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Homemade Banana Pudding

Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenThere’s nothing like a good banana pudding. I love many desserts, but mmmmm, banana pudding, with those Nilla wafers? To die for!

Now, of course you can make the pudding with the instant stuff. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it’s delicious. But there’s nothing like creating your own custard, seeing it form and set right in front of your eyes, and the taste? There’s definitely a difference!

Banana pudding is one of my husband’s favorite desserts. Every big holiday he requests it, and a few years ago I was determined to make it from scratch. I searched so many recipes. I picked and pulled various recipes and techniques, and thought I would get creative and make my own variation without first trying some of these recipes.  The result? A wonderful tasting, banana pudding flavored soup with bananas and wafers floating in it. It was NOT a success.
I look back now and laugh. I was determined to get it right, and I finally did! This recipe has been declared a winner by my family, and my husband loves me just a little more now that I can make his favorite!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups milk, either 2% or whole milk
  • 2/3 cups white granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 3 large bananas
  • Nilla Wafers
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenStart by preparing your serving dish with a light spray. I use a trifle bowl.In a medium saucepan combine the milk, sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg, and egg yolk.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenWhisk them until well combined and then place the pan over medium heat.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenWhile it’s cooking away, you have to whisk it pretty constantly so it doesn’t burn or curdle.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenJust when it starts forming and getting thick, remove it from the heat.
Otherwise it will continue to thicken and will be deemed too rich.
You want a nice, light custard of a pudding.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenNow add your butter and vanilla extract.
Continue to whisk until the butter has melted.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenNow pour the pudding through a mesh strainer over a bowl.
This will insure no chunky pieces, just a nice and smooth pudding.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill for a few moments while you build the bananas and wafers.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenSlice the bananas in thin slices about 1/8 inch thick and layer on the bottom of your dish.
Since I use a glass dish, I try to make the sides pretty with layers of wafers and bananas too.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenNow spoon out your first layer of pudding. Spread the pudding to the edges.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenNow, for the second layer of wafers and bananas.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenSpoon in your final layer of pudding, then top with the last layer of wafers and bananas.
Cover with wrap and refrigerate for about 4 hours to set.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenJust before you’re ready to serve, you can start make your whipped cream.
In a large bowl combine the milk, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenMix at a medium to high speed for a few minutes.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenRight when you start seeing it thicken up and form peaks, it’s ready!
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenYumm! There is NOTHING like homemade whipped cream!
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenNow spread your whipped cream over the top of your pudding.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenGarnish with crushed and whole wafers.
Homemade Banana Pudding | Mama Harris' KitchenThe proof is in the pudding! This one’s a winner! Enjoy!
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts are my own.

Homemade Banana Pudding
 
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This is a recipe for a traditional homemade banana pudding. This does not use any instant products, it's a traditional homemade custard, delicious!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Ingredients
  • 2 cups milk, either 2% or whole milk
  • ⅔ cups white granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 3 large bananas
  • Nilla Wafers
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Start by preparing your serving dish with a light spray. I use a trifle bowl.
  2. In a medium saucepan combine the milk, sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg, and egg yolk.
  3. Whisk them until well combined and then place the pan over medium heat.
  4. While it's cooking away, you have to whisk it pretty constantly so it doesn't burn or curdle.
  5. Just when it starts forming and getting thick, remove it from the heat.
  6. Otherwise it will continue to thicken and will be deemed too rich.
  7. You want a nice, light custard of a pudding.
  8. Now add your butter and vanilla extract.
  9. Continue to whisk until the butter has melted.
  10. Now pour the pudding through a mesh strainer over a bowl.
  11. This will insure no chunky pieces, just a nice and smooth pudding.
  12. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill for a few moments while you build the bananas and wafers.
  13. Slice the bananas in thin slices about ⅛ inch thick and layer on the bottom of your dish.
  14. Since I use a glass dish, I try to make the sides pretty with layers of wafers and bananas too.
  15. Now spoon out your first layer of pudding. Spread the pudding to the edges.
  16. Now, for the second layer of wafers and bananas.
  17. Spoon in your final layer of pudding, then top with the last layer of wafers and bananas.
  18. Cover with wrap and refrigerate for about 4 hours to set.
  19. Just before you're ready to serve, you can start make your whipped cream.
  20. In a large bowl combine the milk, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
  21. Mix at a medium to high speed for a few minutes.
  22. Right when you start seeing it thicken up and form peaks, it's ready!
  23. Yumm! There is NOTHING like homemade whipped cream!
  24. Now spread your whipped cream over the top of your pudding.
  25. Garnish with crushed and whole wafers.
  26. The proof is in the pudding! This one's a winner! Enjoy!

 


Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Ruby says

    That looks delicious!!! I love all things bananas! Thanks for the easy follow along picture directions I’ll have to make this soon!

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      Hi Ruby! Thank you, yes the step by step photos and directions are what I’ve found to be what I’m comfortable with. Now I have to go back and edit my first few posts to match it! 🙂

  3. Nicole says

    I haven’t had banana pudding in forever! I’ve totally got to try this.

    And thanks so much for linking up with us for find + follow friday! Following you now! I’m having a giveaway tomorrow, if you want to pop in! 🙂

    ♥Nicole @ Me + the Moon

  4. Songstress Lyrical says

    I absolutely LOVE banana pudding. My grandma used to make it over the stove, with the home made whip cream or what she called maraing (however you spell it lol) and it was divine!!!! There was nothing like grandmas banana pudding. Gosh I miss that. But I make a no bake no cook banana pudding that is absolutely delicious as well and I usually make it during the holidays. I definitely want to try this one though….awesome job

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      Yes, the meringue! And that goes in the oven to cook for a few minutes till just the tips are toasted. I wanted to try it that way, but not sure if my kids would like it, so I stuck with what I know. Whipped Cream! Such happy memories things like banana pudding bring about!

      Thank you! I’d love to see your no bake recipe as well!

  6. Ashley K says

    Banana pudding is my favorite dessert! I usually make it for the holiday and usually end up trying to eat as much as I can before anyone gets to it haha.

    Found you threw the That Friday Hop

    Ashley
    Beauty Flawed

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      Hi Ashley, thanks for stopping by!
      I totally relate, I think my whole family was waiting with their spoons to dig in! We all were greedy and wanted it all.
      I’ll go check out your page now! 🙂 Nice to meet you.

  7. SimplyyMayra says

    Hola Mama Harris!
    Haven’t seen one of these Banana pudding pies since my Mother made me one waaaay back when I was 18 (which is when she passed). Thanks for the memory 🙂

    I stopped by from Aloha Friday Hop and left you some GFC love and support (#34). Hope you come by for a visit at mine: PonderWonders @ http://www.simplyymayra.com

    Thanks!
    ~SimplyyMayra

  10. Shannon Conner says

    I never considered making my own pudding/custard – in fact, I didn’t know what was even in it! Same with the whipped cream. Awesome tutorial!

    Shannon
    fixingforfriday.blogspot.com

  19. Lvillegas says

    Love, love, LOVE this recipe!! This is a hit in my family! You truly have a gift! This has become my, “go to” dessert for every get together.

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