I was talking to some friends a few weeks ago about working out, eating healthy, etc. For as long as I remember I’ve worked out hard most days of the week and watched what I ate 80% of the time.
But when I started running a bakery full-time, things changed. My days got longer and I started spending most of them on my feet. My legs ache when I wake up in the morning and sometimes I’m too busy to care if I eat an extra broken cookie or five.
They said to me, “but I’m sure you get sick of the desserts.”
I wish. Sure, every once and a while I’ll get sick of one item. For instance, I always have extra brownie edges, so for a few days I got sick of the brownies. But then there were the oatmeal cookies to go to… and then the triple chocolates. There is no getting “sick” of sweets in my world. It is either a curse or a blessing.
For the most part, I put those extra pieces on reserve in my freezer for friends and family, but every once and a while a few times a week I break into the stash. Last week I even told Matt, “I accidentally ate a cookie.”
Is that even possible?
So now that I know giving up dessert is pretty much impossible for this sugaraholic, I’m trying to find some items that are a good middle ground. Not so healthy and fake-tasting that I end up eating what I was avoiding to begin with, but almost good for you but really satisfying so you think you are eating something else.
This pie is the perfect example of that. There is an indulgent crunchy chocolate filling on the inside, but the other layers are lower in fat, including an “ice cream” made with bananas. Fruit on the ingredient list means I can have an extra slice, right? I also used a No Pudge brownie mix as well as fat free cool whip but you can use whatever you prefer.
Fudgy Brownie Crunch Banana Ice Cream Pie
This pie is adapted and inspired by an ice cream pie my mom used to make for me us. When she finally gave me the recipe for the addicting crunchy filling I couldn’t wait to make a batch!
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 package brownie mix plus ingredients called for on box
1/3 cup hot fudge, homemade or store bought
1 1/2 cups Chocolate Pie Crunch (below)
3 cups cool whip (1 1/2 8-ounce containers)
3 ripe medium bananas, broken into chunks and frozen
Directions:
Pre-heat oven according to brownie mix instructions
Grease or spray a 9-inch spring-form pan and set aside (if you pan is prone to leaking, wrap tin foil tightly around the bottom half)
Prepare brownie batter as directed on box; spread into prepared pan
Bake brownie for 20-25 minutes or until a knife comes out clean
While brownie is baking, prepare Chocolate Pie Crunch
When brownie is done, allow to cool for several minutes and then gently spread hot fudge over brownie while it is still warm
Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups Chocolate Pie Crunch
When brownie has completely cooled, spread cool whip over top; cover pan with foil and freeze for 30 minutes or until cool whip layer is firm
Once cool whip layer is firm, make the banana “ice cream’; place frozen bananas in a food processor and run on high for a few minutes until mixture is thick and creamy
Spread banana ice cream over cool whip
Cover pan with foil and place back in freezer 2 hours or until banana ice cream is firm
Chocolate Pie Crunch
Makes 5 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
1 9-ounce package chocolate wafers
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside
Crush chocolate wafers into small pieces and place in a large bowl
Heat chocolate and oil in a small saucepan over low-medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is melted and smooth
Pour over crushed wafers immediately and stir until all cookie pieces are coated
Spread mixture out on baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes or until firm
Break into pea-sized pieces and store in a ziplock bag in freezer until ready for use
Extra can be stored in a ziplock bag in the freezer up to one month
Recipe courtesy of my mom who got it from a friend…
This post is for PIE DAY (tomorrow June 20th)! How are you celebrating?
Graduation Gourmet Gift Basket 
White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge Cookies 
Smoked Sea Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies 
this is like 2 (or more) desserts all in one…love the layers of flavors!
Ooohh this looks great!!
Oh I love this recipe! At times I cut back on sweets but that is just normally going from two desserts a day to one. I could never truly give them up. I cannot wait to try out this pie.
I’ve made this banana ice cream before and love it, but never thought to do much more than put it in a bowl and dig in. I love this! And I imagine I’d never get tired of the sweets either
OMG I LOVE the idea of using the banana “ice cream” in a pie like this!
This sounds wonderful! I love the no-bake and the healthier subs. And I’d be eating five cookies three times a day if I was in your shoes…
Love no-bake pies in the summertime!
Wow, this dessert is heavenly. Love the pairing of brownie and banana ice cream. So good!
Nice! I use fat free Cool Whip all the time in my “mock” desserts but I’ve never combined it with frozen bananas. Lots of possibilities in this recipe…
Want. Love the healthier substitutions!
OMG, yum! I’m seriously getting hungry!
Yay! I love desserts that have a few healthy touches but still taste delicious; this looks so good!
I’ve always thought the same thing about becoming a baker. People always say, “You wouldn’t try everything you’d make!” But yes, yes I would. I just can’t help myself.
This pie looks amazing! And super easy. But it’s kind of funny because in Germany we don’t have any of the ingredients except for bananas, which I’m allergic to. Hehe. Still looks and sounds nice, though.
Great idea – I think I’ll try it but replace the chocolate cookies w/ Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle (avail at http://www.browniebrittle.com). I cannot wait to make this!!
What a fabulous dessert, this looks so delicious!
I love that no pudge brownie mix but never thought to use it so creatively!
Wow, this looks soo good! It’s like all of my favorite things in one dessert!
Geez is this crazy decadent and I am so tempted to make this the fattening way… my fave brownie recipe, real whipped cream, etc and really go for it. Yum now I want a slice of this. And No Pudge Brownie Mix? LOL I love that!
Oh that would be SO good…!
Mmm, tempting tempting… My Hubs loves banana cream pie. Ice cream version would be perfect for hot days like this!
somehow cookies ALWAYS end up accidentally falling into my mouth (or, I guess jumping up?) when I’m baking. Strange.
Ooo I would love this. And fruit in the ingredient list definitely makes it a health food! It’s all relative, right?
Oh my lands! This is my dream-dessert, seriously.
I’d stand in line for a piece of this pie. It sounds wonderful.
I never get bored with desserts, but luckily when I worked as a pastry chef I would get bored of the same desserts. We didn’t vary it up too much except for the special and mignardises. And with regards to working out, we certainly burn more calories standing all day. But yes, it gets hard to find the time. This looks delicious.
Another winner, Lauren. This looks like a comfort food dessert to me. Lots and lots of comfort.
A less-guilty dessert is always good with me
Hello yum! I can get behind a pseudo-healthy dessert because we all know that food bloggers tend to go above and beyond the calorie-limits on a daily basis, what with stuffing donuts into cupcakes and outrageous things of that nature *cough cough* BUT this looks awesome. Banana based ice cream? Sign me up. And FYI, any dessert with ‘crunch’ in the title has my name all over it. So that means I’m obligated to eat it, btw.
this is outta control! i think this would be the perfect dish to bring to the grad party im heading to on saturday!
Um, yes, I have the exact same problem. I never get sick of desserts, and the desserts never last long at our house. My far-too-skinny children can handle it just fine, but my butt just keeps getting bigger! And I therefore love this recipe, even before I try it!
Brownies, hot fudge and cool whip what more could one want. Oh and bananas to keep you healthy.
You had me at chocolate and bananas! This looks so darn good, Lauren!