Banana Cream Pie with Caramel Drizzles and Chocolate Sauce
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups plus 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 recipe Graham Cracker Crust, recipe follows
- 3 pounds (about 9) firm but ripe bananas, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Caramel Sauce, recipe follows
- Chocolate Sauce, recipe follows
- Shaved chocolate, for garnish
- Confectioner's sugar, for garnish
- Combine 2 cups of the cream, the milk, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the vanilla bean, and the vanilla seeds in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a gentle boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar.
- Remove from the heat.
- Combine the egg yolks, eggs, cornstarch, and 1 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl, and whisk pale yellow in color.
- Set aside.
- Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks.
- Gradually add the egg mixture to the hot cream, whisking constantly.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon to cook out the cornstarch and the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
- (The mixture may separate slightly.
- If so, remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer until thick and smooth.)
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl.
- Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
- Chill in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.
- To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the custard over the bottom of the prepared crust, smoothing with the back of a large spoon or rubber spatula.
- Arrange enough banana slices (not quite one-third) in a tight, tiled pattern over the custard, pressing down with your hands to pack them firmly.
- Repeat to build a second layer, using 3/4 cup of the custard and enough bananas to cover, smoothing down the layer evenly.
- For the third layer, spread 3/4 cup of custard over the bananas and top with the remaining bananas, starting 1-inch from the outer edge and working toward the center.
- Spread 1 cup of custard evenly over the bananas to prevent discoloration.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- In a medium bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar and the vanilla extract and whip until stiff peaks form.
- Remove the pie from the refrigerator.
- With a sharp knife dipped in hot water, cut the pie into 10 equal slices.
- Transfer the slices to dessert plates.
- Fill a pastry bag with the whipped cream and pipe onto each slice.
- (Alternately, spread the whipped cream evenly over the pie before cutting.)
- Drizzle each slice with the caramel sauce and chocolate sauce, sprinkle with the chocolate shavings and confectioners' sugar, and serve.
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a medium bowl and mix well.
- Add the butter and mix well.
- Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie pan.
- Top with aluminum pie tin and with a circular motion, press the crust tightly into the pan.
- Bake until browned, about 25 minutes.
- Cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Yield: 1 (9-inch) crust
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup whole milk
- Combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
- Let boil without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't burn.
- Add the cream, whisk to combine, and remove from the heat.
- Add the milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before serving with the pie.
- (The sauce will thicken as it cools.)
- Yield: generous 3/4 cup
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Scald the half-and-half and butter in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat.
- Remove from the heat.
- Place the chocolate and vanilla in a medium, heat-proof bowl.
- Add the hot half-and-half and let sit for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
- Serve slightly warm.
- (The sauce can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for several days, but it must be returned to room temperature before serving.
- Yield: generous 3/4 cup
heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean, egg yolks, eggs, cornstarch, graham cracker crust, bananas, vanilla, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, chocolate, s sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/banana-cream-pie-with-caramel-drizzles-and-chocolate-sauce-recipe2.html (may not work)