Split-Banana Surprise Pie

Here's a tantalizing dessert that's served in a small "surprise" package! 

Prepare yourself to forget almost everything you thought you knew about bananas... and banana peels.;-)

Each scrumptious single-serving "peel" has a cookie crust loaded with Bananas, Chocolate and Caramel.  

It's unlike any Banana Cream pie you've ever tasted before, and you'll go blissfully "bananas" over every creamy, delectable bite.

It really is that good.

Let's get started...

Step 1: Banana basics, almost-scientific reasoning and your shopping list:

Choosing the right bananas for this dessert is easy.  Here are some simple guidelines adapted from Taste of Home along with a few tips of my own:

1. Look for plump, unbruised bananas that are evenly yellow-colored.  Green bananas are under-ripe, while a light flecking of brown flecks indicates ripeness.  Avoid using bananas that are bruised or heavily spotted.  Over-ripe bananas may be perfect for banana bread, but they won't abide well in this recipe.
2. Try to select bananas in a bunch. That way, you can be sure they'll ripen together at the same time.
3. To prevent bruising at home, handle the bananas just like you'd handle an egg... very gently. ;-)

The reliable and effective defense against "evil banana-browning" is four-fold:  

First:  A simple green-tinted produce bag (pictured) is used to cover the peeled banana fruit while it's chilling. These bags are available for purchase but I'm certain the free ones (in the produce dept.) will be just as effective for the brief amount of time the fruit is exposed to air (oxygen).  

Second: The buttery cookie-crumb crust will prevent oxidization (browning) when pressed inside of the empty banana peel.

Third: The Dulce de Leche caramel sauce will create a protective barrier that keeps the sliced banana filling from turning brown (oxidizing).

Fourth: Blending cream cheese and butter together with sugary mashed banana keeps the topping fresh-looking and fresh tasting.  This special "blend" is also responsible for the OMG-melt-in-your-mouth flavor that defies mundane conventionality. ;-P~   

The Complete Shopping List:

• 6 medium bananas 
• Maria Cookies- may substitute graham crackers
• 3 Tablespoons white sugar
• 6 Tablespoons melted butter- plus- 1/4 cup soft Butter (approx. 3/4 cup total)
• 1/2 cup Macadamia Nuts- divided in half
• Chocolate Syrup
• 1 cup Dulce de Leche Caramel- available in just about every Mexican or Latin grocery store.
• 2 teaspoons milk
• Fleur de sal- optional (but delicious!)
• 8 oz. Cream cheese- Room temperature
• 1/3 cup (plus) Powdered Sugar
• 2 cups Cool Whip topping- thawed in refrigerator
• 6 Maraschino cherries- halved for garnish

Not to worry... I'll break this list of ingredients down in each Step as needed and used. ;-)

Tools you'll need:   

• An electric hand mixer... no fancy Bosch or Kitchenaid required. ;-)
• A blender, food processor (or rolling pin) to crush cookies. ;-).  
• A pastry bag with a star tip- desirable, but not crucial.
• Room in your refrigerator- imperative! ;-)
• A serving spatula

Comments

[clewis21]

Darn, I had to find this recipe too! Trying to lose a few pounds!

[bajablue]

Me too, but we can start dieting tomorrow, right? ;-D

[sunshiine]

So clever! I must make some!

[Little Mom on the Prairie]

WOW this looks amazing, I must try this out soon!

[Ro-mico]

The idea of using a banana peel is great and it looks delicious! : )
I'll try it today for my peeps, sure they'll love it. Thanks.

One last thing, about 'Gamesa'. Gamesa is a brand. Cookie in Spanish is 'galleta' -it's pronounced: Ga - yeh - tah-. The 'yeh' sound is more like in yelled.
Hope it's clear enough to undestand. Bye! : D

PS. I'm starving right now : (

[bajablue]

Thanks so much...

I'm slowly learning Spanish (one word at a time) and I really appreciate the correction!

[sabu.dawdy]

yummy.........

[bajablue]

QQQQQQQQQQ Ten-Q, sabu! ;-)

[canucksgirl]

That wasn't what I was expecting from the title, but most certainly it meets the description of a "surprise". ;)

Looks yummy!

[bajablue]

Cg, what were you expecting from the title? I'd really like to know!

I had a terrible time deciding on a name... and I'm still not thrilled with this one.

Suggestions are appreciated, as always! ;-)

[canucksgirl]

Hey bajablue, I hope you weren't offended by my comment. I just meant that from the title, I was expecting to see something in a pie shell. That's all. But, it is a surprise to see that the "pie shell" is a banana, so I don't think there is anything wrong with your title at all. Like I said, it was a surprise! ;)

[bajablue]

oh no no no, cg... not offended in the least!  There's actually a cookie pie crust inside, but I honestly would appreciate any name suggestions you have.

I wanted to call it Banana Peel Pie but my friend NYnitwit sorta talked me out of it.... and I can change the name at any time.

Name suggestions are welcome!!! ;-D

[canucksgirl]

Ok good. ;)

How about "Banana Split Pie"? It kinda looks like a banana split and has some of the ingredients, and its kind of a play on words... (as it is a "split banana"). ;)

[bajablue]

Thank you SO MUCH for suggesting this name! ;-D

[canucksgirl]

No problem. I'm glad it worked out for you. ;)

[bajablue]

Sorry for the spam! ;-)

[canucksgirl]

Here I thought it was banana... now it's spam? lol ;)

[bajablue]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! ;-O)

[bajablue]

Hey... Split Banana Pie... hmmmm... I kinds like that one. Must think about it. ;-)

[ashbegash]

Wow! That looks amazing!!
Great job!

[bajablue]

Thank you ash!!!

[mistyp]

Right about now I really really wish I wasn't allergic to bananas! Thanks for sharing, and good luck in the contest!

[bajablue]

Thank you, mistyp!