Caramelized Banana Cream Pie

Directions

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Set Time: 2 to 3 hours

Bake pie shells according to package instructions.

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, add milk, five tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, salt and cream cheese. Cook until warm. Add cornstarch and whisk to combine. Allow to cook for three to four minutes. Continue whisking mixture until it begins to thicken. In a small bowl, lightly whisk egg yolks. Temper the yolks by adding a ½ cup of cream cheese mixture into the yolks. Whisk to combine, then add the tempered yolks into the saucepan while continuing to whisk. Cook for two minutes. Add butter and vanilla and mix well. Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.

Slice two bananas into one-inch rounds. Place a frying pan over medium-high heat, dust the pan with sugar and add banana rounds. Cook bananas on one side until caramelized. Remove bananas and allow to cool.

Cut remaining bananas into ½-inch pieces and line them on the bottom of one pie shell. Pour cream cheese mixture over bananas until just covered. Lightly crush the second pie shell into ½-inch pieces. Layer crushed pieces on the pie and then cover with the remaining cream cheese mixture. Arrange caramelized banana slices around the outer edge of the pie. Let set for two to three hours until well chilled.

Before serving, combine whipping cream and one tablespoon sweetened condensed milk in a mixing bowl and whip to stiff peaks.  Spread whipped cream on the centre of pie, inside the ring of banana slices. Cut into eight slices.