I’m starting a new series for 2022 called Birthday Celebration Desserts! Each month, I’m asking a loved one whose birthday falls within that month to choose a birthday dessert; anything they want! I’ll research and develop the recipe, make them the dessert, and deliver it to the person as close to their birthday as I can!

January’s Birthday Girl sent me a link to a Pinterest photo of delicious looking custard filling being poured into a pie crust lined with bananas. The title simply said Peanut Butter and Banana Pie. YUM! The original poster must have deleted the recipe, as the link was broken and the blog no longer existed. So I went digging!

The most popular Peanut Butter Banana Pie recipes I found looked delicious, but they used convenience items with lots of preservatives, like pudding mixes and frozen whipped topping. I wanted a bigger challenge than that! So when I found the Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie recipe from Bon Appetit, I knew I had a great foundation.

Instead of the single custard filling from the Pinterest photo, our version has three layers: a vanilla crème pâtissière (pastry cream) on the bottom, a layer of sliced fresh (ripe) bananas, and the most delectable peanut butter-cream cheese deliciousness you’ve ever tasted! (Seriously, it’s phenomenal!) Finally, to top my celebration pie, I chose a simple whipped cream and garnished with banana chips.

TIP: Due to a time constraint, I didn’t use the chocolate graham cracker crust in the original Pinterest photo or the vanilla wafer cookie crust in the Bon Appetit recipe. Instead, I chose a pre-made graham cracker crust, and it worked beautifully! However, either one of the others would be divine, as well. Feel free to choose whichever you prefer, and if you do, let me know how it tastes!

TIP: Incorporating chocolate into this recipe would take it to the next level! Let us know if you try!

Be sure to follow us on socials so you don’t miss next month’s Birthday Celebration Dessert! Links at the bottom of this page.

Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
(Original recipe: Bon Appetit)

VANILLA CUSTARD
1/3 C sugar
1-1/2 TBSP cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
1 C heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 large egg yolks
1 TBSP vanilla bean paste
1 TBSP unsalted butter
4 ripe bananas, peeled, divided
3 TBSP orange juice, divided

PEANUT BUTTER CREAM
3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 C creamy peanut butter
2/3 C heavy whipping cream

CRUST AND TOPPINGS
1 prepared graham cracker crust
1/2 C heavy whipping cream
1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Banana chips to garnish

MAKE VANILLA CUSTARD: Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and salt in heavy medium saucepan until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in cream and milk. Add yolks and vanilla bean paste; whisk to blend. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until pudding thickens and boils, about 5 minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Spread warm pudding in the bottom of the graham cracker crust. Chill until the filling is cool and set, about 1 hour.

Thinly slice 3 bananas. Combine banana slices and 2 tablespoons orange juice in medium bowl; toss to coat. Transfer banana slices to paper towels and pat dry. Arrange enough banana slices in single layer over vanilla custard filling to cover completely.

MAKE PEANUT BUTTER CREAM: In a medium bowl, beat heavy cream until firm peaks form.
In a separate medium bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla and peanut butter. Fold a large spoonful of whipped heavy cream into the peanut butter mixture to loosen. Fold in remaining whipped cream in 2 additions.

Spread the peanut butter cream layer evenly over the banana layer of the pie. Chill the whole pie for at least 3 hours to set the peanut butter cream.

MAKE WHIPPED CREAM TO TOP: In a medium bowl, beat heavy cream, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla until firm peaks form. Decoratively pipe the whipped cream on the top of the chilled pie.

Place banana chips on the top as a garnish. Keep the pie chilled until you serve.