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Craving a slice of banana cream pie but don’t want to fire up the oven? These Banana Cream Pie Jars are your new go-to summer dessert.
These delightful jars combine the fun of banana wafer dessert with classic banana pudding in a compact, portable format. They are perfect in mason jars for a fun and elegant twist. It is a no-bake dessert that is easy and topped with banana slices in every bite. Perfect for weekend cravings or impressing guests. One spoonful will have you hooked!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One: In a small bowl whisk together 2 egg yolks and 2 tbsp cornstarch.
Step Two: In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tbsp vanilla extract. Allow the mixture to simmer.
Step Three: Once simmering, temper the egg yolk mixture. Pour in 1 tbsp of hot liquid into the egg yolks at a time while whisk quickly. Repeat 4-5 times.
Step Four: Pour the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan while whisking. Allow the mixture to cook while constantly whisking for 1-2 minutes as it thickens. Remove from the heat. Strain the mixture into a mixing bowl using a fine mesh strainer to remove any clumps. Allow to cool down at room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step Five: In a handheld food processor, chop up vanilla wafers. Pour in 4 tbsp melted butter and pulse a few times until it has the texture of wet sand.
Step Six: In 8 glass jars, pour out about 1/4 cup of pie crust and press in the bottom of each jar.
Step Seven: Top with a few sliced bananas.
Step Eight: Pour the slightly warm pudding mixture over the top. Cover with jars with lids and place in the fridge for 4 hours.
Step Nine: When ready to serve. Top with whipped cream.
Step Ten: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Whip with a hand mixer until it reaches stiff peaks—pipe on top of each pudding jar with a piping bag. You can top with any extra pie crust mixture or banana slices for presentation. Enjoy!
The Chemistry of Banana Cream Pie Jars
The pudding layer is where the magic happens. Using egg yolks and cornstarch together is the key to a pudding that’s both rich and stable. The egg yolks provide fat and flavor, while cornstarch thickens the mixture as it simmers in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Tempering the egg yolk mixture- slowly warming it with a bit of hot liquids- prevents scrambling and ensures silky results. Using heavy cream instead of milk yields a richer texture, and the fine-mash strainer at the end is essential for removing solids and catching any lumps. For the crust, vanilla wafers blitzed in a food processor with melted butter create a base that mimics a classic pie crust without baking.
Recipe Troubleshooting
Pudding too thin? This usually means the egg mixture wasn’t cooked long enough or wasn’t tempered correctly.
Soggy or mushy crust? This happens when the banana pieces sit for too long before the jars are chilled.
Banana slicing browning? This is best solved by layering carefully and using airtight lids.
Whipped cream deflates? This happens when it’s under-whipped or stored too long.
Too sweet or bland? Make sure to balance your vanilla extract, sugar, and fresh banana flavor.
Can I use store-bought pudding? You can, but the homemade vanilla pudding brings richer flavor and better consistency.
Can I use milk instead of heavy cream? You can, but it may result in a thinner, less rich pudding.
What’s the best way to temper the egg yolk? Slowly whisk in a tablespoon at a time of the hot cream mixture until warmed through.
Will Graham crackers work instead of vanilla wafers? Yes! Just substitute them for one-for-one and follow the same crust instructions.
Serving Suggestions
For the best presentation, use clear mason jars or 8 oz. glass jars to highlight the beautiful layers. Pipe the whipped cream using a star tip and finish with crushed vanilla wafers and a slice of banana for garnish. They pair wonderfully with iced coffee, drinking chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, sweet tea, or a chilled Moscato. You can also add a drizzle of caramel, butter caramel, or homemade fudge sauce for a decadent twist. Pair with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream for an even sweeter dessert.
Seasonal Serving Suggestions
These jars are having a moment right now as the ultimate summer no-bake dessert, popping up in everything from Fourth of July treats to graduation party desserts. They’re great make-ahead party desserts, ideal for spring brunch ideas, and on-trend, with minimal-ingredient desserts all over TikTok. Pack them in a large zip-top bag for picnic dessert jars, or serve them as your new favorite viral banana-pudding jars. From backyard BBQs to bridal showers, these easy summer desserts are the crowd-pleasing jars you’ll make again and again.
Baking Tips
With homemade vanilla pudding, fresh banana slices, and a buttery vanilla wafer crust, these individual jars are creamy, cool, and practically made for picnics, parties, or sweet solo indulgence. Each layer is built for beauty and flavor, and the whipped cream topping gives them that classic pie finish- without a rolling pin in sight. They’re make-ahead friendly, no-bake, and perfectly portable in mason jars.
Storage Tips
Store in the refrigerator with the lids tightly closed for up to 3 days. Add whipped cream and garnishes just before serving. If prepping the pudding ahead, place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture to prevent skin from forming.
Freezer: Freezing isn’t ideal for these jars because the banana slices and whipped cream don’t thaw well. For best results, assemble and chill fresh- but the pudding can be made and frozen separately if needed, just thaw slowly in the fridge.
Make Ahead: Make the pudding up to 2 days in advance and store it in a medium bowl with plastic wrap directly on the surface. Assemble the jars the night before your event, but wait to pipe the whipped cream until the day of for the best texture.
Recommended Products
No-Bake Banana Cream Pie Jars
If you’re looking for an easy summer dessert that’s as cute as it is cravable, these Banana Cream Pie Jars are your answer. They’re rich, cool, and layered with everything you love about the classic pie- just more fun to serve and eat. From graduation parties to lazy weekend brunches, these little jars of joy are sure to please. Don’t forget to grab your recipe card, and tag me in your jar creations online- I’d love to see your fun twist on this classic.
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Creamy Banana Pie Jars with Vanilla Wafer Crust
Ingredients
Vanilla Pudding
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 bananas
Pie Crust
- 2 cups vanilla wafers chopped
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Pudding
- In a small bowl whisk together 2 egg yolks and 2 tbsp cornstarch.
- In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tbsp vanilla extract. Allow the mixture to simmer.
- Once simmering, temper the egg yolk mixture. Pour in 1 tbsp of hot liquid into the egg yolks at a time while whisk quickly. Repeat 4-5 times.
- Pour the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan while whisking. Allow the mixture to cook while constantly whisking for 1-2 minutes as it thickens. Remove from the heat. Strain the mixture into a mixing bowl using a fine mesh strainer to remove any clumps. Allow to cool down at room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.
Pie Crust
- In a handheld food processor, chop up vanilla wafers. Pour in 4 tbsp melted butter and pulse a few times until it has the texture of wet sand.
Assemble
- In 8 glass jars, pour out about 1/4 cup of pie crust and press in the bottom of each jar.
- Top with a few sliced bananas.
- Pour the slightly warm pudding mixture over the top. Cover with jars with lids and place in the fridge for 4 hours.
- When ready to serve. Top with whipped cream.
Whipped Cream
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Whip with a hand mixer until it reaches stiff peaks—pipe on top of each pudding jar with a piping bag. You can top with any extra pie crust mixture or banana slices for presentation. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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