Light, luscious, and outrageously delicious, this Vegan Banoffee Pie is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! You are going to love this easy plant-based spin on a classic British dessert - made with a buttery shortbread crust, homemade caramel sauce, bananas and whipped cream.
The first time I heard of Banoffee Pie was while watching an episode of The Great British Bake Off. Seeing the contestants whip up their beautiful, billowy banana pies inspired my daughter Madi and me to try making one ourselves. Instead of taking shortcuts with store-bought caramel and graham crackers, we decided to level up - making an easy shortbread-style crust and a rich, homemade caramel sauce from scratch.
The result? Even better than we imagined. Every bite was a magical blend of sticky-sweet caramel, a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crust, mellow banana slices, and luscious, airy whipped cream. It was pure bliss - and we couldn’t wait to share it with you!
What is Banoffee Pie?
Banoffee Pie (a mashup of the words banana and toffee) originated in the UK during the 1970s and quickly became a household favorite for its rich yet simple flavors. If you’ve ever had a traditional British Banoffee Pie, you know exactly why this creamy, dreamy, decadent dessert is so beloved. Not only is it incredibly scrumptious, it's also quite easy to make! I'll show you how.
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
- Shortbread crust - homemade or graham cracker crust
- Caramel sauce - (vegan) homemade or store-bought
- Bananas - use bananas that are ripe but not too soft because over-ripe bananas can become mushy and brown quickly.
- Non-dairy whipped cream
- Dark chocolate - shaved for sprinkling on the pie
See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details
Instructions
First things first - choose a pie dish or tart pan for baking your shortbread crust. We used a non-stick tart pan with a removable bottom (the black pan below).
Next, prepare your pie crust and the caramel sauce using the linked recipes.
- Prepare and bake the pie crust.
2. Pour the caramel sauce onto crust. Spread evenly (about ¼" thick).
3. Layer the sliced bananas on top of the caramel.
4. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream over the bananas.
5. Finish with a sprinkle of shaved chocolate over the whipped cream. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Tips for making the best Banoffee Pie
If you're short on time, you can use a store-bought vegan graham cracker crust and caramel sauce. But if you want a Banoffee Pie that’s next-level luscious - rich, buttery, and unforgettable - make it from scratch. One bite, and you’ll know it was worth it.
Making your own shortbread crust is so easy to do! You can even prepare it a day or two in advance of assembling the pie. Refrigerate until ready to use.
This easy caramel sauce is the key to banoffee pie - providing that decadent sticky sweet layer that ties the buttery crust, mellow bananas, and whipped topping together.
🍌FAQ's
Banoffee Pie uses a rich caramel (toffee) layer, while banana cream pie usually has a custard or pudding base. The flavor profiles are quite different — Banoffee is much sweeter and richer thanks to the toffee.
Banoffee Pie is best served chilled. Keeping it cold helps the caramel stay thick and luscious and keeps the whipped topping fluffy.
Absolutely! Use small tart pans, ramekins, or even clear dessert cups for personal-sized Banoffee pies — perfect for parties or portion control.
Lightly brushing the banana slices with a bit of lemon juice helps slow down browning without affecting the flavor too much. You can also add the banana layer just before serving if you want them to look extra fresh.
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, homemade vegan caramel will keep for up to a week. Warm it gently before using if it firms up too much.
I do hope you enjoy this recipe! Please let me know by leaving a ★★★★★ rating & comment below. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Easy Banoffee Pie (vegan)
Equipment
- 1 pie dish or tart pan
- 1 spoon or piping bag for applying the whipped cream
- 1 Grater or microplane for shaving chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 9" shortbread pie crust pre-baked (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 cups vegan caramel sauce homemade or store-bought
- 2 bananas sliced
- 3 cups non-dairy whipped topping your favorite
- 1 square dairy-free chocolate chocolate bar square
Instructions
Pie Crust
- You can use either a store-bought pie crust or make you own (which is as good as it gets!) If you make your own, this easy vegan shortbread recipe is perfect for Banoffee pie. If you make your crust, allow it to cool completely before adding the fillings.
Caramel Sauce
- Like the crust - you can opt to use a store-bought vegan caramel sauce or prepare your own with this easy vegan caramel sauce recipe.
How to Make the Banoffee Pie
- Bake the pie shell. Let it cool.
- Pour the caramel sauce into the pre-baked, cool pie shell. The caramel should fill the shell about ¼" high.
- Place the banana slices on top of the caramel. Snug them close to each other. Depending on the thickness of the slices and height of the sides of the crust, you can make one or two layers of bananas.
- Now it's time to add the whipped cream. Using either a spoon or a piping bag, generously cover the bananas with mounds of whipped cream.
- Finish the pie by sprinkling it with grated or shaved dark chocolate.
- It's best to refrigerate the banoffee pie 1-2 hours to allow the caramel to set, but you can serve it immediately if you just can't wait!
Notes
Tips:
The caramel sauce should be warm when pouring onto the pie crust so it will spread easily. Use ripe, but not overly ripe bananas or they will turn brown quickly. You can also use a graham cracker crust instead of shortbread, if preferred. Let the pie chill 2 hours before serving to allow the caramel to become firm or it may run out of the pie when sliced.Storage:
Banoffee pie is best eaten within 2 days, while the bananas are still fresh. Store the pie covered and refrigerated.Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Connie says
What's not to love about a melt-in-your-mouth decadent homemade dessert made with shortbread, caramel, bananas, and whipped cream? Best of all, it's 100% vegan and absolutely scrumptious!