Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding

My Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers recipe is layered with a rich, silkily smooth, creamy vanilla pudding packed with tons of banana flavor. You've been warned to make your own, so you don't have to share.

Do you love a classic Southern dessert? Try these: Peach Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Southern Tea Cakes with Lemon Icing, Sweet Potato Pie, Monkey Bread, Texas Sheet Cake and Buttermilk Pound Cake.

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My grandpa Mark was very popular in my family for his cooking. He had a banana pudding in his recipe arsenal that would make any Southern grandmother proud!

He was the first to introduce me to banana pudding made from home with love. That's why I turn my nose up at any banana pudding recipe that calls for an instant vanilla pudding mix. Sure, it's faster, but who knows what chemicals are in those puddings to make it instant?

When you make yours at home with love, you know what ingredients you're putting in your food, which ultimately will end up in your family's bellies. So let's agree that we're going to feed ourselves and our families the best food possible, using quality ingredients and cooking with lots of love!

What is Banana Pudding?

Banana pudding is a classic Southern comfort food that never goes out of style. Traditionally, it's made with vanilla wafers, bananas, cornstarch, milk, sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.

The first banana pudding recipe published is believed to have been in 1888 in a Good Housekeeping magazine based in Massachusetts and Central Illinois.

Where the recipe calls to "make and chill a pint of custard, the recipe instructs, then line 'a pretty dish' with alternating layers of sliced sponge cake and sliced bananas.

Pour the custard over the layers and top with whipped cream." I'm sure it was placed in a trifle dish.

From my New Orleans roots, I know that the British were responsible for introducing puddings to America. So, I'm sure their taking roots in the first 13 colonies had something to do with Massachusetts's origins.

The swap from sponge cake to vanilla wafers happened between 1920-1921 when Laura Kerley shared the first known printed recipe using cookies.

It wasn't long before the National Biscuits Company (which later became Nabisco in 1967) saw the opportunity to capitalize on the growing popularity of banana pudding and began printing a recipe on boxes of vanilla wafers in the 1940s.

Now, how did the South fall in love with banana pudding? Well, allow me to rip the band-aid off. African Americans were always the cooks in the South for white families then, and I can see them being tasked with replicating this new popular dessert that was sweeping the country.

Today, just saying banana pudding in the black community will start up a conversation layered with fond memories of homemade banana pudding served during the holidays, family reunions, or any time the family gathers together. 

Every family makes it a little different, but one thing that is not different is the nostalgia associated with this recipe.

This is why I'm sharing my recipe, in case you are like me and couldn't get your grandmother's or grandfather's recipe. Now, you will have a recipe to pass down to future generations creating new food memories for generations to come.

Key Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need for this easy homemade banana pudding.

Bananas

The best banana pudding uses ripe, not fresh, bananas. The brown spots mean their natural sweetness is coming out.

Egg Yolks

Egg yolks are the rich base of our creamy vanilla pudding.

Sugar

We only need a small amount of sugar because of the addition of sweetened condensed milk.

Cornstarch

This is the second base for our vanilla pudding. It's going to thicken it right up!

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Unlike milk or cream, using sweetened condensed milk adds sweetness, depth, and creaminess.

Heavy Whipping Cream

Using fresh homemade whipped cream adds tons of flavor and lightens the pudding.

Vanilla Wafers

Using nilla wafers is a classic. You can go through the trouble of making homemade vanilla wafers, but store-brought works.

How To Make Southern Banana Pudding Recipe

The key to cooking is technique, patience, and confidence. That's how I will teach you to make banana pudding. There are several steps, but none of them are tedious.

Home Banana Pudding

Step 1 is to bring your milk to a simmer; I prefer to use half and half because it's more flavorful than whole milk. You want the milk warm enough to touch and at the same time, the milk is warming up. Mix egg yolk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

Stir half the milk into the eggs, then transfer back to the pot and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, constantly stirring until the pudding thickens. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and butter until the butter is melted.

I love using an ice bath to quickly cool down the vanilla pudding mixture; it saves me 2 hours. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice, then cover with water. Set the pot inside the bowl for 10 minutes, occasionally stirring to release steam.

While the pudding is in the ice bath, beat the heavy whipping cream in a medium bowl with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Whisk in sweetened condensed milk, then gently fold in fresh whipped cream.

Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and press the plastic wrap onto the pudding. Pop in the fridge for 4 hours at minimum or overnight.

Homemade Whipped Cream

In a medium bowl, beat heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and salt with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until stiff peaks form. The whipped cream should have a little point when you pull the beaters out.

Assemble

Crumble a handful of vanilla wafers in a small bowl. For the bottom layer, add ⅓ of the vanilla pudding mixture, wafers, and sliced bananas to a 9 x 13 baking dish; repeat, and finish the final layer with bananas, whipped cream, and crumbled vanilla wafers. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

How to Store Banana Pudding

Banana pudding is best 2-3 days after it's made. However, if you keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, it'll last for 7 days or until someone eats it all in the middle of the night. Remember to use plastic wrap to press onto the pudding to keep the bananas from browning.

I do not recommend you freeze banana pudding; the thawed texture and mushy nilla wafers are up pleasant.

Pro Recipe Substitutions, Tips & Tricks

Here are a few notes I had from making this outstanding banana pudding.

• If you prepare in advance, I recommend tossing your banana slices in lemon juice so they won't turn brown.
• Keep the custard moving in the pot; I like to stir every 20-30 seconds.
• You can use whole, evaporated, or any milk on hand instead of half and half.
• If your milk gets too hot, let it cool before adding it to your eggs. Hot milk + eggs = scrambled eggs.
• Tempering is adding hot liquids to eggs to raise the temperature of the eggs so they do not curdle.
• You can add 4 oz. of cubed cream cheese for another layer of flavor while your pudding is thickening up; whisk until melted, and you no longer see streaks of cream cheese.
• Cornstarch is gluten-free. Also, using gluten-free vanilla wafers won't change the flavor if you need to make a special batch. 
• If you used salted butter, omit the salt from the recipe.
• A whisk works better for keeping the custard from sticking to the bottom of the pot and getting in those tight corners in pots. Use a wooden spoon with an angle point if you don't have a whisk.
• You can make fresh whipped cream in a food processor in 15-20 seconds.
• You can use butter cookies, shortbread, or chess cookies instead of nilla wafers.
• Try adding some banana extract to boost the banana flavor.
• I highly recommend not using Cool Whip or other whipped toppings. They are inferior to whipped cream you will make at home.

FAQs

Here are the top questions readers have about banana pudding.

Does banana pudding have bananas in it?

Yes! I have no idea who started the rumor that banana pudding doesn't have bananas. If no bananas are present, it's just vanilla pudding.

How do you keep bananas from turning dark in the banana pudding?

There are two ways to prevent bananas from turning brown (oxidizing) in your banana pudding. The first is to toss the bananas in lemon juice before adding them. The second is to press the plastic wrap onto the bananas; this will keep oxygen from hitting them, which causes them to turn dark.

What is the difference between Nilla wafers and vanilla wafers?

The only difference between nilla wafers and vanilla wafers is spelling. Nilla is just slang for vanilla.

What will thicken banana pudding?

Properly made custard is essential for thick banana pudding. Most custards are based on milk, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch, which work together as thickening agents. My banana pudding recipe below will show you an uncomplicated way to make a delicious custard from scratch!

Does banana pudding need to be refrigerated?

Yes, the banana pudding should be refrigerated. This will ensure that the custard sets and the pudding is cold and delicious. It would be best if you refrigerated it before and after assembly.

Does banana pudding freeze well?

Most sites will say, yes, you can freeze banana puddings. However, I don't recommend freezing banana pudding. Too many layers of ingredients will not fare well after being thawed. Your bananas may get frostbite, the whipped cream may turn into water, and your vanilla wafers will be soggy. That's not good eating.

More Southern Sides

Here are a few sides you can serve with your banana pudding: 

• Southern Green Beans
• Garlic Mash Potatoes
• Southern Candied Yams
• Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
• Corn Maque Choux
• Instant Pot Southern Black-Eye Peas
• Instant Pot Collard Greens

Before You Begin

Here are my steps for getting organized before I start anything.

Step 1: Get all ingredients for the banana pudding recipe on the counter.

Step 2: Measure everything out.

Step 3: Start following the recipe and get ready to enjoy some of the best banana pudding you've ever had.

So, what are you waiting for? Go make some banana pudding! I hope you'll try this recipe. When you do, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. I'd love to know how yours turns out.

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📖 Recipe

Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding

Kenneth Temple

My Banana Pudding recipe is layered with a rich, silkily smooth, creamy vanilla pudding packed with tons of banana flavor.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chill 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Soul Food, Southern

Servings 15 persons

Calories 411 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Banana Pudding:

• 3 cups half and half
• 4 large egg yolks
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup heavy cream cold
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 pack vanilla wafers
• 6 bananas sliced
• mint sprigs garnish

Whipped Cream:

• 1 ½ cups heavy cream cold
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

 

Banana Pudding:

• In medium pot over medium heat add half and half and bring to a simmer, warm to touch. While the half and half is heating up. In a medium bowl combine egg yolk, sugar, cornstarch and salt until smooth.
• Once half and half is warm, pour half into egg mixture and combine. Stir mixture back into pot and over medium heat, cook for 8-10 minutes constantly stirring until pudding thickens. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter until butter is melted and pudding is glossy. Fill a large bowl half way with ice water. Sit the pot inside of the bowl for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The ice bath will save 2 hours.
• While pudding is in ice bath. In a medium bowl mix, heavy cream for 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Once pudding has cooled off, whisk in condensed milk, then gently folded in whipped cream. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, make sure to press plastic wrap onto pudding. Pop in fridge for 4 hours minimum or overnight.

Whipped Cream:

• In a medium bowl mix, heavy cream, powdered sugar and salt for 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer until light, fluffy and thick.

To assemble:

• Take a handful of vanilla wafers and crumble over a small bowl. In a glass, bowl or baking dish add ⅓ of banana pudding, wafers, banana; repeat and finish last layer with bananas, whipped cream and crumbled vanilla wafers. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge, banana pudding is best 2 days after.

Video

Notes

Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

Here are a few notes I had from making this outstanding banana pudding.

• If you prepare in advance, I recommend tossing your banana slices in lemon juice so they won't turn brown.
• Keep the custard moving in the pot; I like to stir every 20-30 seconds.
• You can use whole, evaporated, or any milk on hand instead of half and half.
• If your milk gets too hot, let it cool before adding them to your eggs, hot milk + eggs=scrambled eggs.
• Tempering is adding hot liquids to eggs to raise the temperature of the eggs, so they do not curdle.
• Cornstarch is gluten-free.
• If you used salted butter, omit the salt from the recipe.
• A whisk works better for keeping the custard from sticking to the bottom of the pot and getting in those tight corners in pots. If you don't have a whisk, use a wooden spoon that has a 45° point.
• You can make fresh whipped cream in a food processor in 15-20 seconds.
• You can use butter cookies, shortbread or chess cookies can be used instead of nilla wafers.
• Try adding some banana extract to boost the banana flavor.
• I highly don't recommend using any cool whip or other whipped toppings. They don't compare to whipped cream you will make at home.

Storage:

Banana pudding is best 2-3 days after it's made. However, if you keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, it'll last for 7 days or until someone eats it all in the middle of the night. Remember to use plastic wrap to press onto the pudding to keep the bananas from browning.

Will remain fresh for 5 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 6gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 383mgFiber: 1gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 1000IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 0.4mg

Keyword , banana pudding, banana pudding recipe, easy banana pudding, banana pudding with condensed milk,

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