Gluten Free & Vegan Banana Cream Pie

This delicious and healthier Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie recipe is also completely vegan and refined sugar free. A buttery crust is filled with fresh bananas, banana pudding, and whipped coconut cream for a healthy take on this summer dessert.

I have a confession... I'd never had banana cream pie before I attempted baking it myself! I had banana pudding as a kid, but never banana cream pie. So I was really excited to try making my own version. And I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. This is the perfect dessert to bring to a summer BBQ or holiday party like the 4th of July.

I've seen a number of different banana cream pie recipes. Crust wise, the options seem to be with a cookie crust, graham cracker curst, or with a more traditional pie crust (like I did). The filling tends to be a creamy pudding, topped with whipped cream and layered with bananas. I felt like for something called BANANA CREAM PIE, it needed to be made with banana pudding! So that is just what I did. 

What Makes This Banana Cream Pie Healthy:

• No instant pudding mix! We're using real, whole food ingredients to make this entire vegan banana cream pie, so there are no weird additives or sugars.
• My version is a gluten free crust, layered with fresh bananas, vegan banana pudding (for a rich banana pudding flavor!), and topped with coconut whipped cream. So there is no gluten or dairy, making it allergy friendly.
• The entire pie is also refined sugar free, utilizing coconut sugar and maple syrup as the sweeteners. I tried to rely on the natural sweetness of bananas, so this pie isn't overly sweetened or too sweet in general.

Gluten Free & Vegan Banana Cream Pie Ingredients 

• Gluten free flour: a 1:1 gluten free flour is used to make the gluten-free pie crust.
• Tapioca or arrowroot starch: used as the thickener for the banana pudding.
• Plant-based butter: to keep this recipe dairy-free, use aa vegan butter to mimic a real buttery crust like in an old-fashioned banana cream pie.
• Apple cider vinegar: a little bit of vodka or vinegar in the crust helps it be flaky!
• Bananas: you will need about 4 ripe bananas for this recipe.
• Dairy free milk: any milk will work for making the banana pudding, just pick your favorite.
• Coconut sugar, maple syrup: the unrefined sweeteners used in this gluten free pie recipe.
• Coconut milk: you will need a couple of cans of full-fat coconut milk for the whipped coconut cream which will go in both the pudding and topping.
• Vanilla extract, salt

How to Make Vegan Gluten Free Banana Cream Pie

This healthy vegan banana cream pie isn't all that labor intensive, but it does take time as you have to cook and set the individual components. Be sure to read the recipe in advance so that you make sure to have enough time to actually make and assemble the pie. This can be done in one day, but to plan in setting time, you'll want to start in the morning.

Crust

1. ​Pulse dry ingredients in a food processor.
2. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse until you have little pebbles. Add the apple cider vinegar and pulse until just combined.
3. Use ice water to bring the dough together (better to have slightly wetter dough with gluten free crusts).
4. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30+ minutes
5. When ready to bake the crust, use a rolling pin to roll it out the crust on parchment paper. Transfer the crust to a pie pan.
6. Bake until you have golden edges. Remove the crust and let it cool.

Banana Pudding

1. Blend the bananas, 1 cup of the milk, and maple syrup until smooth. Add this mixture to a medium saucepan and heat on medium-low heat.
2. Whisk together the other ½ cup of milk and the tapioca starch then add it to the banana mixture. Whisk frequently until the mixture thickens and resembles the consistency of pudding.
3. Remove the pudding from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Let the mixture cool to room temperature then place in the fridge.

Coconut Cream

1. In the cold bowl, add the coconut cream from the cans of coconut milk (the solid, white part that has risen to the top of the can). Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until you get whipped cream that holds peaks.
2. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and whip to combine.
3. Place the coconut cream back in the fridge for the last hour.

Assembly

1. Decorate with more bananas and enjoy! I do suggest letting the pie set for another hour or so, but it is not mandatory.
2. When ready to assemble, take 1 cup of the coconut cream mixture and fold it into the banana pudding mixture- this is your banana cream filling. Set aside.
3. Line the bottom of the crust in a single layer with the banana slices then evenly spread the banana pudding mixture on top.
4. You can using a piping bag to add the remaining coconut cream to the top of the pie or however you desire.

Substitutions and Variations

• Crust:​ you can also use coconut oil in the crust or regular butter if you tolerate dairy. You could also certainly sub the traditional crust for a gluten-free graham cracker crust
• Pudding: any milk will work, from almond milk to cows milk if that's your jam!
• Whipped cream: if you tolerate dairy, you can use heavy cream to make the homemade whipped cream.

Storage

This gluten free vegan banana cream pie can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. It does not freeze well and whipped cream can go bad easily, so I would not suggest eating it past 3 days.

Tips for the Best Banana Cream Pie

• Keep the butter cold for the crust. Make sure to start with cold butter and minimize handling it as the heat from your hands will melt the butter.
• Use medium-ripe bananas. Don't use banana that are too ripe (like banana bread worthy bananas) or they won't give you the best flavor and texture for this pie.
• Be sure to use a cold bowl for the whipped cream. To make the best homemade whipped cream, you always want to start with a cold bowl. Pop a bowl in the fridge an 30-60 minutes before ready to whip.

More Gluten Free Banana Recipes

Banana Pudding Ice Cream Sandwiches (Gluten free and dairy free)

Walnut Crumble Banana Bread

Nut Free Paleo Banana Bread

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bars