Baked Sunday Mornings: Peanut Butter and Banana Cream Pie

DECADENT PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA CREAM PIE FOR MY "OWL'S' CHOCOLATE PARTY

Today’s Peanut Butter and Banana Cream Pie is actually part II if my “chocolate” tart/pie baking adventure for my Frolicking Night Owl daughter’s chocolate party.  Part I was the FFwD Double Chocolate and Banana Tart posted 2 days ago.  With minor adjustments, both are fabulous “keeper” recipes.

To comply with being a part of a chocolate party, this pie was given a chocolate crust and melted bittersweet chocolate was swirled around the top.  Viola...this is now a Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Cream Pie.

BANANA'S IN ANTIOXIDANT ORANGE JUICE--TASTES BETTER TO ME  WITH THE PIE FLAVORS THAN DORIE'S TART THAT USES LEMON JUICE ON THE BANANA SLICES

I MADE THIS PIE IN TART STYLE--WORKED WELL

The only other change was the chocolate covered peanuts that I could not add to the top...they melted before I got them home...it was 106^.  Then I decided on chopped peanut butter cups as I had a fresh bag begging to be used and I thought they would complement this pie...but unfortunately they too were melted...totally.  So, in honor of the AZ heat, my garnish then became toffee covered peanuts, which do not melt. 

I was surprised that this custardy, peanut buttery, banana pie held up at an outdoor party...I was expecting it to droop and melt just like those peanut butter cups...but, surprise, it held up even in our heat.  Wonderful!

Comparing the two pies, this was my personal favorite.  I’m a sucker for good custard and when in company with all these great flavors and ingredients, this pie is a real winner.  Dorie’s ganache and banana tart, which also has many layers, is elegant and decadent, but there are no surprises.  It tastes just as I expected it should.  But this pie with the many layers and flavors was exceptional and surprising.

And the most important reason for me persoanlly to love this pie, is that even though I am not super excited by chocolate and peanut butter together...I must have eaten too many peanut butter cups as a kid...I did love the chocolate and peanut butter paired in this pie.  This will be a good pie to make in the future for my chocolate-peanut butter lovers, and I'm excited that I can love it too.  (I know, this pie does not really have chocolate as written in the recipe, but as of this week, it does for me.)

OUTSIDE IN THE DARK--BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE THE WONDERFUL INTERIOR OF THIS PIE

I KNOW, THIS IS A TERRIBLE PHOTO, HOWEVER THIS IS MY SLICE AT THE DARK OUTDOOR PARTY AND IT IS FABULOUS!

This Baked pie brought several great flavor layers together and it truly surprised me with all the wonderful  layers that worked so well together.  It was worth all the steps and all the dirty dishes.  I will do it all again soon and this time I will anticipate eating more of this pie myself...no sharing with a chocolate party!

I'm excited to see all your pies.  I'm in the mood to bake this one again tomorrow!