Homemade Banana Pudding, with layers of nilla wafer cookies, banana slices, and custard, is a classic southern dessert that kids and adults alike devour.
Banana Pudding, or Nanner Puddin as it is affectionately called, is one of the easiest desserts to make so long as you can make a homemade custard. If you can’t , just use a box of instant vanilla pudding. It won’t have that homemade taste, but it will still be good.
A few weeks ago when I published Banana Pudding Pancakes, I realized Spicy Southern Kitchen was lacking a straight up Banana Pudding Recipe. I’ve posted Banana Pudding Cupcakes and Banana Pudding Bars, but no basic Banana Pudding recipe. Well, problem fixed. This recipe will satisfy all your banana pudding cravings.
The best part of Banana Pudding is the Nilla Wafers. The way they get soft from the pudding is just so yummy. As a child, I’d just pick out the wafers and eat the whipped cream, completely eating around the bananas. But now I yum up every delicious bite and I love how the banana flavor permeates throughout the whole dessert. Even if you were to pick out all the banana slices before eating, it still tastes of bananas.
Recipe Tips
Because the flavor of banana tends to be really strong in banana pudding, especially if made a day in advance, you don’t want to use really ripe bananas. The flavor will be too strong and the banana slices will develop an unappetizing brown color. I like to use bananas that are nice and yellow, but haven’t started to get brown speckles.
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Since it is prepared ahead of time, Banana Pudding is a wonderful dessert to serve for picnics, barbecues, and potlucks. I love to serve it during the warmer months as a refreshing treat straight from the refrigerator.
Note: You can use a tub of whipped topping to simplify things, but homemade whipped cream just tastes so much better.
Try These Other Banana Pudding Recipes
- Bananas Foster Banana Pudding
- Banana Pudding Ice Cream
- Twinkie Banana Pudding
- Nutella Banana Pudding
- Nutter Butter Banana Pudding
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake
- Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar,, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons butter,, cut into 4 pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box Nilla Wafers,, you will use almost the whole box
- 3 medium bananas,, do this last minute so they won’t turn brown, cut into slices
- 1 cup heavy cream,, whipped to soft peaks with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Make the pudding. Place half-and-half, milk, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
- Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and add remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Whisk together well. Whisk in cornstarch until combined well, about 30 seconds.
- When half-and -half mixture comes to a simmer, use a measuring cup to scoop out about 1 cup of the mixture. (Go ahead and turn the heat down some so it will not go beyond a slow simmer. Very gradually add it to egg mixture while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
- Pour egg mixture into saucepan. Stir over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter pieces and vanilla extract. If any of the egg curdles, pour the pudding through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing through with the back of a spoon.
- To assemble, cover the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish with a thin layer of pudding mixture.
- Top with a layer of Nilla Wafers and then a layer of banana slices. Repeat layers, until all pudding is used.
- Spread whipped cream on top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published April 4, 2014
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Made with cgesdmen cookies to and both are so good I will never choose instant again thanks😋
So easy to make. Just like making a pie minus the crust.
Can’t wait for the cooling process to hurry!
Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
great recipe but I used Ginger Snap Cookies instead. I couldn’t figure out what you meant by Spicy Banana Pudding other than the Vanilla Wafers so the Ginger Snaps gave it more of a Bite and it was great! I took one of the Cookies and grinded it up and sprinkled on top of the Whip Cream.
I just made this recipe. I used light brown sugar instead, not sure why. I’ve never made banana pudding or any sort of pudding before. I was nervous about the possibility of the eggs curdling, but the directions were clear to follow and it worked out fine. Thanks for sharing this recipe, it was really good!
I agree that this banana pudding looks delicious and because it’s homemade makes it even better. Would it be just as good if I made a meringue out of the egg whites?
Yes, I think it would be delicious with a meringue Ginny. 🙂
Correct way is with meringue
This looks fantastic Christin! I love banana pudding and yours looks so creamy and tasty!
Thanks Kelly 🙂
Fantastic tip on using yellow bananas!! I’ve been CRAVING homemade banana pudding, and this post and these pictures have done the trick! Thank you!!
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Thanks for stopping by Deittra! Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Good golly WOW – I so love banana pudding and yours looks and sounds exceptional!
It doesn’t get much better than this for me! I love banana pudding, and this looks so creamy and delicious. Have a great Sunday, Christin! 🙂
Real home made pudding with bananas.. sounds very delicious!