Description
Southern charm meets creamy delight in this Best Banana Pudding Ever recipe, blending rich custard and sweet bananas into a classic comfort dessert. Layers of silky goodness promise pure indulgence that will transport you straight to grandma’s kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3 cups (750 ml) whole milk
- 45 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 box (12 oz / 340 g) vanilla wafers
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
Sweeteners and Thickeners:
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Flavor Enhancers and Extras:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Craft the silky pudding base by whisking sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually incorporate milk, stirring until a smooth mixture forms. Heat over medium flame, constantly stirring until the mixture thickens and bubbles gently.
- Temper egg yolks by slowly introducing a small portion of the hot milk mixture while whisking vigorously. This prevents scrambling and ensures a luxurious texture. Return the tempered yolks to the saucepan, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the pudding reaches a rich, custard-like consistency.
- Remove pudding from heat and fold in butter and vanilla extract. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, developing a velvety smooth texture.
- Prepare the layering process in a large serving dish by spreading a thin pudding foundation. Create alternating strata of vanilla wafers and freshly sliced bananas, generously covering each layer with pudding.
- Whip the cream in a chilled bowl, blending powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff, cloud-like peaks emerge.
- Elegantly drape the whipped cream across the final pudding layer. Crush additional vanilla wafers and sprinkle them artfully on top for a delightful crunch.
- Refrigerate the dessert for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing the flavors to harmonize and the wafers to soften into a divine, creamy texture.
- When ready to serve, unveil the chilled banana pudding and delight in its luscious, layered magnificence.
Notes
- Perfectly temper egg yolks by slowly adding hot milk mixture while whisking continuously to prevent scrambling and ensure silky smooth pudding texture.
- Use ripe, spotty bananas for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor profile that enhances the overall dessert experience.
- Create dairy-free version by substituting milk with coconut milk and using coconut cream for whipped topping, which adds delightful tropical undertones.
- Prevent banana browning by tossing sliced bananas in a bit of lemon juice, maintaining fresh appearance and preventing oxidation during chilling process.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 314
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 128 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg