscuit base? Definitely! You can make and freeze that ahead for up to 3 months, then simply thaw before assembling.
Reheating
This pie is best enjoyed chilled, so no reheating needed—I find it’s perfect straight out of the fridge. If you happen to prefer slightly softer textures, just let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
FAQs
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Can I use condensed milk instead of dulce de leche for this Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe?
While condensed milk is a similar ingredient, it’s not a direct substitute for dulce de leche. Dulce de leche is already caramelized and thicker, giving that perfect rich texture and flavor. If you try to substitute condensed milk, you’ll need to cook it down until it turns into caramel, which takes time and care. I recommend buying canned dulce de leche to save time and get the authentic taste.
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How do I keep bananas from browning in the Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe?
A quick and easy trick is to brush the banana slices with a little lemon or lime juice before layering them onto the caramel. The acid slows down oxidation, keeping them looking fresh and appetizing for longer.
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Can I make this Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe vegan?
Yes, with a few swaps! Use vegan biscuits and replace the butter with a plant-based alternative. For caramel, look for vegan dulce de leche or make your own using coconut milk and sugar. The cream can be substituted with whipped coconut cream. The texture will be slightly different, but still delicious!
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How long does this pie keep in the fridge?
When stored covered in the fridge, your banoffee pie will stay delicious for up to 2 days. Beyond that, bananas might start to brown more noticeably, so it’s best enjoyed fresh.
Final Thoughts
This Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe is one of those desserts I reach for when I want comfort food with a bit of elegance. It’s not fussy but always feels special—like a little golden ticket to happy taste buds and good memories. I hope you find the joy in making and sharing it as much as I do. Give it a try on your next weekend baking adventure—you’ll find it’s worth every delicious bite, and I’m pretty sure it’ll become a favorite of yours too!
Print
Banoffee Pie with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
Description
A classic Banoffee Pie featuring a crunchy biscuit base, homemade caramel filling, fresh bananas, and whipped cream topped with dark chocolate, perfect for a delicious dessert.
Ingredients
Biscuit Base
- 250 grams Arnott’s Granita biscuits or Marie or butternut snap biscuits, Digestives or Graham Crackers
- 160 grams butter melted (approx. ⅔ cup)
Caramel Filling
- 1 x 395 gram can dulce de leche Nestle Top n Fill or another brand of canned caramel
- 75 grams butter cubed
- 75 grams light brown sugar
Whipped Cream
- 500 ml thickened cream
- 1 tablespoon icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
To Assemble
- 2-3 ripe bananas, sliced
- 50 grams dark chocolate grated or shaved into curls
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Add biscuits to a food processor and blend to fine crumbs or crush in a zip-lock bag with a rolling pin. Mix the crushed biscuits with melted butter until well combined and sticky. Press mixture firmly into a 22cm tart tin base and sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Make the caramel filling: Place dulce de leche, brown sugar, and cubed butter in a small saucepan. Whisk over low heat until fully melted and combined. Bring to a simmer over low heat, whisking continually to prevent burning, and cook for 3 minutes until smooth. Allow caramel to cool slightly.
- Assemble caramel layer: Pour cooled caramel into the biscuit base and smooth the top. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.
- Prepare the whipped cream: When ready to assemble, beat cream, icing sugar, and vanilla with electric beaters until stiff peaks form. Avoid overbeating.
- Assemble the pie: Arrange thick banana slices over the set caramel. Spoon or pipe whipped cream over the bananas. Garnish the cream with grated dark chocolate curls. Serve immediately or keep chilled until serving.
Notes
- Dulce de leche is essential for authentic caramel flavor. Use canned dulce de leche, not condensed milk.
- If short on time, spoon canned dulce de leche directly into the biscuit base instead of cooking the caramel. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before assembling.
- Brush banana slices with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Prepare biscuit base and caramel filling up to 2 days ahead, keep covered. Fully assembled pie can be made 1 day ahead but bananas may brown slightly.
- Biscuit base can be frozen unfilled for up to 3 months.
- Add a pinch of salt to biscuit base or caramel filling to balance sweetness.
- Keep pie chilled until serving to maintain texture and freshness.
- Assemble just before serving to keep banana slices fresh and prevent browning.
- Nutrition info is based on 10 servings with no additional toppings.
- Recipe uses Australian metric cups and spoons; adjust measurements if needed for other countries.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
