1880s-present - Southern cooks adapting Victorian banana custard desserts

Banana Pudding

Name: Banana Pudding
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 3/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or 3 tablespoons cornstarch; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 3 cups whole milk; 4 large egg yolks; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 box vanilla wafers, about 11 ounces; 5 ripe bananas, sliced; 2 cups whipped cream or meringue topping

A classic Southern banana pudding layered with vanilla custard, ripe bananas, vanilla wafers, and whipped cream or meringue.

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Difficulty

Medium

Prep time

25 minutes

Cook time

15 minutes

Total time

40 minutes plus chilling

Servings

Region

The American South

Era introduced

1880s-present

Introduced by

Southern cooks adapting Victorian banana custard desserts

Recipe tools

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The Story

Banana pudding became Southern not because bananas are Southern, but because the dessert fit Southern gatherings so well. Late-19th-century recipes layered bananas with custard and sponge cake or ladyfingers; vanilla wafers took over in the 1920s and 1940s as packaged cookies and box recipes spread. Barbecue restaurants embraced the dessert because it is cool, sweet, easy to portion, and perfect after smoke and spice.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour or 3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups whole milk
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 box vanilla wafers, about 11 ounces
5 ripe bananas, sliced
2 cups whipped cream or meringue topping

Equipment

Saucepan
Skillet
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Whisk sugar, flour or cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan.
Whisk in milk and egg yolks until smooth.
Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and bubbling.
Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
Layer wafers, sliced bananas, and warm custard in a 2 1/2-quart dish.
Repeat layers, ending with custard.
Top with whipped cream or meringue.
Chill at least 4 hours so the wafers soften before serving.

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Setting the table...

Banana Pudding

Save to a Collection

The Story

Ingredients

Equipment

Directions

Community Recipes

Community Reviews

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