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Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding from Scratch Recipe

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 390
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 4 large eggs, separated
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 to 5 ripe bananas
  • 1 box (11 oz) vanilla wafers
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Method
 

  1. Whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, flour, and salt in a saucepan. Add milk and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until steaming, 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Lightly beat egg yolks in a bowl. Whisk in 1 cup hot milk mixture in a thin stream, then return to saucepan.
  3. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened enough to coat a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
  4. Spread a thin layer of custard in a 2-quart dish. Layer wafers, sliced bananas, and custard; repeat 2 more times, ending with custard.
  5. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy; gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beat to stiff peaks. Spread over warm pudding, sealing edges.
  6. Bake at 425°F for 4 to 5 minutes until golden. Serve warm or chill at least 4 hours.

Notes

For the best layers, use a dish that holds about 2 quarts, like an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch baking pan. The pudding needs at least 4 hours of chill time to set up into neat slices, or overnight for the classic texture.