Mini Banoffee Pie

When we returned back to the states from our two and a half years living in Ireland, we brought back a few new family traditions.  One of them was the start of an annual St. Patrick’s Day party for our close friends.  It is a way for us to celebrate and share our love of our former home as well as share a little bit of Irish reality in a season of misconceptions and inaccurate Irish stereotypes.

And along with spending quality time with our friends, watching all the kids splash together in the pool as the South Florida weather turns warm again and doing little St. Patrick’s Day crafts, my favorite part of the now yearly event is making a special Irish Feast of our favorite meals from our time abroad: Shepherd’s Pie, Fish Stew, Irish Brown Bread and to top it off, Banoffee Pie!

Banoffee Pie is something I’d never heard of before relocating to Dublin but it’s something I’ve come to love over the years.  It’s a simple graham cracker style crust (traditionally using Digestive biscuits) layered with toffee, sliced bananas and topped with whipped cream (Bananas + Toffee = Banoffee pie!)  What isn’t to love about that?  Plus it’s super simple to make!

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks Butter
• 10 ounces Graham Crackers, crushed our ground in food processor
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 3 Bananas
• 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 tablespoon Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1. Melt 1 stick butter and mix together with graham crackers to create the crust.
2. Line muffin tin cups with cupcake papers.
3. Divide crust and press into each cupcake paper, coming slightly up the sides. (this is a great job for little fingers if you have them around!)
4. Place in refrigerator while you make the toffee.
5. Melt 2nd stick of butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
6. Add brown sugar and cook until brown sugar is melted.
7. Stir in condensed milk and turn heat up slightly.
8. Stir constantly until mixture boils, darkens and begins to thicken.
9. Divide toffee mixture and add on top of chilled pie crusts.
10. Return to refrigerator for another hour or two to allow toffee to set.
11. Using an electric mixer or metal whisk, beat whipping cream until it starts to thicken then add sugar and vanilla and continue whipping until peaks form.
12. Slice bananas and place a few slices on top of each mini Banoffee Pie and top with whipped cream.

For more St. Patrick’s Day and Irish ideas, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

• Irish Dublin Coddle Recipe from Confessions of an Overworked Mom
• Green Shamrock Gummy Candy by This Mama Loves
• Enjoy a Simple Irish Meal featuring Shepherd’s Pie by Day by Day in Our World
• Irish Skeleton Key Necklace by The Socialite’s Closet
• Mint Shower Scrub Bridal Party Favor by A Bride on a Budget
• Skinny Shamrock Shake by Jen Around the World
• Shamrock Smoothie Creation by 2Boys+1Girl=OneCrazyMom
• Mint Chocolate Fluff by Mom on the Side
• Leprechaun Hat Cupcakes by Kids Fun Reviewed
• St. Patrick’s Day Wreath – Dollar Store DIY by MommaDJane
• Lucky Rustic Wall Hanging: A Paint Stick Craft by Food Fun Family
• Green Tea & Peppermint Sea Salt Foot Scrub by Sincerely Mindy
• Matcha Pear Green Smoothie by Upstate Ramblings
• Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes by How Was Your Day?
• DIY Shamrock Tree by Simply Southern Mom
• Easy St. Patrick’s Day Brownies by Mom Does it All
• No Bake Mini Mint Oreo Cheesecake by Sugar Spice and Family Life
• Green Smoothies for St. Patrick’s Day by Family Focus Blog
• Leprechaun Bark by sweet lil you
• Good Luck Vintage Cab Ring by Style on Main
• Send Them Out the Door Ready for a Good Day by Beautiful Touches