County Fair Banana Cream Pie Recipe

How to Make County Fair Banana Cream Pie

1. **Make the Crust:** Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Finely chop 1 cup of pecans in a food processor. Combine chopped pecans, 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, cubed butter in a bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly. Gradually add 1/4 cup ice water, mixing until dough just comes together.
2. Divide dough in half. Press each half into the bottom of two 9-inch pie plates.
3. Chill pie crusts for 30 minutes.
4. Bake pie crusts for 25 minutes, or until lightly golden.
5. Cool completely on wire rack.
6. **Make the Chocolate Layer:** Melt 6 ounces of chopped semi-sweet chocolate, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, and 2 tablespoons corn syrup in a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cool completely.
7. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the cooled pie crusts.
8. **Make the Banana Cream Filling:** Heat 3 cups whole milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to simmer (scalding).
9. In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 large egg yolks and 1 cup granulated sugar until light and pale.
10. Whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour until smooth.
11. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture.
12. Pour mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened (about 1 minute after boiling).
13. Remove from heat; whisk in 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter and 1 tablespoon rum (if using) until smooth.
14. Cool completely, stirring occasionally.
15. **Assemble the Pie:** Thinly slice 3 ripe bananas and toss with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to prevent browning.
16. Whip 1 cup of heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
17. Gently fold about 1/4 of the whipped cream into the cooled custard to lighten it. Then, fold in the remaining whipped cream and the sliced bananas.
18. Spoon the banana cream mixture evenly over the chocolate layer in both pie shells.
19. Whip the remaining 1 cup heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream on top of banana cream, and sprinkle with remaining chopped pecans, if desired.