Black Bottom Banana-Cream Pie

By Shawn

Ingredients

• Pastry Crust:
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• Dash of salt
• 1 1/3 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
• 1 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ounces block-style fat-free cream cheese (about 1/4 cup), softened
• 2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 2 large bananas)
• 8 oz, tub frozen low fat/fat-free whipped topping, thawed
• Chocolate curls or mini Choc chips (optional)

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from keyingredient.com

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare and bake Pastry Crust. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons sugar, cocoa, and dash of salt in a small heavy saucepan; gradually add 1/3 cup milk, stirring with a whisk. Cook 2 minutes over medium-low heat. Stir in chocolate; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Spread chocolate mixture into bottom of prepared crust.

Combine remaining 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup sugar, butter, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a heavy saucepan. Stir in remaining 1 cup milk and eggs; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to low, and cook 30 seconds or until thick. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

Place cream cheese in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer 30 seconds. Add 1/4 cup hot custard to cream cheese, beating just until blended. Gradually stir in remaining hot custard.

Arrange banana slices on top of chocolate layer in prepared crust; spoon custard over bananas. Cover surface of filling with plastic wrap; chill 4 hours. Remove plastic wrap. Spread whipped topping evenly over custard. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired. Chill until ready to serve.

Yield: 8 servings.

7 Points