Cheats banoffee pie courtesy of Jamie Oliver

mmmm...Pie

I have been wanting to make this for some time, but every time I have been to a supermarket, picking up some pre-made pastry cases has always fallen off the list. After reading the bible from the good folks at Bourke St Bakery, I'm feeling a little guilty at not making my own pastry from scratch, but that's why it's called a cheat's banoffee pie. Find out how to cheat to impress after the jump.

For such an impressive desert, it is deceptively easy. You'll need the following ingredients and equipment:

• A shortcrust pie case - you could even use the small individual ones and make 6 smaller pies.
• 4 ripe bananas
• 4 tablespoons of caster sugar
• Camp coffee essence - I substituted this for half an espresso shot with 2 sugars.
• 300ml cream for whipping
• 100ml milk
• a block of dark (min 70% cocoa) chocolate for the shavings

Equipment:

• Blender / liquidiser to make the smoothie
• Measuring jugs/spoons
• Aluminium shallow pan - makes it easier to see if you are burning the sugar, which would ruin the whole pie.
• a good sharp knife for creating chocolate curls
• Whisk/electric whisk/kitchenaid for whipping up the cream

Ready to get pied up

• Get the sugar into the pan on a high heat and swirl the sugar around to coat the pan. Don't stir it, just let it melt naturally.
• While that is happening make a smoothie from the milk and two of the bananas
• As the sugar starts to turn golden and bubble, pour in the smoothie and mix it up for about 1-2 minutes keep it moving so that it doesnt stick anywhre in the pan. Don't touch he toffee as it's damn hot.
• Pour the banoffee into the pie case and let it cool down in the fridge (or freezer if you plan to serve it soon)

Nicely filled

• Once it has cooled down, diagonally slice up the other bananas and lay them out on the banoffee

• Now whip up the cream in a bowl and dribble some of the camp coffee/ espresso through the cream - don's stir too much - just get it looking marbled

• Pour that all over the pie

• sprinkle over some chocolate curls - make these by scraping the knife over the back or side of the block

Cut, serve and enjoy!

LVB