Can I share a secret with you guys? Just because something is labor-intenseive or 100% homemade doesn’t mean it’s the best. Making great food doesn’t have to be hard, and sometimes shortcuts are delicious. Let’s stop being martyrs here. I used to think the same way you did. I used to make everything absolutely from scratch. And there are a lot of things I only make from scratch, but if there’s a better, easier way of doing them, I ususally do that instead.

Take, for example, banana cream pie. I used to make it with homemade pie crust and homemade pudding that literally took an hour of stirring over a hot stove. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but my sister-in-law Emily’s recipe for banana cream pie is awesome. It tastes JUST LIKE Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding (Like, the Magnolia Bakery in New York City). And it’s a million times easier than homemade. But you purists out there are questioning me–“Jello pudding? Pre-made graham cracker crust? No stinking way.” To which I say, “Yes way.” Live on the edge here, take it to Easter dinner this Sunday, and be prepared for everyone to love you. Because hey, food is the best way to win friends and influence people! 🙂

Our Best Bites easiest best banana cream pie

The trickiest part of this recipe is the pudding, which isn’t THAT tricky, but you just need to make sure you’re getting two things right: make sure it’s instant pudding and that is the 3.4 oz. package (the 4-serving size.)

If you want to play around with flavors, that’s totally fine–I always use vanilla because I hate artificial banana flavor and the vanilla pudding will take on the banana flavors from the bananas, but you can get wild and crazy and use butterscotch, cheesecake, chocolate–wherever your pretty little brain takes you.

You’re also going to need heavy whipping cream, bananas, 2 8-serving graham cracker pie crusts (you could also use chocolate or Nilla wafer if the Spirit moves you), sweetened condensed milk, and powdered sugar.

easiest best banana cream pie ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix, cold water,

mixing easiest best banana cream pie ingredients

and sweetened condensed milk.

Mix well and place in the refrigerator to chill for a few minutes. In another bowl, whip 1 cup of whipping cream until soft peaks form.

Slice the bananas (probably 4-5 small bananas or 2 large bananas) and layer them on the bottom of the crusts.

Be sure and save the plastic domes that come with the pie crusts–you’ll need them later!

Set aside. Remove pudding from the fridge and gently dollop the whipped cream on top of the pudding.

folding in whipped cream to easiest best banana cream pie

Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until well-combined.

Now divide the mixture between the two pies.

Easiest and Best Banana Cream Pie filling bananas and banana cream in pie crust dividing pudding mixture among easiest best banana cream pie
Prepare sweetened whipped cream with the remaining whipping cream and 1/3 c. of powdered sugar and spread it on top of the two pies.

easiest best banana cream pie from Our Best Bites

Place the clear plastic shells back on the pies and allow to chill for several hours. This is actually really important–I tried eating it right away once and the pie wasn’t banana-y at all and the moisture hadn’t absorbed into the crust, so the crust just fell apart.

And there you have it–the best AND the easiest banana cream pie you’ll ever have or need!

easiest best banana cream pie

Banana Cream Pie

★★★★ 3.7 from 31 reviews

Author: kate jones
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 2 pies

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 3.4-ounce package INSTANT vanilla pudding
1 cup cold water
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 8-serving graham cracker or cookie crusts
Lots of bananas (4-5 small bananas or 2-3 large ones)
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix, cold water, and sweetened condensed milk. Mix well and place in the refrigerator to chill for a few minutes. In another bowl, whip 1 cup of whipping cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.

Slice the bananas (probably 4-5 small bananas or 2-3 large bananas) and layer them on the bottom of the crusts. Be sure and save the plastic domes that come with the pie crusts–you’ll need them later!

Set aside. Remove pudding from the fridge and gently dollop the whipped cream on top of the pudding. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until well-combined.

Now divide the mixture between the two pies. Rinse the pudding bowl and beaters and set aside for later.

If possible, immediately before serving, combine the remaining heavy cream and 1/3 cup powdered sugar in the bowl you mixed the pudding in and beat with an electric mixer on high until soft peaks form. Spread over the pies. (If you can’t do this immediately before serving, it’s okay to do the whipped cream step after you put the pudding mixture in the shells.)

Notes

Chunky Monkey Variation:

Blend 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter into the pudding/water/sweetened condensed milk mixture (before you fold in the whipped cream). Continue as directed but place in a chocolate cookie crust. Sprinkle with honey roasted peanuts just before serving.

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Comments

Ro says:

Made this yesterday and everyone loved it! I gave one pie to my parents and the other to a neighbor. My dad loved it so much, he was mad that I didn’t give him both pies lol

It was delicious and easy to make. I will definitely make this again. Thanks for the great recipe!

Holly says:

I like to use golden Oreos to make the crust.

Anne says:

Your blue batter bowl is beautiful! Where did you get it?

- kate jones says:
  
  Isn’t it fab? I love it so much! Here’s a link! 🙂 https://amzn.to/2JpATT4
  
pictaram says:

It looks so good! Looks like a great pie for upcoming hot days, thank you for sharing!

Paige Flamm says:

I haven’t made banana cream pie in ages! Totally making this over spring break with the kids this week!

Ann Clawson says:

I make banana cream pie using the instant pudding (same size) and 1/3 cup milk and the rest sour cream. Bananas on the bottom also. It is delicious too!! A favorite in our family. I have never used sweetened condensed milk. Seems like it will be really rich with that and whip cream, but delicious sounding. I will have to try it.

Andi says:

We make super easy individual banana cream pies by crushing a graham cracker in the bottom of a bowl, slicing banana on it, then a single serving of vànilla pudding cup, finish with a squirt of whipped cream.

Linda Ricardo says:

I made this pie yesterday for Easter. Thank you for a yummy and easy recipe! I loved the cream filling and the banana taste was great. I think I’ll try it with a fresh graham cracker crust next time. I also found that there were some hollow spots in the pie because the filling didn’t reach between the bananas. I may pipe the filling in next time. Or I’ll just forget about it next time and have hollow spots again… 🙂

Jessie says:

Do you know if this pie can be frozen and then thawed?

- kate jones says:
  
  I wouldn’t…I don’t think the bananas would survive. But I’ve never tried it. 🙂
  
Brittny Hansen says:

FYI your link to “Sweetened Whipped Cream” is broken. It should link here – https://ourbestbites.com/2008/03/sweetened-whipped-cream/

Sjana says:

Try it with Betty Croker chocolate chip cookie as the crust, prepare as directed, divide in half, press into pie dish, bake 375 for 17-20 min, or until edges are brown. Best freaking pie ever! Someone made it for us this way, but used coconut in with the pudding instead of bananas. Didn’t know I liked coconut cream pie until then!

Emily says:

How far in advanced can I make the banana cream pie?

Michelle Harris says:

Hi! I love this recipe and will be sharing it with the young women on Wednesday. Just wanted to let you know that the link to the sweetened whipped cream is broken!

- [email protected] Best Bites says:
  
  Thanks!

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