Description
Sweet Southern comfort emerges in this classic banana pudding, layering creamy custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers into a nostalgic dessert. Rich vanilla notes and silky textures invite memories of grandma’s kitchen, beckoning you to savor each spoonful of pure homestyle delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- 4 bananas, sliced
- 3 cups milk
- 1 box vanilla wafers (about 8 ounces)
Dry Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancer:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine sugar, flour, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, creating a dry mixture foundation for the pudding base.
- Gradually pour milk into the dry ingredients, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and ensure smooth incorporation.
- Maintain medium heat, stirring consistently until the mixture transforms into a thick, glossy consistency with gentle bubbling.
- Lower the temperature and simmer for two minutes to develop deeper flavor complexity.
- Prepare eggs in a separate bowl, carefully tempering them by slowly introducing small amounts of hot pudding mixture while whisking vigorously to prevent curdling.
- Reintegrate the tempered egg mixture into the main pudding, returning to heat and allowing a gentle boil to develop for approximately two minutes.
- Remove from heat and infuse vanilla extract, stirring to distribute the aromatic essence throughout the pudding.
- Allow the pudding to cool for fifteen minutes, periodically stirring to prevent skin formation.
- Create the first layer in an 8-inch square pan by arranging vanilla wafers across the bottom, followed by a generous spread of banana slices.
- Delicately pour half the pudding mixture, ensuring even coverage of the initial layer.
- Construct a second identical layer, concluding with the remaining pudding as the top stratum.
- Seal the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of four hours, allowing flavors to meld and pudding to set completely.
- Prior to serving, crumble remaining wafers and sprinkle as a crisp, textural garnish.
- Serve chilled for optimal flavor and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Select ripe, spotty bananas for deeper, sweeter flavor and more intense banana taste that elevates the entire dessert.
- Temper eggs carefully by slowly adding hot mixture to prevent scrambling, which ensures smooth, silky pudding texture.
- Use a whisk consistently to prevent lumps and create creamy, velvety pudding consistency that melts in your mouth.
- For gluten-free version, substitute vanilla wafers with gluten-free cookies or crushed almond flour-based crackers to maintain crunchy layer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg