As a nod to the original short pastry crust of banoffee pie, this recipe calls for shortbread cookies. Now, this crumb crust isn't baked so you want to be doubly sure that the crust's cookie-to-butter ratio is correct before you start pressing it into a tart pan. Grab a handful and squeeze it firmly: Does it stick together in a tight ball and stay together when picked up? Good. Your crumb mixture is ready for crust making. If you had a particularly dry shortbread cookie, add another tablespoon of butter, process, and try the press test again.

For a really pretty, crumble-proof crumb crust

Build this pie in a loose-bottom tart pan rather than a pie plate, so that you can easily remove the pie and you'll have pretty crimped sides. Use a heavy-bottomed glass to firmly pack the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of the tart pan. The longer you can chill the crust, both before filling and before cutting, the better.

How to make a toffee filling

Believe it or not, the classic banoffee pie filling is nothing more than sweetened condensed milk boiled until caramelized in the can. Personally, I find the resulting caramel a bit tinny in taste, beyond the fact that the process takes several hours. Instead, we'll make a quick toffee-flavored syrup with brown sugar and butter and then add a can of sweetened condensed milk. Sweet condensed milk adds a malty richness to be sure, but its greatest power is as a thickener. As it cools, the sweetened condensed milk thickens, making a silky-smooth toffee filling with just a few minutes of cooking.

How to top a banoffee pie

Are you wondering where the banana is yet? Banoffee pie is topped with slices of fresh banana and whipped cream. The cookie crumb crust and the toffee filling are so incredibly sweet that I recommend using an unsweetened whipped cream for the topping, but I've included amounts for sweetening as desired.

Slice and garnish with the bananas just before serving and top the bananas with the whipped cream to prevent the bananas from discoloring. A dusting of bittersweet or dark chocolate shavings also tempers the toffee's sweetness, although it isn't required.

Banoffee Pie

Makes 1 (9-inch) pie; serves 10 to 12

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