Make crusts	Banana Cream Pie for Two

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Banana Cream Pie for Two

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 11, 2014

Yield: 3 individual pies, 6 servings

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Ingredients

For the Crusts

• 12 oz Nabisco Nutter Butter Cookies, finely ground

• 4 Tbsp butter, melted

• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

• Baking spray

For Banana Pudding

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided use

• 1 Tbsp cornstarch

• 3 Tbsp banana liqueur (see note)

• 5 egg yolks

• 1 cup half-and-half

• 1/4 tsp vanilla

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cubed

For Individual Pies (per pie)

• 1 Crust

• 2/3 cup Banana Pudding

• Banana slices, 1/3-inch thick, enough to cover crust

• 1 cup whipped cream

• 5 banana chunks, cut on the diagonal

• Granulated sugar

• 2 Tbsp caramel sauce

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Preparation

To make crusts, heat oven to 325 degrees. Combine ground cookies, butter and sugar. Spray individual tart pans with baking spray, then press crumbs into the sides and bottoms, packing until firm. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until crisp. Let cool completely, then gently release crusts from the tart pans.

To make banana pudding, in a bowl, stir together 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and banana liqueur, breaking up any small lumps, then whisk in egg yolks until very smooth. In a heavy saucepan on medium-low heat, bring half-and-half and 1/4 cup sugar almost to a boil, stirring often, without allowing to boil. A tablespoon at a time at first, whisk hot liquid into egg mixture, then return all to the saucepan. Cook on medium low, stirring continuously, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and butter. Cover and let cool.

To make pies, using a pastry bag, cover bottom of a crust with 1/3 cup banana pudding. Add a layer of banana slices, then another 1/3 cup pudding. Smooth the top, cover and let chill for 10 to 24 hours, allowing the crust to set.

To serve Scape-style, place a Banana Cream Pie on a serving plate and mound with whipped cream. Sprinkle sugar on banana slices and caramelize with a torch, arrange slices in a ring in the whipped cream. Drizzle with caramel sauce.