Banana pudding is about as much of a comfort food in the south as it is a dessert. One that everyone always looks forward to digging into to get the perfect ratio of vanilla wafers, pudding and bananas.
Grandmother always made hers with a towering meringue on top of the pudding that was light as air and the perfect combination with the rich banana pudding. She would ask my sister and me to help make her banana pudding for dessert so many times when we were young girls. It was a request I don’t remember ever tiring of agreeing. She would ask one of us to carefully line the glass bowl with the vanilla wafers while the other sliced the bananas. We each had an important job and the banana pudding just wouldn’t work without both of us completing our tasks with care.
Or so we thought.
While we were consumed with our duties, Grandmother was busily cooking the pudding on her stovetop. She loved to chat as she cooked, asking us about our day, telling us about when she would help her Mother cook, or telling us about a bird she saw when she went to the garden earlier. Her voice was always as sweet and velvety as the pudding she was stirring.
Once we had our vanilla wafers and banana slices layered just as she instructed, she would ask us to step back as she poured the hot pudding over them. Within minutes following, she would have her egg whites beaten to a perfect salute and would be carefully spreading her meringue on top of the pudding. Into the oven it would go for my sister and me to run and stare through the glass door in the oven as the banana pudding magically browned.
That night for supper, we were anxious for everyone to taste “our” banana pudding because we knew it tasted just as good as Grandmother’s.
Here is how she made it.
A simple, classic Southern recipe for banana pudding.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 3 large eggs, separated (you'll need whites later for meringue)
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 box vanilla wafer (approximately 45 wafers)
- 5-6 bananas
- 3 egg whites (reserved from above)
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
http://addapinch.com/cooking/2011/01/16/southern-banana-pudding/
- Combine flour, sugar and salt in a large, heavy saucepan.
- Lightly beat egg yolks and combine with milk in a large bowl or measuring cup.
- Combine well.
- Pour egg and milk mixture into dry ingredients in heavy saucepan.
- Cook over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, until ingredients are thickened and smooth. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla.
- To layer your banana pudding, begin by placing vanilla wafers on the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish, glass bowl, or another 3-quart container.
- Slice bananas and place on top of wafers.
- Pour one-third of custard over wafers and bananas.
- Repeat layering process two more times until all wafers, bananas, and custard have been used. Ending with a final layer of wafers for decorative purposes.
- Top with meringue and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes until lightly browned.
For the Meringue:- Whip egg whites with an electric mixer set at high speed.
- Allow egg whites to foam and then gradually add sugar one tablespoon at a time.
- Continue whipping until sugar is well-dissolved.
- Add vanilla once stiff peaks have formed and whip until well-combined.
- Spread meringue over banana pudding, making sure to spread to the edges of the dish.
Copyright © Add a Pinch. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © Add a Pinch. All Rights Reserved.
Enjoy!
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I cant get hubby to eat it… but I think I might be able to with the recipe!! Thanks so much for sharing it!!
This is my kid’s favorite dessert (which I don’t make often). I will try this one for sure. It looks great!
yum. yum. yum. yum.
I have never had banana pudding with any sort of topping.
THIS sounds light and delicious.
I swear, I think we need to have a banana pudding round up
There are SO many versions!
LOVE banana pudding. NOM
This sounds really lovely. I had not heard of the version with meringue and I do love meringue! Unfortunately it is really hard to get vanilla wafers here in England, but I can from time to time, so I’ve bookmarked your recipe for the next time I do!
This recipe looks amazing! I have never had banana pudding before, but I will have to fix that soon.
I love homemade pudding, especially banana pudding. This looks and sounds delish!
I’ve read so many people who ate this as a kid. I’ve never eaten it my life – and I’m 41. It sounds really yummy though.
Robyn, you really are killing me here! Southern Banana Pudding was one of my favorite desserts in the whole wide world but i quit making it because i’d eat the whole thing all by myself! wowie does this ever bring back memories!!!
This really looks so incredible. I’d like some right now. Delicious!
Banana pudding has been on my list of things to make for a while…I’ve never actually had it before and need to remedy that soon!
YUMMY!! I loved reading the comments where some have never tried banana pudding before
They are in for a treat.
Love banana pudding, but I’ve never made it myself! I will now!
Sounds like your grandma knew my grandmas recipe.I remember it very well to this day, though I haven’t made this since my children left the household. I think I’m going to have to re-live my childhood and make some again. Thanks for the memories.
I adore homemade pudding, especially when it is still kind of warm. Yum!
Yep, this is it……my nana made this my entire life. Haven’t had it for a while, but that will change with one trip to the grocery! Thanks for reminding me!
I haven’t made this for years. These days, people use instant pudding and whipped cream instead of meringue. It just isn’t the same. My grandmother would sometimes add blueberries when they were in season. SO good!