Description
A beloved Southern dessert featuring layers of vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, homemade vanilla custard, and whipped cream.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 medium ripe bananas
- 11 oz box Nilla Wafers (about 60 wafers)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (for custard)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy cream (for topping)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Whisk sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk and cream.
- Add egg yolks and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, for 8-10 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.
- Cool the custard by pressing plastic wrap onto the surface, refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
- Slice bananas into 1/4-inch rounds and toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Whip 2 cups of cold heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add powdered sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Layer the dish starting with vanilla wafers, followed by bananas, and custard—repeat the layers and finish with whipped cream.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight before serving.
Notes
Use just-yellow bananas with light brown speckles for the best flavor and texture. Allowing the pudding to rest helps the wafers absorb moisture and soften.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Refrigeration and Cooking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 200mg