Banana Cream Pie

I recently tested a recipe for Food52. It's was a Chocolate, Peanut Butter,  Banana Pie. You can search the recipe on my blog. It was incredible, so I decided to post a recipe for Banana Cream Pie.
I've been researching recipes for Banana Cream Pie and there are so many options. After reading reviews that were written for several recipes, I decided to take from many and create this one.
The crust is a combination of a few recipes and so is the filling. I knew I didn't want to cook a custard for the filling, it can be complicated and it doesn't always turn out well. The reviews on homemade custard filling were not encouraging. I know that I can make a good cooked custard because I have it in my Banana Pudding recipe, but I've made it so many times that I understand how technical and time consuming it can be. This filling is equally as good and it's not complicated.

This recipe needs to be made in a deep dish fluted 9" pie pan.

Crust:

3 C Graham Cracker Crumbs ( did not measure the number of crackers because we always have a container of graham cracker crumbs in our pantry)
1/2 C granulated sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 of a ripe banana, smashed
1/4 pound (1 stick butter), softened

In a bowl:
crumbs
sugar
cinnamon
Mix Well

Add banana and butter and continue to mix well.
Press into the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cool completely

Filling:

2C heavy cream, whipped and divided
3 TBS granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 (3.4oz.) box of vanilla instant pudding
1 C cold whole milk
8 oz. cream cheese
1 - 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
4 - 5 ripe bananas, sliced

In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. (clean the bowl for another step)

In a separate bowl with a hand mixer:
milk
instant pudding mix
Mix Well and set aside

In the stand mixer with a paddle attachment:
Beat cream until fluffy.
With the mixer running on low, add condensed milk and the pudding mix.
Scrape the bowl and continue to beat until smooth.
Use a spatula and fold in 1/2 of the whipped cream.

Spread a thin layer of filling over the bottom and up the sides of the cooled crust.
Slice bananas and lightly press into the bottom and up the sides of the crust

Pour the remaining filling into the crust and smooth the top with a spatula and top it with the remaining whipped cream.
Gently cover the pie with plastic wrap or place in a covered pie tote and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!