5 from 3 votes
Pin Recipe Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy

Yeah, bananas are pretty great on their own, but if you have a bounty of bananas, don’t miss out on making homemade banana pudding recipe. No gross box kits or any of that needed! Just a few key ingredients (including those Nilla Wafers) and you’ve got a classic dessert everyone will love!

Best banana pudding recipe

Best Banana Pudding Recipe

Not long ago, I was making banana pudding using the box mix. It’s so much easier and so much tastier to make it from scratch though. My kids love this stuff, and when we have weekend gatherings, I love making it so everyone can have a tasty treat.

Banana pudding ingredients

Banana Pudding Ingredients

  • Pudding – You make your own with all-purpose flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract.
  • Bananas – These babies need to be sliced up and added to your dish.
  • Nilla Wafers – Because it’s not official without these iconic cookies! A Southern banana pudding recipe will often use Nilla Wafers.
  • Meringue – This is the final step done in the oven that makes it extra amazing!

Easy banana pudding recipe

Easy Banana Pudding Recipe

I can’t believe I ever served the boxed pudding with this dessert. It’s very easy and the payoff with flavors is so good, you’ll kick yourself for not doing this sooner. A simple banana pudding recipe takes under one hour and is absolutely delicious!

Keep calm and go bananas!
Anonymous

How do you make old fashioned banana pudding from scratch

How do you Make Old Fashioned Banana Pudding from Scratch

When making this banana pudding recipe from scratch, you’ll start by making the pudding first on the stove top. After that, you’ll preheat your oven while you layer the pudding, Nilla Wafers, and banana slices in a casserole dish. You’ll make a meringue to go on top, bake it until it’s lightly browned, and then serve this delight up.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Old Fashioned Banana Pudding Recipe

  • Try to eat it quickly. Banana pudding has Nilla wafers which notoriously get soggier over time. Don’t try to make too much more than you need.
  • Use ripe to almost over-ripe bananas. In other words, the bananas that have a few spots on the skin are probably your best choice.
  • You can use boxed pudding. If you really want to skip making your own pudding, you can put in a boxed version. But this tastes so much better when you make it yourself.

How to cook banana pudding

What is banana pudding made of?

Old fashioned banana pudding is made with eggs, sugar, all-purpose flour, milk, vanilla extract, salt, bananas, and Nilla wafers.

How to Cook Banana Pudding

A quick banana pudding recipe starts on the stove top and ends in the oven. Simply follow this recipe to have the best banana pudding from scratch!

How long to bake banana pudding

How ripe should bananas be for banana pudding?

Your bananas should be yellow with brown specks on the peel. This will give you the very best banana flavor for your banana pudding.

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding?

Keep your bananas from turning that gross brown color by covering them completely with the pudding. This acts as a barrier that keeps the enzymes from reacting with the air and browning.

Can you freeze bananas for banana pudding?

You can freeze them, though for banana pudding, bananas are best at room temperature.

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding

How do you thicken banana pudding?

Banana pudding is thickened with the help of all-purpose flour. That’s how you make the pudding portion with a nice, thick texture.

How do you keep banana pudding from getting watery?

Don’t mix it too much to keep it from turning watery. Follow this recipe and you will have the perfect thickness to your pudding. Baking it for the meringue at the end will also see to it that your pudding retains a proper texture.

Why is my homemade banana pudding runny?

You may have removed your homemade banana pudding from the heat too soon. Use a candy thermometer to get it to about 175F to 180F which gives you a thicker pudding that won’t go runny.

Is banana pudding better warm or cold

How Long to Bake Banana Pudding?

Baked banana pudding only takes 5 minutes in the oven to brown that meringue topping. That’s it!

Is banana pudding better warm or cold?

Traditionally, cooked banana pudding is served with a meringue on top and made as you see in this recipe. Hence, it should be served warm. Though plenty of people love banana pudding when it’s cold. You should try it both ways and see what you think!

What goes well with Banana Pudding?

Whipped cream and ice cream are always welcome to serve with banana pudding. And if you’re planning a big meal beforehand, why not make it a southern feast with mac n’ cheese, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and all those southern staples!

How do you thicken banana pudding

How to Store Banana Pudding

Banana pudding needs to go in the fridge. Make sure you seal it well!

How Long Does Banana Pudding Last?

You’ll have 4 days to use it up in your fridge. After that though, banana pudding might be best in the freezer.

Homemade banana pudding recipe

Can You Freeze Banana Pudding?

Yes, though the fresher it is, the better it is. Still, you will like having this as a frozen treat which is better than wasting it.

How to Reheat Banana Pudding?

Simply let your frozen banana pudding thaw in the fridge. Cover it with foil and heat at 350F for about 10 to 15 minutes to get it nice and warm again.


Watch How To Make Banana Pudding (Video)

Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 9 servings
Calories 329
This is easily the best banana pudding recipe I've made and one that I always have people requesting I make for family events. The creamy textures and crunchy Nilla wafers provide the perfect balance and the toasted sweet meringue is delicious!

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs (large)
  • 1 cup sugar (divided)
  • 3 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 40 Nilla wafers
  • 4 medium bananas (sliced into 1/8 inch thick rounds)

Instructions 

  • First, separate the yolks from the whites of 3 of the eggs and set aside the whites. Add the remaining whole egg to the yolks. Then, in a medium saucepan, make the pudding. Whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, the flour, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add in the whole egg plus the 3 egg yolks, then the milk. Cook uncovered, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens, about 12 minutes. Once thickened, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
  • Preheat the oven to 400F. In a 2 quart casserole dish, spread a thin layer of the pudding. Arrange a layer of Nilla wafers on top then a layer of the banana slices over the wafers. Continue this layering until you reach the top of the casserole dish, ending with pudding.
  • Once the pudding is done, make the meringue. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until the whites will not slide out of the mixing bowl even when tilted. Spread the meringue over the pudding, then bake until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
Calories: 329kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 313mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 227IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

More Banana recipes:

Never Miss A Recipe!

Join thousands of HowToCook.recipes subscribers and get our best recipes delivered each week!

Yes! Send me the newest recipes by email

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Avatar photo
Author

I’m a mom of two, food and wine lover, and recipe creation enthusiast. Good food brings families together. Which is why I’m devoted to sharing my best recipes that are simple enough for even the beginner cook that your family will love!

Write A Comment

Recipe Rating