No-Bake Quick Banoffee Cups | This Little Home

Name: Mini No-Bake Banoffee Cups - Easy Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 150 g Digestive Biscuits; 50 g Butter; 250 g Readymade Dulce De Leche; 3 Bananas; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice; 150 ml Readymade Whipped Cream; 30 g Dried Banana Chips (optional); 1 tbsp Grated Chocolate (optional)

What Makes This Recipe Great!

Effortless and Quick: This is an easy recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. Perfect for those times when you’re in a rush and need a delicious dessert quickly.

Individual Dessert Cups: Serving dessert in individual cups not only looks elegant but also makes portion control a breeze. These Banoffee Cups are ideal for dinner parties, ensuring each guest gets their own portion-sized treat.

Time-Saving: Capture the taste of a classic Banoffee Pie without the hours of baking. Whether you’re entertaining guests or just satisfying your sweet tooth, these no-bake cups are your perfect dessert solution.

About This Recipe – In More Detail

In less than 15 minutes, you can create a dessert that captures all the rich, luscious flavours of a classic English dessert – the Banoffee Pie. Our No Bake Mini Banoffee Cups are the perfect individual desserts that taste just like a traditional banoffee pie, but without the hassle of baking.

To keep things simple and convenient, we use ready-made Dulce de Leche, ensuring that you can whip up these delightful cups in no time. Each spoonful is filled with textures and tastes, from the crumbly biscuit base to the velvety caramel. topped with fresh banana slices and sweet whipped cream.

Classic Banoffee pie is beloved English dessert reimagined as easy, no-bake Banoffee Pie cups, quickly becoming one of your favourite desserts to enjoy anytime.

Like these luscious homemade Twix Bars, it’s all about the caramel flavour here. You can even follow that recipe and make your own caramel from scratch if you’d prefer.

When you have some extra time, you can always try making a Banoffee Pie from scratch with this Biscoff Banoffee Pie too.

And, we are using readymade aerosol whipped cream but you can choose to make the whipped cream like I did for these delicious Mini Nutella Tarts.

Equipment Needed

Food Processor or Rolling Pin and Zip-Top Bag: The food processor is used to crush the digestive biscuits into fine crumbs. If you don’t have one, you can place the biscuits in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.
Mixing Bowl: A mixing bowl is essential for combining the biscuit crumbs with melted butter to make the base.
Dessert Dishes or Glasses: You’ll need dessert dishes or glasses to assemble and serve your individual Banoffee Pie Cups.
Spoon or Spatula: A spoon or spatula is handy for pressing the biscuit base into the dessert dishes.
Small Saucepan or Microwave-Safe Bowl: This is used to melt the butter for the biscuit base and to warm the Dulce de Leche for easy pouring.
Knife: A knife is used for slicing the bananas.
Whisk or Electric Mixer: You’ll need a whisk or an electric mixer to whip the cream before piping or spooning it onto your dessert.
Piping Bag or Zip-Top Bag with Corner Snipped Off (Optional): If you want to create a decorative swirl of whipped cream on top of your Banoffee Pie Cups, a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off can be used. This is optional, and you can simply spoon the cream if you prefer a more rustic presentation.

Ingredients

Digestive Biscuits: Crushed to create the biscuit base, providing a crunchy foundation for the dessert.
Butter: Melted and mixed with the crushed biscuits to bind them together, forming the base. Use unsalted butter and add in a pinch of salt as a flavour enhancer (optional) so you can control the amount of salt used.
Readymade Dulce De Leche: Used to create the luscious caramel layer, providing rich toffee flavour without the need for lengthy caramel-making processes.
Bananas: Sliced and layered on top of the caramel, adding a fresh and fruity component.
Readymade Whipped Cream: Served as a creamy topping, balancing the sweetness and adding a light and airy texture.
Dried Banana Chips: Decorative and crunchy garnish, enhancing the presentation and providing an extra banana flavour.
Milk Chocolate: I use this to make decorative chocolate curls. You can also grate it too.
Lemon Juice (optional): Used to toss the banana slices in if preparing in advance, preventing them from browning and maintaining their freshness.

Additions and Substitutions

Additions:

Chocolate Chips: For a twist, sprinkle some chocolate chips over the caramel layer before adding the bananas. The combination of chocolate and bananas is heavenly.
Toasted Nuts: Crushed or chopped toasted nuts like almonds or pecans can add a crunch and nutty flavour. Sprinkle them over the whipped cream for extra texture.
Caramel Drizzle: Try drizzling a bit of extra caramel sauce over the whipped cream for an extra sweet touch.
Berries: Fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries can provide a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the caramel and bananas. Add a handful on top of the whipped cream.

Substitutions:

Biscuit Base: While digestive biscuits are traditional, you can experiment with other biscuit varieties like graham crackers, Speculoos biscuits or even chocolate biscuits for different flavours.
Butter: If you prefer an alternative, you can use melted coconut oil instead of butter for the biscuit base. It adds a lovely coconut aroma.
Caramel: If you can’t find readymade Dulce de Leche or prefer homemade caramel, you can prepare your own caramel sauce. Just ensure it’s thick and luscious like the store-bought version.
Whipped Cream: For ease we are using an aerosol whipped cream but you can make your own if you’d prefer, check out this recipe for whipped cream with Nutella tartlets to find out how to make it.
Bananas: If you’re not a fan of bananas or want to try something different, consider using sliced strawberries, kiwi, or even pineapple chunks for a tropical twist.
Toppings: Get creative with your toppings! Swap out dried banana chips for chopped nuts or a dusting of cocoa powder to suit your preferences.

Step-By-Step How To Make Mini No-Bake Banoffee Cups

Step 1: Creating the Biscuit Base

Crush the digestive biscuits until they resemble fine crumbs. You can use a food processor or place them in a sealed bag and use a rolling pin.
Melt the butter until it becomes fully liquid, either by using a microwave or stovetop.
Combine the melted butter with the crushed biscuits, making sure every crumb is evenly coated.
Firmly press this biscuit mixture into the base of your serving dishes, such as small dessert glasses or individual serving cups.

A hand pouring in melted butter to a bow of biscuit crumbs.

A hand is stirring the biscuit crumbs with a spoon.

Step 2: Layering the Caramel and Bananas

Divide the Dulce de Leche evenly among the four servings, spooning it onto the biscuit base to create a luscious caramel layer.
Slice the bananas into rounds. If you’re preparing this dessert in advance, consider tossing the banana slices in lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
Gently arrange half of the banana slices on top of the caramel layer in each dessert dish.
Place the dessert dishes in the fridge to allow them to chill. Chilling helps set the layers and enhances both texture and flavour.

A hand spooning the biscuit crumbs into a glass serving cup.

A hand spooning Dulce de Leche onto the biscuit crumb layer.

Step 3: Adding Whipped Cream and Optional Toppings

Just before serving, place a generous dollop of whipped cream on the top of each Banoffee Cup.
For an appealing finishing touch, garnish with crushed dried banana chips and a sprinkle of grated chocolate. These toppings provide a little crunch and extra flavour.

A hand is arranging slices of banana on top of the caramel layer.

Aerosol whipped cream is being squirted on the top layer of the Banoffee cups.

Banoffee cups being decorated with banana chips and grated chocolate.

What is Banoffee Pie?

Banoffee Pie, sometimes spelled Banoffi, is a classic British dessert that blends the flavours of fresh bananas and toffee sauce. Its name is a fusion of these two key ingredients. This treat is a traditional English dessert.

Traditionally, Banoffee Pie comprises several layers of complimenting flavours. It starts with buttery biscuit crumbs as a base that provides a contrast to the smooth and velvety layers above. Next comes the star of the show: the toffee layer. This rich, caramel sauce is the heart and soul of this dessert.

Sliced, fresh bananas follow the toffee, providing a refreshing and fruity note that cuts through the richness of the toffee. Finally, the pie is crowned with a topping of whipped cream, adding a luxurious creaminess to each bite.

Traditional banoffee recipes can be quite time-consuming. The classic homemade toffee layer is traditionally made by boiling a can of condensed milk for hours until it caramelises. Another method involves mixing condensed milk with melted butter and white or brown sugar, requiring constant attention and patience.

Not to be confused with a banana cream pie, that is similar in all but the toffee layer. A cream pie, uses a layer of pastry cream instead.

In this no-bake Banoffee Cups recipe, we take a shortcut for those moments when you crave the flavours of Banoffee Pie without the lengthy preparation. We use ready-made caramel or Dulce de Leche, readily available in most supermarkets. This way, you can enjoy Banoffee Pie without the wait, making it perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings in a hurry.

FAQ

Can I prepare Banoffee Cups in advance?

Yes, you can! To keep the banana slices fresh, toss them in a bit of lemon juice. However, add the whipped cream topping just before serving for the best texture.

Can I substitute digestive biscuits with something else?

Absolutely! If you’re in the US, you can use graham crackers. Other options include gingernut biscuits, rich tea biscuits, hobnobs, shortbread, or chocolate cookies, each adding a unique flavour to the base.

Can I make one large Banoffee Cup instead of individual servings?

Certainly, if you don’t have individual cups, you can assemble this dessert in a larger container. Allow it some time to chill before serving.

Pro Tips and Guidance

Banana Freshness: To keep your sliced bananas looking fresh if you’re making this dessert in advance, toss them in a bit of lemon juice. The acidity helps prevent browning. Orange juice can work too, but it might impart a slightly citrusy flavour.

Biscuit Variations: In the US, you can swap digestive biscuits for graham cracker crumbs. Alternatively, experiment with gingernut biscuits, rich tea biscuits, hobnobs, shortbread, or chocolate cookies. Each will add its unique twist to the biscuit base.

Homemade Caramel: If you have the time and desire to make your own caramel, check out our caramel bar recipe for detailed instructions on crafting the perfect caramel layer.

Scaling Up: If you don’t have individual serving cups, you can create this dessert in a larger container. Just allow it some chilling time before serving to set.

Storage

For the best taste and texture, I recommend to enjoy these no bake desserts within the first day of making them. The bananas may begin to soften over time, affecting their overall quality

Fridge: Store your Banoffee Cups in the fridge to keep them fresh. Simply cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. They’ll mostly maintain their flavour and texture for up to 2 days.

Leave off the Whipped Cream: . If you’re making them in advance, remember to add the whipped cream topping just before serving for that perfect, fluffy finish.