Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie

An easy homemade crust and do-it-yourself dulce de leche make this banana cream pie irresistible!

Prep: 1 3/4 hrs. + chilling     Bake: 15 min.+ cooling    Makes: 8 servings

• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. cold lard
• 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water

FILLING:

• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. whole milk
• 1/3 c. half-and-half cream
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 med. bananas, sliced
• 2 c. heavy whipping cream, whipped

1. Pour condensed milk into 9 in. deep-dish pie plate; cover with foil. Place pie plate in larger shallow pan; add 1 in. hot water to pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs. or until caramel-colored. Whisk dulce de leche to blend; transfer to bowl. cool 1 hr.; refrigerate until chilled.
2. In a bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in lard until crumbly. Gradually stir in water until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hr.
3. In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, flour and salt; whisk in milk and cream. cook and stir over med. heat until thick and bubbly; cook 2 min. Remove from heat; whisk a small amount into egg yolks. return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 22 min. Transfer to a bowl; stir in vanilla. Cool slightly. cover surface with waxed paper; chill completely.
4. Roll dough on floured surface to 1/8 in. thick circle. Transfer to 9 in. pie plate; trim and flute edges. Line pastry with heavy-duty foil. Fill with pie weights. Bake at 450 degrees for 12 min. Remove foil and weights; bake 3-5 min. or until crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Spoon filling into crust; layer with bananas and dulce de leche. Top with whipped cream.

How to "flute" a pie crust:

1.  Use two hands to pinch (“flute”) the edge of the crust: push your thumb from one hand in between the thumb and index finger of the opposite.

 

                 

 

 

          2. Or use one hand to pinch (“flute”) the edge of the crust between your thumb and the side of your index finger.



 

 

Pie Weights: You can buy pie weights like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or you can go a little more unconventional like this just make sure that your crust is completely covered with foil: