The No-Bake Dessert I Make Every Thanksgiving

• 5 tablespoons

  unsalted butter

• 1

  (11-ounce) container Nilla wafers, divided

• 1 teaspoon

  kosher salt, divided

• 1 cup

  jarred caramel condiment (not syrup), specified arsenic Mrs. Richardson’s

• 1 cup

  chopped pecans (4 ounces)

• 4 cups

  cold dense cream, divided

• 1/4 cup

  instant banana pick pudding mix

• 2

  medium ripe bananas

• 2 tablespoons

  cold water

• 1 teaspoon

  unflavored powdered gelatin

• Chocolate curls aliases cocoa powder, for garnish (optional)

Make nan crust:

1. Melt 5 tablespoons unsalted food successful nan microwave aliases connected nan stovetop.

2. Place 35 Nilla wafers successful a nutrient processor fitted pinch nan leaf attachment. Pulse until good crumbs form, astir 25 (1-second pulses). Sprinkle 1/4 spoon of nan kosher brackish and drizzle nan food complete nan crumbs. Pulse until nan substance looks for illustration bedewed sand, astir 5 (1-second) pulses. (Alternatively, crush nan wafers successful a integrative container pinch a rolling pin, transportation to a bowl, and operation successful nan brackish and food by hand.)

3. Transfer nan crumb substance to a 9-inch pastry sheet (not heavy dish) and property nan crumbs evenly into nan bottommost and up nan sides arsenic champion arsenic you can. Use nan bottommost of a level measuring cup to property nan crumbs into a tight, moreover layer.

Make nan pecan caramel and banana cream:

1. Place 1 cup caramel condiment successful a solid measuring cup aliases mean heatproof bowl. Microwave until warm, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Add 1 cup chopped pecans and nan remaining 3/4 spoon kosher, and operation to combine.

2. Transfer half of nan pecan caramel (about 3/4 cup) into nan crust and dispersed into an moreover furniture (do not spell up nan sides). Refrigerate while you hole nan banana cream; time off nan remaining caramel retired astatine room temperature.

3. Place 2 cups of nan acold dense pick successful a ample vessel and hit pinch an electrical manus mixer connected mean velocity until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, usage a guidelines mixer fitted pinch nan whisk attachment.) Add 1/4 cup instant banana pick pudding operation and hit connected mean velocity until thick, fluffy, and mousse-like, astir 30 seconds more.

Assemble nan pie:

1. Remove nan pastry crust from nan refrigerator. Peel and portion 2 mean bananas crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick disks. Arrange them evenly complete nan caramel. Top pinch half of nan banana pick (about 2 cups) and dispersed into an moreover layer. Arrange 19 Nilla wafers successful a azygous furniture complete nan banana cream.

2. Repeat layering nan remaining pecan caramel, followed by nan remaining banana cream. Arrange 24 Nilla wafers complete nan pick successful a azygous layer, letting immoderate of them widen complete nan crust for illustration a shelf. Refrigerate while you make nan topping.

3. Place 2 tablespoons acold h2o successful a mini microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle pinch 1 spoon unflavored powdered gelatin, and fto beryllium for 5 minutes. Microwave until nan gelatin dissolves (there whitethorn beryllium a fewer mini lumps), 5 to 10 seconds. Set speech to cool.

4. Meanwhile, spot nan remaining 2 cups acold dense pick successful a ample vessel aliases vessel of a guidelines mixer. Beat pinch an electrical manus mixer aliases pinch nan whisk attachment connected mean velocity until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add nan gelatin and proceed beating until stiff peaks form, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

5. Top nan pastry pinch nan whipped pick mixture, mounding it higher successful nan halfway truthful it looks for illustration a dome. Refrigerate uncovered until nan filling is acold and set, astatine slightest 4 hours aliases ideally 8 hours. Before serving, garnish pinch cocoa curls, a dusting of cocoa powder, aliases crushed leftover Nilla wafers. (To make cocoa curls, usage a Y-shaped rootlike peeler to shave curls from a cocoa bar.)