Caramelized Banana Cream Pie

By LRay

Better Homes and Gardens, June 2015.

These decadent make-ahead pies are perfect for sharing! We love the sweet combination of whipped white chocolate, bananas, and caramel.

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup half-and-half or light cream
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 2 16 1/2 ounces rolls refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces white baking chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 6 bananas (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 1 lemon
• Broken chocolate bars

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

For caramel sauce, combine brown sugar, half-and-half, butter, and salt in a large heavy saucepan. Place over medium-low heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until bubbly around the edges, whisking gently. Add the vanilla and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes more or until slightly thickened. Transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and chill up to 2 days. Let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before using.

For tart shells, place cookie dough and flour in a bowl. Knead until combined. On a lightly floured surface, roll about half the dough at a time to 1/4-inch thick. Cut dough into 4 1/2-inch rounds using a fluted cutter, if desired. Press rounds into bottom and sides of 12, 4-inch pie or tart pans*. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown (dough will puff in pans, but fall during cooling). Cool completely on wire racks. Use a small sharp knife to loosen edges from pans; carefully remove from pans. Set aside until ready to assemble or store in airtight containers up to 2 days.

For white chocolate cream, place white chocolate in a medium bowl; set aside. Combine egg yolks and granulated sugar in a separate bowl and whisk until pale in color, about 2 minutes.

In a medium saucepan bring 1/2 cup whipping cream to simmering over medium heat. Slowly whisk the cream into the yolk mixture. Return to saucepan and stir until mixture coats the back of the spoon.

Pour hot mixture through a fine mesh sieve placed over the bowl of chopped chocolate. Cover bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until nearly smooth (some pieces of white chocolate may not completely melt). Cool for 1 hour. In a separate bowl whip remaining 1 1/2 cups cream to almost stiff peaks. Fold half of the whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture to lighten and then fold this into the remaining cream. Cover and chill until set, about 1 hour.

To assemble, slice bananas 1/4-inch thick and place in a medium bowl. Stir in the juice of one lemon and 1/4 cup of the caramel. Fill each tart shell with bananas, top with white chocolate cream, caramel sauce, and chocolate pieces.