Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe: Using whole milk, heavy cream, banana pudding mix, bananas, and a pie crust, you can make this in no time! It’s a simple pie recipe that’s sure to please any crowd (with a simple option for a no-bake banana cream pie, too)!
Quick Overview: Only 10 minutes to put together and 3 hours to set. (Allow extra time if you prefer to bake your favorite homemade crust or refrigerated pie crust.)
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Of all the cream pies, banana is one of my favorite pies (right up there with this no bake chocolate pie recipe). And I think banana cream pie is one of those classic recipes that everyone should try making at least once. And if you’re going to try making it, I’d highly recommend you try using this recipe because it’s so dang easy (you get a big wow factor with little effort)!
The filling is made using a banana pudding mix which gives it a yummy banana flavor and makes the pie creamy and rich (without it taking as long as a homemade pudding). The bananas add a bit of texture to the pie, and the whole thing is simply great! This easy banana cake is a lovely cake version of a banana dessert.
If you’re looking for a no-bake banana cream pie recipe, skip to the variations and see how you can turn this into one super quickly and easily!
Jump to:
Ingredients
Using a banana cream pudding mix makes this homemade banana cream pie so quick and easy to throw together.
Since this recipe uses simple ingredients, chances are you have some if not all of the ingredients on hand right now (and if not, your local grocery store absolutely will). So let’s make a pie!
You can find the complete list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card below.
- Whole Milk: Using whole milk instead of anything less will ensure that your pie filling is as rich and creamy as possible.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: The same goes for the heavy whipping cream! This helps thicken the pie filling as well as create a creamy, rich pudding.
- Banana Pudding Mix: Using an instant pudding mix allows you to have this pie ready in no time! The chill time is similar to if you made the custard from scratch, but this pie mix version of banana cream pie can be put together in less than 10 minutes!
- Prepared Pie Crust: Whether it’s from a store, homemade, dough or graham crackers (see variations), you’ll need something to hold all that yummy banana pie filling.
- Ripe Bananas: Adding some sliced bananas into the filling gives the pie a bit of texture and an added layer of banana flavor! If you only have fresh bananas that aren’t very ripe yet, check out this blog post on how to ripen bananas quickly.
How to Make Banana Cream Pie
Let me show you how quickly and easily you can put together this banana cream pie. Follow along for step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Gather your ingredients, prepare your pie crust, and blind bake it according to the package or recipe (or use a graham cracker pie crust for a no-bake option).
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk milk, cream, and pudding mix for 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken. For the best results, use cold milk and cream.
Step 3: Once the pudding mixture has thickened, put a layer of pudding, then a single layer of sliced ripe banana, then a layer of pudding (and so on) into the prepared pie shell.
Step 4: Place the pie in the fridge to allow the pudding to finish setting for about three hours.
Step 5: Cover the top of the pie with your favorite toppings (like whipped cream, bananas, almonds, etc.) and enjoy!
More banana recipes: If you’re still craving yummy banana flavored treats, head over and try our banana bread pudding and the BEST banana bread you’ll ever make.
More old-fashioned pie recipes: If it’s pie you’re craving, we’ve got you covered! Check out our old fashioned peanut butter pie (a no-bake recipe). And if you’re in the mood for something baked, you have to try our old fashioned egg custard!
Substitutions
- Milk – you could technically use any milk here, including a dairy-free option like soy or coconut milk.
- Dairy-Free – if you are replacing the milk with a dairy-free option, try using coconut cream instead of whipping cream. It will change the flavor of the pie slightly, though. You can also find a coconut whipped topping to decorate the top of the pie with!
- Gluten-Free – a lot of grocery stores now have pre-made, gluten-free crusts in the freezer section of their natural food aisles! Alternatively, you could always make a pie crust with gluten-free flour. Here’s a recipe for a gluten-free crust (that has a dairy-free option as well)!
Variations
- No-bake Banana Cream Pie with Graham Cracker Crust – buy a pre-made graham crust from the store for the quickest and easiest no-bake pie crust ever! You can also make your own using graham cracker crumbs and melted butter (check out our no-bake s’mores cheesecake recipe for a recipe and step-by-step instructions).
- Banana Caramel Pie – You could stir some caramel sauce into your banana pudding mix and drizzle some on top of your finished, decorated pie for a caramel twist on this easy banana cream pie!
Storage
Store your leftover banana cream pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
You can also freeze this pie (without the whipped cream on top)! Store it in the freezer in a freezer-safe, airtight container (maybe even wrap it tightly in plastic wrap so the pudding doesn’t form a film) for up to two months. You can either serve it straight from the freezer for a super thick banana cream pie, or let it thaw in the fridge for a more creamy, soft consistency.
Expert Tips and FAQs
If you eat it fast enough, they won’t have a chance to turn brown. But in all seriousness, if you want to prevent your bananas from browning you can treat them with a citrus juice (like lemon juice or lime juice). You don’t want them to taste a whole lot like lemon/lime, so try to do so sparingly. Brush the banana slices lightly with the juice or put it in a food safe spray bottle and spritz your slices.
If this was a from-scratch recipe, the culprit would be undercooking the pudding. Since we are using a pudding mix, if your pie is runny you probably haven’t let it set up in the fridge long enough.
Note: there is also a slight chance of having a slightly softer/runnier pudding filling if you don’t use whole milk and use something thinner (like almond milk or soy). You could decrease the amount of milk you are adding slightly, making sure that the finished pudding is nice and thick.
I bet you can guess the answer to this one – it’s right in the name! We call this a banana cream pie because it has a creamy, custard filling and it’s full of bananas and delicious banana flavor.
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
More No-Bake Pie Recipes
Love no-bake pies as much as we do? Then you’ll love these others that we recommend:
Recipe
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 – 5 ounce banana pudding mix
- 1 prepared pie crust store-bought or homemade
- 2 ripe bananas sliced
Instructions
- If using your favorite homemade pie crust recipe, prepare accordingly.If using a storebought pie crust, prepare pie crust if needed. (I like Pillsbury crust, and the directions for this brand, are to preheat oven to 450ºF. Place unbaked crust in pie pan and fold excess crust under, and press together to form thick crust edge. Prick the bottom and side with fork. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Cool. But different brands can vary for instructions.)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, and pudding mix for 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Once the pudding mixture has thickened, put a layer of pudding, then a layer of sliced ripe banana, then a layer of pudding (and so on) into the prepared pie shell.
- Place the pie in the fridge to allow the pudding to finish setting for about three hours.
- Top with your favorite toppings (like whipped cream, bananas, almonds, etc.) and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Kara says
Adding cream to the pudding mix made the pie extra rich and creamy. I topped ours with sweetened fresh whipped cream, and it was awesome!
Lee says
This is the best banana cream pie that I ever made! So simple and delicious. I made my own graham cracker crust but everything else was made as written. Thank you!
Eden says
This banana pie was perfect! Full of flavor and so creamy, we can’t wait to make it again!