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Banana Pudding Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 8 people

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Plastic wrap
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • 9x13-inch baking dish or 3-quart trifle bowl (or similar clear glass dish)

Ingredients
  

For the Custard:

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

For Assembly:

  • 1 11-ounce box vanilla wafers (about 200g)
  • 4-5 ripe but firm bananas sliced into ¼-inch rounds
  • Optional: Whipped cream or meringue for topping

Instructions
 

Master the Custard

    The secret to great banana pudding is a smooth, rich custard. Here’s how to make it effortlessly:

    • Whisk Dry First: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk them well to avoid lumps.
    • Mix Wet: In a separate bowl, whisk your egg yolks, then blend in the milk and heavy cream.
    • Temper Eggs: Slowly pour about half of the milk mix into the egg yolks, whisking constantly. This warms the eggs gently, so they don't scramble.
    • Cook & Thicken: Pour the tempered egg mix back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking non-stop, until it thickens and gently boils. Keep whisking for 1-2 minutes more.
    • Finish It Up: Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted, then add vanilla extract.
    • Chill Time: Transfer custard to a bowl. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin. Let it cool completely, then chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or until well-chilled).

    Layer & Chill

      Now for the fun part: assembling your delicious layers!

      • Prep Your Dish: Grab a clear glass bowl (like a trifle dish) or a 9x13 inch baking dish.
      • First Layers: Start with a single layer of vanilla wafers on the bottom, then top with about a third of your sliced bananas.
      • Custard Layer: Spoon about a third of the chilled custard evenly over the bananas.
      • Repeat! Do two more rounds: wafers, then bananas, then custard.
      • Final Chill: Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Overnight is even better – it lets the wafers soften perfectly and all the flavors combine.

      Serve & Enjoy!

        Almost there! Just a few optional touches before digging in.

        • Garnish (Optional): Before serving, you can add a dollop of fresh whipped cream, a few extra wafers, or even a light meringue on top for extra flair.

        shelfrecipes.com