Banoffee Pie Cups (Easy No-Bake Dessert)

Quick Summary: Banoffee pie cups are a no-bake, single-serving version of the classic British banoffee pie, layered with buttery cookie crumbs, sliced banana, dulce de leche toffee, and whipped cream. They take just 15 minutes to assemble, then chill for an hour before serving.

What are banoffee pie cups?

Banoffee pie cups are individual, no-bake desserts that turn the classic British banoffee pie into single servings. Each cup layers buttery cookie crumbs, fresh banana slices, dulce de leche toffee, and softly whipped cream, so you get every flavor of the original in one spoonful.

Unlike a full banoffee pie that needs a crust and hours of chilling, these cups come together in about 15 minutes and only need a short rest in the fridge. That makes them a good pick for a cozy Friday night or an easy party dessert.

This version keeps things simple but adds a couple of nice touches: a hint of orange flower water in the whipped cream and rich dulce de leche for that deep caramel taste. You can make them ahead and serve them straight from the fridge in glasses or small jars.

What is Banoffee?

Banoffee is a British dessert that combines banana and toffee. The name blends those two words (banana + toffee). It is built from banana, whipped cream, and soft toffee, usually dulce de leche or cooked sweetened condensed milk, over a buttery biscuit base.

The dessert was first created in 1972 at The Hungry Monk restaurant in England and has since become a British classic. It is usually served as a full pie, but spooning the same layers into cups or glasses makes a fun, single-serving twist that is quicker to put together.

Why you'll love this recipe

• No baking needed: everything is layered by hand, so there is no oven and no crust to blind-bake.
• Ready in 15 minutes: you only need a short chill in the fridge before serving.
• Single servings: individual cups look neat, are easy to portion, and travel well for parties.
• Classic flavor: banana, dulce de leche, cookie crumbs, and whipped cream give you the full banoffee taste.
• Make-ahead friendly: assemble them earlier in the day and keep them chilled until you are ready.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

• Cookies: Use homemade or store-bought shortbread cookies, or swap with tea biscuits like digestive cookies.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter. Let it sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
• Bananas: Choose ripe yellow bananas (not overripe).
• Dulce de leche: Use store-bought dulce de leche or replace it with cooked sweetened condensed milk. Learn how to cook sweetened condensed milk.
• Whipping cream: Opt for cream with 35% fat content.
• Brown sugar: Golden brown sugar is best, but white sugar works too.
• Orange flower water: Adds floral flavor. Optional: vanilla extract is a good substitute.

Equipment

To make banoffee pie cups at home, gather these basic tools before you start:

• food processor
• mixing bowl
• electric mixer
• pastry bag
• serving cups or glasses
• spoon

How to make Banoffee pie cups

Step 1. Crush the shortbread cookies into fine crumbs and mix them with the softened butter until they hold together.

Step 2. Divide most of the buttery crumbs between three serving cups, pressing them lightly into the bottom to form a base.

Step 3. Add a layer of banana slices to each cup, then spoon dulce de leche over the bananas.

Step 4. Whip the cream with brown sugar and orange flower water until soft peaks form, then pipe or spoon it over the bananas.

Step 5. Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs on top and chill the cups for 1 hour before serving.

Expert tips

1. Learn how to make whipped cream without the risk of overbeating.
2. Crush the cookies with your fingers if you don't have a food processor.
3. Create 1 to 2 layers of banana slices, dulce de leche, and whipped cream, if desired.
4. Use any available cups or glasses to serve the dessert.

Recipe variations

Once you have the basic banoffee pie cups down, try one of these variations:

• Chocolate banoffee: grate dark chocolate over the top or add a spoonful of chocolate ganache for a richer dessert.
• Salted caramel: sprinkle a little flaky sea salt over the dulce de leche for a salted caramel version.
• Homemade toffee: use caramel cooked from sweetened condensed milk in place of store-bought dulce de leche.
• Different base: swap the shortbread cookies for graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or crushed Biscoff cookies.
• Coffee twist: add a little instant espresso to the whipped cream for a banoffee dessert with a coffee note.

Storing & freezing

Keep banoffee pie cups covered in the refrigerator and enjoy them within 1 to 2 days. The bananas will start to soften and brown over time, so they are best eaten soon after assembling. Brushing a little lemon juice on the banana slices helps slow the browning.

Freezing is not recommended, since the whipped cream and banana change texture once thawed. If you want to prep ahead, crush the cookies and make the whipped cream in advance, then assemble the cups shortly before serving.

Recipe FAQ

What is banoffee pie called in America?
Banoffee pie keeps the same name in America, though it is less common there than in the UK. The word blends banana and toffee, describing its two main flavors.

What are the main ingredients of banoffee pie?
The classic layers are a buttery biscuit or cookie base, soft toffee (dulce de leche or caramel made from condensed milk), sliced banana, and whipped cream, often finished with grated chocolate.

Do you have to bake banoffee pie cups?
No. These cups are completely no-bake. You crush the cookies, layer the fillings, and chill the cups, so the oven stays off the whole time.

Can you make banoffee pie cups ahead of time?
Yes. You can assemble them a few hours ahead and keep them chilled. For the freshest look, add the banana slices close to serving so they do not brown.

What can you use instead of dulce de leche?
You can use thick caramel sauce or toffee cooked from sweetened condensed milk. Any soft, spoonable caramel works in place of dulce de leche.

Love no-bake desserts? Try these next!

• Chocolate Terrine Dessert
• French Dark Chocolate Mousse
• No-Bake Raspberry Oreo Cheesecake
• Browse all the No-Bake Desserts

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Recipe card

The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.

The recipe was adapted from http://www.elle.fr. It was originally published on April 01, 2018. The recipe has been revised to include improved content and photos.