Banana cream is a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or as a filling for pies, cakes, and pastries. In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of making your own banana cream from scratch in just 14 steps.

1. Gather your ingredients: You’ll need 2 cups of whole milk, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 3 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 ripe bananas.

2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt.

3. Set up a double boiler: Fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and bring it to a simmer. Place a heatproof bowl on top of the saucepan, ensuring the bottom doesn’t touch the water.

4. Warm the milk: Pour the milk into the top bowl of the double boiler and heat it until it becomes steaming but not boiling.

5. Temper the egg yolks: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly pour about half a cup of warm milk into the yolks while continuously whisking to prevent them from scrambling.

6. Combine everything in the double boiler: Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the remaining warm milk in the top bowl of your double boiler. Stir well to combine.

7. Add dry ingredients: Slowly add in your sugar-cornstarch-salt mixture while constantly stirring until fully dissolved.

8. Cook the mixture: Continue cooking over medium heat while constantly stirring until your cream has thickened (about 5-7 minutes). The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

9. Remove from heat and add butter & vanilla: Once the mixture has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in your unsalted butter and vanilla extract.

10. Strain the cream: Pour your mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl to remove any lumps or cooked egg bits. Your banana cream should be smooth and silky at this stage.

11. Mash the bananas: Using a fork or potato masher, mash your ripe bananas in a separate bowl.

12. Fold mashed bananas into the cream: Gently fold the mashed bananas into your strained cream.

13. Chill your banana cream: To set and thicken, refrigerator for at least two hours or until completely chilled.

14. Serve or use as desired: Once chilled and set, enjoy your homemade banana cream as is or use as a filling for pies, cakes, or other desserts.

There you have it – 14 simple steps to creating a delicious banana cream! With this recipe in hand, you can easily incorporate this delightful dessert into various treats or savor it all on its own.