Banana Cream Pie with Salted Caramel and Ganache

For the Salted Caramel

1. Infuse cream and vanilla: Heat cream and vanilla (if using a bean, split lengthwise and scrape inner seeds into cream) over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. When bubbles form around the outside and the cream begins to steam, reduce heat to low.
2. Make caramel base: Combine sugar, water, salt, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Stop stirring but continue to cook until the mixture is amber, around 7-10 minutes. If it starts to darken in certain places, swirl the pan to distribute the caramel that is cooking more quickly. Remove from the heat.
3. Add cream: Immediately pour the cream into the sugar syrup. It will boil vigorously and be extremely hot, so be careful. Using a long-handled rubber spatula or other heat-resistant utensil that will be easy to clean, stir until it stops bubbling and becomes smooth. Add the lemon juice and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Add butter: Cut your butter into 4 small pieces and whisk them into the warm caramel individually, stirring after each addition.

For the Pastry Cream

1. Combine most ingredients: Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan (preferably one with curved sides, which will make it easier to scrape the bottom). Gradually whisk in the milk and vanilla, then the egg yolks and whole egg. Whisk until no streaks of yolk remain.
2. Cook until thickened: Stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, cook over medium heat until it just begins to bubble, somewhere around 10 minutes (depending on your stove and pan). Make sure to constantly scrape the bottom and corners of the pan, since as the cream thickens it can easily collect on the bottom and scorch. Your spatula may collect some thickened cream from the bottom, but that’s okay. After a bubble forms, momentarily remove from the heat and use a whisk to thoroughly stir and smooth the cream. Bring back to the heat for 1 minute, whisking constantly.
3. Strain and finish: Strain the cream through a mesh strainer into a large bowl. The strainer will catch any imperfections in the cream, liked any cooked bits of egg, and smooth out any lumps. Cut your butter into 3 pieces and whisk each one into the warm pastry cream.

For the Pie

1. Make and add ganache: Finely chop chocolate and place in a small heatproof bowl. Heat 3 Tbsp. (1 1/2 oz.) heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat, until steaming and bubbles appear around the edges. Pour hot cream into the bowl of chocolate and stir until combined. Pour into the bottom of the baked and cooled crust, smooth with a spatula, and place in the refrigerator or freezer until firm to the touch.
2. Add caramel: Pour around 1/2 cup caramel over the firm ganache and smooth. It may pick up some smears of chocolate, but that’s okay. You may need to bring the caramel to at least room temperature or warmer to make it easily pour/spreadable.
3. Add pastry cream: Spread prepared pastry cream over the caramel (if the caramel is warm, let sit and/or chill until slightly firm).
4. Add bananas: Slice bananas into approximately 1/4? slices and place on top of the pastry cream. Press lightly down on the slices to push them slightly into the pastry cream.
5. Prepare and add whipped cream and garnish: Whip the cream and sugar (adding to desired sweetness) into medium-to-firm peaks, using whatever method you prefer (stand mixer, hand mixer, whisk, etc.). Spread on top of the bananas and pastry cream. If desired, top with chocolate shavings made from dark chocolate and a knife or vegetable peeler. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 4 days before eating. (If chilling more than 6 hours or so, the whipped cream may change in texture – I would suggest making the pie up through the pastry cream step, then adding the bananas and whipped cream 3-6 hours before serving.)