Old-Fashioned Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe
This Old-Fashioned Homemade Banana Pudding is a creamy, comforting Southern classic featuring layers of fresh bananas, vanilla wafers, and smooth custard. Made from scratch with a rich vanilla custard, sliced ripe bananas, and crispy wafers, this dessert can be served warm or chilled for a luscious, multi-textured treat perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Custard
- 2½ cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs, separated
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Main
- 4 ripe bananas, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 box vanilla wafers (about 45–50 wafers)
Optional Toppings
- Whipped cream (1 cup heavy cream whipped with 1 tbsp sugar)
- Meringue (made from reserved egg whites beaten with 2 tbsp sugar to stiff peaks)
Instructions
- Prepare the Custard: In a medium saucepan off heat, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Gradually add the milk while whisking until the mixture is smooth. Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and bubbles, about 5–7 minutes.
- Temper the Eggs: In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks. Slowly add a few spoonfuls of the hot custard into the yolks while whisking constantly to temper them, preventing curdling. Pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes, stirring continuously, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Layer the Pudding: In a serving dish, create layers starting with vanilla wafers, then sliced bananas, followed by a layer of warm custard. Repeat these layers 2–3 times or until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of custard on top for a balanced distribution of flavors and textures.
- Optional Topping: For meringue, beat the reserved egg whites until foamy, gradually adding sugar and continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread the meringue over the pudding and broil for 1–2 minutes until golden brown. Alternatively, whip heavy cream with sugar until fluffy and spread or dollop it over the chilled pudding before serving.
- Chill or Serve Warm: For a classic pudding texture, cover and refrigerate the assembled pudding for at least 4 hours or overnight. For traditional Southern style, serve the pudding slightly warm immediately after layering.
Notes
- Tempering the egg yolks is essential to avoid scrambling them when adding to the hot custard.
- You can use either all-purpose or whole milk; whole milk gives a creamier texture.
- Vanilla wafers can be substituted with similar vanilla-flavored cookies if preferred.
- For best texture, allow the pudding to chill for at least 4 hours so the flavors meld and the wafers soften slightly.
- Meringue topping adds a beautiful golden finish but is optional; whipped cream offers a lighter topping alternative.
Keywords: banana pudding, homemade banana pudding, old-fashioned dessert, Southern dessert, custard, vanilla wafers