Traditional Southern Banana Pudding

🕒 Prep: 10 min
🔥 Cook: 15 min
🍽 Serves: 8
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Traditional Southern Banana Pudding is a nostalgic favorite that has been cherished across generations. This recipe takes you back to simpler times with its creamy layers, sweet bananas, and a light, fluffy meringue topping. Perfect for any occasion, it’s a classic dessert that satisfies every sweet tooth.

Ingredients for Traditional Southern Banana Pudding

Eggs are the base for both the pudding and the meringue, providing structure and richness. Granulated sugar adds sweetness, while all-purpose flour helps thicken the pudding. Whole milk makes the pudding creamy and smooth. A touch of vanilla extract enhances the flavors with its warm aroma. Salt balances the sweetness, making each bite just right. For the layers, ripe bananas provide natural sweetness and soft texture, while vanilla wafers offer a delightful crunch. Finally, cream of tartar stabilizes the meringue, ensuring those beautiful peaks hold their shape.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ensure your mixing bowl and beaters are clean and dry before whipping the egg whites for the best meringue.
  • Use bananas that are ripe but not overly soft for the best flavor and texture.
  • For an even thicker pudding, you can add an extra tablespoon of flour when cooking the custard.

Serving Suggestions

This banana pudding is a star on its own, but you can elevate it by serving it in individual ramekins with a sprig of mint for color. Pair with a light, citrusy dessert wine to complement the sweetness and creamy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature before serving.
Can I use low-fat milk?
Whole milk is recommended for the best texture, but you can substitute with low-fat milk if needed. The pudding might not be as rich, but it will still taste great.
Is there a substitute for cream of tartar?
If you don't have cream of tartar, you can use an equal amount of lemon juice or white vinegar to stabilize the egg whites.

Traditional Southern Banana Pudding Recipe Walkthrough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure it's ready to go when your pudding is prepped. Next, separate your eggs — yolks in a medium saucepan and whites in a clean mixing bowl. It's important to keep the whites free from any yolk for the meringue to whip up correctly.

To the yolks, add 1/2 cup of sugar, flour, and salt. Whisk everything together until it's smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly. You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture thickens, which should take about 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

In a 2-quart baking dish, start layering: a third of the vanilla wafers, half the banana slices, and half of the pudding mixture. Repeat these layers, finishing with a layer of vanilla wafers on top. This layering is crucial for that perfect texture combination in every bite.

Now, onto the meringue. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread the meringue over the pudding, making sure to cover it completely and seal the edges. This prevents the meringue from shrinking away from the sides during baking.

Bake the pudding for 15 minutes or until the meringue is lightly browned. Let it cool for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together perfectly.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Layers of flavor: Creamy pudding, ripe bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers create a medley of textures.
  • Homemade touch: The meringue topping adds an elegant, homemade finish that store-bought versions just can't match.
  • Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples you likely already have.
  • Perfect for gatherings: A crowd-pleaser that’s easy to scale up for larger events.

Ingredients

3 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
4 ripe bananas, sliced
1 box (12 oz) vanilla wafers
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Separate the egg yolks from the whites, placing the yolks in a medium saucepan and the whites in a clean mixing bowl.
3. Add 1/2 cup sugar to the yolks, along with the flour and salt; whisk until well combined.
4. Gradually whisk in the milk, then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
6. In a 2-quart baking dish, layer one-third of the vanilla wafers, half of the banana slices, and then half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers, finishing with a layer of wafers.
7. With an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
8. Spread meringue over the pudding, covering it completely and sealing the edges.
9. Bake for 15 minutes or until the meringue is lightly browned.
10. Let cool about 30 minutes before serving.

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