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A dessert trifle with layers of sliced Banana Pudding recipe, whipped cream, and crumbled cookies, served in a glass dish on a blue-patterned plate.

Banana Pudding Recipe

A rich, creamy banana pudding recipe made from scratch with homemade vanilla custard, ripe bananas, vanilla wafers, and a whipped cream or cream cheese topping. A classic Southern dessert that gets better with time!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 290
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Custard Base
  • 2 cups Whole milk - Or sub coconut milk
  • 1 cup Heavy cream - Or sub cashew cream
  • 4 Large egg yolks
  • ¾ cup Granulated sugar - Or coconut sugar
  • 3 tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract - Or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 pinch Salt
Layers
  • 4 Ripe bananas - Sliced into rounds
  • 40 Vanilla wafers - Or cookies of choice
  • 1½ cups Fresh whipped cream - Or whipped cream cheese blend
Optional Toppings
  • As needed Extra vanilla wafers - Crushed
  • As needed Banana slices - For decoration
  • Light Dusting of cinnamon - Optional

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed saucepan (Prevents custard from scorching)
  • 1 Wire whisk (For whisking custard)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (For mixing whipped cream)
  • 1 Glass trifle dish or 9x13 pan (For assembly)
  • 1 Rubber Spatula (For folding and scraping)
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer (Optional, for extra smooth custard)

Method
 

  1. Heat milk and cream. Whisk egg yolks with sugar and cornstarch, then temper with hot milk. Cook until thick, then stir in vanilla and salt. Let cool with plastic wrap on surface.
    A saucepan filled with creamy custard in the making, with a raw egg yolk being whisked in. Surrounding the pot are baking ingredients like flour, eggs, melted butter, and sugar, staged for banana pudding prep.
  2. Slice bananas, set aside vanilla wafers, and prepare whipped cream or topping.
  3. In a trifle dish or pan, layer wafers, banana slices, and custard. Repeat layers.
    A bright kitchen prep scene with ingredients for banana pudding: a white ceramic dish with sliced bananas, a bowl of whipped cream, vanilla sandwich cookies, and fresh bananas ready for layering.
  4. Top with whipped cream or cream cheese mixture. Add optional garnishes like crushed wafers or banana slices.
    A clear glass trifle dish showing neatly layered banana pudding with sliced bananas, creamy vanilla custard, and fluffy whipped cream stacked in beautiful layers, placed on a kitchen counter.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled with a spoon.
    A large trifle dish filled with banana pudding, layered with whipped cream, bananas, and vanilla wafers, tightly covered with plastic wrap and placed in a refrigerator. A handwritten note on the side reads "Do not eat!"

Nutrition

Serving: 200gCalories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 130mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 650IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 0.8mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!