🍌 Homemade Banana Pudding (Classic Southern Style)
This is the creamy, dreamy banana pudding with layers of vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and rich custard. Perfect for dessert tables or anytime sweet cravings hit.
📝 Ingredients
Custard:
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Other Layers:
- 4–5 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 box (11 oz) vanilla wafers
- Whipped cream or meringue for topping (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Make the custard
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt.
- Gradually add milk, whisking until smooth.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and starts to bubble.
- Slowly whisk a small amount of hot custard into egg yolks (tempering), then return mixture to saucepan.
- Cook 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Let cool slightly.
- Layer the pudding
- In a 2-quart dish or trifle bowl, layer vanilla wafers on the bottom.
- Add a layer of banana slices.
- Pour a layer of custard over the bananas.
- Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with custard on top.
- Top it off
- Spread whipped cream over the top, or lightly toast a meringue topping if desired.
- Chill
- Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight for best flavor and texture.
🍽 Tips
- For extra flavor, add a splash of banana liqueur or vanilla extract to the custard.
- Make ahead: Banana pudding tastes better the next day as flavors meld.
- To prevent bananas from browning, coat slices lightly with lemon juice.
If you want, I can give a quick no-cook version that uses instant pudding and takes only 15 minutes—still tastes amazing! Do you want me to share that version too?
