Chocolate Malt Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 5 tablespoons malted milk powder, divided
• 6 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped
• 8 ounces crushed chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
• 3 medium bananas, sliced
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk, divided
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Warm the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Take the pan off the heat, then mix in 3 tablespoons malted milk powder and the milk chocolate, stirring until the chocolate has melted. Scrape the mixture into a container and chill until thoroughly cold, about 4 hours.
2. Move an oven rack to the center of the oven and heat to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir the cookie crumbs with 1 tablespoon sugar and 7 tablespoons butter until everything is evenly dampened. Pack the crumbs into a deep dish pie plate, line the crust with foil, and add pie weights. Bake until the crust has just firmed, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool the crust, then arrange the banana slices inside it.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with the remaining 2 tablespoons malted milk powder, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Add the eggs and 1/2 cup milk, stirring until smooth; set the bowl aside.
4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk until it simmers. Whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture, then pour the whole mixture back into the saucepan. Keep cooking, whisking gently, until it comes to a boil. Take it off the heat.
5. Add the bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter, stirring until the chocolate has melted and the filling is fully blended. Pour the filling over the bananas, then chill the pie until set, about 4 hours.
6. Using a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the milk chocolate cream to medium-stiff peaks. Spoon it over the chocolate pudding and serve.