DiscussionsLove The Pie

When baking a banana cream pie, I make the crust from scratch.  I cool the crust, and then fill the cool crust with the sliced bananas and cover with the cooked, cooled filling.   I make my meringue, seal to the edges and brown.  Trouble?  my bananas turn brown, and sometimes the bottom crust turns wet.  What am I doing wrong?  For meringue, I use 3 egg whites, 1/4 t. cream of tartar, and 6 T sugar.  For the pie filling, I use 2/3 c. sugar, 4 T. corn starch, 1-1/4 c. water, 1/4 t. salt.  Any suggestions?

Hi joyann086:

Here is the response from Andi, one of our Kitchen Experts:

Most Banana Cream Pies do not have a meringue topping. The heat needed to cook the meringue also activates a chemical reaction in the bananas, causing them to brown. Why not skip the meringue and just stay with a cream pie? http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/banana-cream-pudding-pie/8d4da362-7cae-4480-b751-3736a158e696  Or make a chocolate or lemon meringue pie.

Sincerely, Cate

Hi joyann086!

Try this if you really want a meringue-topped banana cream pie.  Bake the crust and cool.  Fold the sliced bananas into the cream filling while the filling is still warm and spread into crust.  Top with meringue while filling is still warm and bake at 400 five minutes or until browned to liking.  Cool at room temp.  Folding the bananas into the warm filling will protect the bananas from the intense heat of the oven while browning the meringue.  Slicing the bananas and putting them in the crust and spreading cooled filling over the top can cause air pockets between the banana slices and crust, giving no insulation to protect the bananas from the heat of the oven.  Traditional Southern-style banana pudding has a meringue topping so the pie should work.  have a great day!

to keep banana from browning u can squirt some lemon juice on them or as was state earlier fold into the cream once it cools.  also instead of trying meringue why not try some cool whip then place in fridge. if u put banana on top mix them with lemon juice first then put some chocolate shavings on top