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This from-scratch Banana Pudding is made with homemade pastry cream, vanilla wafers, and plenty of fresh bananas. You can build it in a trifle dish, but a baking dish makes it easier to assemble, refrigerate, and serve.
Banana Pudding is an easy, forgiving dessert that can be as convenient or homemade as you want. This version starts with homemade pastry cream, but you can easily substitute a small box of instant vanilla pudding instead.
You can buy whipped cream if you don’t want to make it, too. And if you are feeling fancy, layer the Banana Pudding in a trifle dish. But if you’re feeling busy, or your refrigerator is full, or you are serving kids who want to feed themselves, make it in a baking dish! It tastes just as good, and it’s easier to handle that way.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Pastry cream: 1 (3.4 ounce) box of instant vanilla pudding (made according to package instructions) can be substituted for the pastry cream.
- Heavy cream: Chill in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before whipping to ensure the ultimate fluffy results and easiest whip.
- Nilla wafers: Lightly-sweetened, vanilla-scented, and round, these cozy little cookies are at most grocery stores or buy Nilla wafers online.
Step-by-step instructions
To make the pastry cream:
- In a medium non-aluminum saucepan over medium heat, warm milk until tiny bubbles appear on the surface, about 6 to 8 minutes (about 180 degrees Farenheit). Stir to prevent the milk from scalding.
- Meanwhile, In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.
- Whisk in cornstarch and salt. While whisking constantly, pour in half of the hot milk.
- Whisk in remaining hot milk and return to saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens to a firm consistency, about 5 to 8 minutes. Whisk in vanilla.
- Scrape in to a bowl. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or refrigerate for up to 4 days (cover with plastic wrap, pressing plastic directly on the surface of the pastry cream).
To make the whipped cream:
- Combine cream, sugar, and vanilla in mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover and chill until assembling the banana pudding (up to 10 hours in advance).
To assemble the banana pudding:
- In a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, arrange wafers in a single layer (you may not use all the wafers).
- Top with a single layer of banana slices.
- Spread the pastry cream evenly over the bananas.
- Spread whipped cream evenly over the pastry cream. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight (the longer it sits, the softer the cookies will be, and that’s not a bad thing).
- Garnish with additional crushed wafers and banana slices if desired.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Banana Pudding recipe makes about 12 cups (3 quarts), enough for 12 servings, 1 cup each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Banana Pudding needs some time to soften, so make this luscious dessert a day in advance.
Recipe FAQs
This dessert has Southern roots and is made with vanilla-flavored custard, vanilla cookies, sliced bananas, and whipped cream or meringue.
While many banana pudding recipes use boxed pudding and whipped topping, this recipe goes back to basics with homemade pastry cream and whipped cream.
Most modern banana pudding recipes use Nilla wafers, a lightly-sweetened, round cookie by Nabisco. However, lady fingers are also a delicious option for banana pudding.
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Banana Pudding
Ingredients
For the pastry cream (see note 1):
- 2 cups whole milk
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the whipped cream:
- 2 cups heavy cream cold (see note 2)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the banana pudding:
- 1 (11 ounce) box vanilla wafers plus more for garnish (see note 3)
- 6 medium bananas sliced, plus more for garnish
Instructions
To make the pastry cream:
- In a medium non-aluminum saucepan over medium heat, warm milk until tiny bubbles appear on the surface, about 6 to 8 minutes (about 180 degrees Farenheit). Stir to prevent the milk from scalding.
- Meanwhile, In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Whisk in cornstarch and salt. While whisking constantly, pour in half of the hot milk. Whisk in remaining hot milk and return to saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens to a firm consistency, about 5 to 8 minutes. Whisk in vanilla. Scrape in to a bowl. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or refrigerate for up to 4 days (cover with plastic wrap, pressing plastic directly on the surface of the pastry cream).
To make the whipped cream:
- Combine cream, sugar, and vanilla in mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover and chill until assembling the banana pudding (up to 10 hours in advance).
To assemble the banana pudding:
- In a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, arrange wafers in a single layer (you may not use all the wafers). Top with a single layer of banana slices, then spread the pastry cream evenly over the bananas.
- Spread whipped cream evenly over the pastry cream. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight (the longer it sits, the softer the cookies will be, and that's not a bad thing). Garnish with additional crushed wafers and banana slices if desired.
Notes
- Pastry cream: 1 (3.4 ounce) box of instant vanilla pudding (made according to package instructions) can be substituted for the pastry cream.
- Heavy cream: Chill in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before whipping to ensure the ultimate fluffy results and easiest whip.
- Nilla wafers: Lightly-sweetened, vanilla-scented, and round, these cozy little cookies are at most grocery stores or buy Nilla wafers online.
- Yield: This Banana Pudding recipe makes about 12 cups (3 quarts), enough for 12 servings, 1 cup each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Banana Pudding needs some time to soften, so make this luscious dessert a day in advance.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.