There’s something incredibly comforting about a Banoffee Pie that just hits the sweet spot every time. This Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe brings together buttery biscuit crust, luscious caramel, and fresh bananas in a way that’s pure magic. You’ll find it’s both easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — trust me, once you’ve tried it, you’ll want to make it again and again.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Banoffee Pie isn’t just your average dessert. I’m totally hooked on the balance it strikes between crunchy, creamy, and fruity. It’s the kind of treat I love to bring out when friends drop by — everyone always digs in happily.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples, which means it’s a breeze to make anytime.
- Perfect Texture Combo: Crunchy biscuit base, smooth caramel, soft bananas, and fluffy whipped cream make every bite a delight.
- Flexible & Adaptable: You can tweak the toppings or switch up biscuits depending on what you have on hand.
- Impressive But Easy: Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen, but really, you didn’t!
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe plays a vital role in making it so irresistible. From the crunchy base to the rich caramel and fresh bananas, each component brings texture and flavor that complement each other beautifully.
- Digestive biscuits: These give you a buttery, crumbly base that holds but isn’t too hard – you can swap for graham crackers if you’re in the US.
- Unsalted butter: Melts into the biscuits to bind them and add richness without overpowering.
- Salt: A pinch of salt amplifies all the sweet flavors in the dessert.
- Dark brown sugar: Adds depth and molasses-like notes to the caramel.
- Condensed milk (canned): The heart of your caramel – when cooked down, it becomes thick, golden, and indulgent.
- Bananas: Fresh and soft, they provide a natural sweetness and fresh contrast to the rich caramel.
- Double cream: Whipped until soft peaks, it lightens the pie and adds a lovely creamy finish.
- Dark chocolate: Optional, but that slight bitterness from the chocolate curls adds a wonderful final touch.
- Vanilla extract and icing sugar (optional): These enhance the whipped cream with extra flavor and softness — something I highly recommend if you have them.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I adore about this Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe is how easy it is to adjust for your own taste or what’s in your kitchen. Here are a few ways I’ve played around with it:
- Variation: I’ve sometimes swapped bananas for sliced strawberries or pears for a different fruit twist, especially when bananas are overripe or I want something tangier.
- Dairy-free alternative: Use coconut cream whipped instead of double cream, and dairy-free butter for the base for a vegan version that still tastes amazing.
- Crunch factor: Sprinkle chopped nuts or biscuit crumbs on top for extra texture — I love adding toasted hazelnuts for a nutty surprise.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
Step 1: Build the Perfect Biscuit Base
Start by crushing your digestive biscuits—either with a rolling pin inside a sealed bag or a food processor—to get fine, even crumbs. Mix them with the melted butter and a pinch of salt until the texture feels like damp sand. Press this mixture evenly into a 23cm removable base flan tin, using the back of a spoon to really compact it. If you have the time, pop it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes; this helps the base set up firm and keeps it from crumbling when you slice the pie.
Step 2: Whip Up Your Homemade Caramel
This is where the magic happens. In a small, non-stick saucepan, melt the butter and dark brown sugar over low heat, stirring constantly until everything’s combined into a smooth syrup. Then add the condensed milk and bring the heat to medium. Keep stirring and watch closely—after about a minute, it will bubble and thicken into that gorgeous rich caramel. It’s important not to rush or let it burn; patience here is key to that perfect golden color and silky texture.
Step 3: Assemble & Chill
Spoon the caramel carefully over the chilled biscuit base, smoothing it out into an even layer. Then, pop the pie back into the fridge for at least an hour so the caramel sets properly. This waiting period is always the toughest part for me—resisting the temptation to dive in too soon! But it’s absolutely worth it for a clean slice and perfect texture.
Step 4: Top with Bananas and Cream
Slice your bananas right before serving to keep them fresh and prevent browning. A quick toss in some lemon juice is a handy trick if you want to prep early. Spread the bananas over the caramel, then dollop on a generous layer of double cream. If you're adding vanilla and icing sugar, whip them into the cream first for an extra flavor boost. Finally, finish with dark chocolate shavings—just run a vegetable peeler over a bar of dark chocolate for beautiful curls. Not essential, but it feels fancy and adds great texture.
Top Tip
After making this Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe several times, I’ve picked up a few go-to tips that make all the difference between good and great:
- Caramel Consistency: Stir slowly and consistently when cooking the caramel to prevent it burning or becoming grainy—it should be silky and smooth.
- Chill Time Matters: Don’t rush chilling the base and caramel; this helps the pie firm up and slice without falling apart.
- Banana Prep: Slice bananas last minute or toss with lemon juice to keep that fresh, bright flavor.
- Whipping Cream: Whip your cream to soft peaks—don’t overbeat or it’ll become too stiff and lose its creamy texture.
How to Serve Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
Garnishes
When it comes to garnishing, I love keeping things simple yet elegant. Dark chocolate shavings are my go-to because they balance the sweetness with a pleasant bitterness. Sometimes, I sprinkle a few crushed digestive biscuits or a light dusting of cocoa powder on top for a little texture and eye appeal. Fresh mint leaves can add a splash of color and a hint of freshness, but they’re definitely optional.
Side Dishes
This pie is rich and indulgent on its own, so I like pairing it with a simple cup of strong black coffee or a lightly brewed tea—something to cut through the sweetness. For a bit of contrast, a small bowl of fresh mixed berries served on the side offers a bright and tangy counterpart that complements the creaminess beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve had a lot of fun transforming this classic into individual mini pies using small tartlet tins—great for dinner parties. Another idea is to build it as a layered trifle, alternating crushed base, caramel, banana slices, and whipped cream in clear glasses. It’s such a showstopper visually and makes serving a breeze.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually keep leftovers covered in the fridge, ideally with a cake cover or plastic wrap over the entire pie to stop it drying out or absorbing fridge smells. It should stay fresh for up to 2 days, but honestly, it rarely lasts that long in my house!
Freezing
Freezing this pie isn’t the best idea due to the cream and bananas, which don’t hold up well after thawing. However, you can freeze the biscuit base and caramel separately — just thaw and whip your cream fresh when you're ready to serve.
Reheating
This Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe is best served chilled, so reheating isn’t really needed. If you’d prefer a warmer caramel, you can gently warm a portion of it on the stove before assembling the pie.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely, you can save time by using ready-made dulce de leche or caramel sauce. Just make sure it’s thick and not too runny so that it sets nicely on the biscuit base.
A quick and effective trick is to toss the sliced bananas in a little lemon juice right after cutting. The acid slows down browning and also adds a subtle tang that complements the sweetness of the pie.
Yes! You can make the biscuit base and caramel a day ahead and refrigerate. Add the bananas and whipped cream just before serving for the freshest results.
Use chilled double cream and a cold bowl. Whip at medium speed until soft peaks form—stop before stiff peaks. Adding vanilla and icing sugar during whipping gives a lovely flavor and light sweetness.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s such a no-fuss way to make something that genuinely feels decadent and impressive. It’s become my go-to showstopper dessert to whip up for gatherings or when I just want to treat myself. Give it a try—you won’t regret having this crowd-pleaser ready to share or savor on your own!
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Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Bananas Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A classic British dessert featuring a crunchy biscuit base, rich homemade caramel, fresh sliced bananas, and light whipped cream topped with dark chocolate shavings. This Banoffee Pie balances sweet and creamy flavors with a delightful mix of textures, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
For the base:
- 200 g Digestive biscuits, crushed
- 100 g Unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon Salt
For the caramel:
- 80 g Unsalted butter
- 80 g Dark brown sugar
- 397 g Can of condensed milk (1 tin)
For the topping:
- 2 Bananas, peeled and sliced
- 300 ml Double cream, whipped
- 10 g Dark chocolate (for shavings)
Optional:
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Icing sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Mix the crushed Digestive biscuits with melted butter and salt until well combined. Press this mixture firmly into a 23 cm removable base flan tin using the back of a spoon. Chill the base for 30 minutes if time allows to set firmly.
- Make the caramel: Place butter and dark brown sugar in a small non-stick saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously as they melt together. Once sugar is fully dissolved and liquid, add the condensed milk. Increase heat to medium and stir constantly, allowing the mixture to bubble rapidly for 1 minute until thick and golden in color.
- Assemble the caramel layer: Spoon the warm caramel evenly over the chilled biscuit base. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour to set.
- Add the toppings: Arrange sliced bananas evenly over the set caramel layer. Whip the double cream until firm yet soft, optionally mixing in vanilla extract and icing sugar before whipping for added flavor. Spread the whipped cream gently over the bananas.
- Finish and serve: Use a vegetable peeler to create dark chocolate shavings and sprinkle them on top of the whipped cream. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- You may substitute Digestive biscuits with graham crackers, adjusting butter quantity for desired texture.
- Toss banana slices in lemon juice to prevent browning and add a tangy note.
- Whip cream until it holds shape but remains soft; heavy cream can be used as an alternative.
- Vanilla extract and icing sugar in the cream add extra flavor but are optional.
- Chocolate shavings can be replaced with sprinkles or cocoa powder to garnish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
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