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A creamy dish of traditional Southern banana pudding topped with meringue.

Best way to grow amazing Southern Banana Pudding

This recipe guides you through the timeless process of creating a delicious, creamy, and truly amazing Southern Banana Pudding, perfect for any occasion. Layers of sweet bananas, vanilla wafers, and velvety pudding combine to create a dessert that's both comforting and impressive.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pudding Base
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 egg yolks lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Assembly
  • 4-5 ripe bananas sliced
  • 1 box vanilla wafers
  • 1 cup heavy cream for topping, optional
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar for topping, optional

Equipment

  • saucepan
  • whisk
  • serving dish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Whisk together milk, sugar, and flour in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Temper the egg yolks by slowly whisking a small amount of the hot milk mixture into them, then gradually add the tempered yolks back into the saucepan, stirring constantly.
  3. Continue cooking and stirring for 2-3 minutes until the pudding thickens further, then remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Allow the pudding to cool completely, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming, or cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface.
Assembly
  1. Arrange a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom of a serving dish, followed by a layer of sliced bananas and then a generous layer of cooled pudding.
  2. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of pudding.
  3. If desired, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form and spread over the top of the pudding.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the wafers to soften.

Notes

For best results, use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and flavor. You can adjust the amount of sugar to your preference. Also, chilling overnight is crucial for the best texture and flavor development.