Nothing says Southern like a creamy, decadent homemade banana pudding! This classic dessert is sure to delight with meringue topping and velvety, sweet custard. It’s perfect for a summer barbecue or an after-dinner treat.
Whether you’re a beginner baker or a seasoned pro, this simple recipe will have everyone reaching for seconds! Serve it warm or cold—either way, the meringue topping will take your banana pudding to the next level.
Its creamy custard tastes like a dreamy mash-up of bananas foster and vanilla ice cream when it melts into that sweet whipped topping. But if you’re looking to make your own Southern dessert or whip up something special for an upcoming holiday celebration, consider making banana pudding from scratch instead of opening a box or canister. The results are worth the extra effort!
According to SeriousEats.com, banana pudding has been enjoyed by Americans in some form or another since the 1870s. We can thank Laura Kerley for the idea of using vanilla wafers in the creamy, luscious dessert in the early 1920s.
Banana pudding took on a Southern identity in 1933 thanks to a syndicated column that offered a recipe for “Southern Banana Pudding.”
The best way to top banana pudding is with a layer of lightly sweetened meringue. Once it has been baked, it is ready to be devoured once it has cooled just a bit. Or if you prefer, you can chill it in the refrigerator and enjoy it cold. Better yet – enjoy a bowl while it is still warm and then the next day have a serving of chilled banana pudding.
Ingredients
You probably already have most of the ingredients that are called for in this banana pudding recipe:
- sugar
- flour
- salt
- milk
- eggs
- vanilla
- vanilla wafers
- bananas
How To Make Banana Pudding
Combine sugar, flour, and salt in the top of a double boiler*; stir in milk. Cook over boiling water, stirring until thickened.
Beat egg yolks and gradually stir into the hot mixture. Return to double boiler; cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add vanilla.
Line one quart casserole with Bud’s Best Vanilla Wafers and top with sliced bananas. Pour ½ portion of custard over bananas. Repeat, ending with custard on top.
Beat egg whites stiff but not dry. Gradually add ¼ cup sugar and beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Pile on top of pudding.
Bake in preheated 425-degree oven for 5 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.
*If you don’t have a double boiler, you can place the sugar, egg yolks, flour, milk, and salt in a small pot and then turn the heat to medium. Stir continuously until it starts to thicken. (It took me about 20 minutes to get it to the right stage.)
Don’t feel like cooking but still want banana pudding? Check out my recipe for Easy Banana Pudding.
📖 Recipe
Southern Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups milk
- 2 eggs separated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
- Bud’s Best Vanilla Wafers
- 6 ripe bananas sliced thin
Instructions
- Combine sugar, flour and salt in the top of a double boiler, stir in milk. Cook over boiling water, stirring until thickened.
- Beat egg yolks and gradually stir into hot mixture. Return to double boiler; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat, add vanilla.
- Line one quart casserole with Bud’s Best Vanilla Wafers and top with sliced bananas. Pour ½ portion of custard over bananas. Repeat, ending with custard on top.
- Beat egg whites stiff but not dry. Gradually add ¼ cup sugar and beat until mixture forms stiff peaks. Pile on top of pudding.
- Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 5 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
No matter how you enjoy banana pudding – hot or cold – this recipe is delicious and so much better than those easy banana pudding recipes that are made from a mix.
Bud’s Best Cookies
Bud’s Best Cookies was very kind to allow me to share their recipe with you. If you are not familiar with Bud’s Best Cookies, here’s a little background information: Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the first Bud’s Best cookies were sold in 1993. Bud’s Best are known for their size – bite size. One thing I love about the different varieties is that a 6 oz. bag at my local grocery store is only $1.
National Banana Pudding Festival
Did you know that there is a National Banana Pudding Festival? The next fest will be October 7-8, 2023 in Centerville, Tennessee. The annual festival began in 2009 as a nonprofit organization to help raise funds. The two-day event includes fun activities for the whole family, along with arts and crafts booths.
Ginger says
This is the banana pudding recipe my family (both sides) has used as far back as I can remember, (my great- grandmothers). I’m cooking it now. Thanks for publishing it. It is absolutely THE BEST!
Wendy says
OH MY WORD! This is my Grandma’s recipe! I LOVE banana pudding!
Theresa says
This looks so yummy!
nicole @nicky_olea says
That looks soooooo good!
Toni says
I had bread pudding for the first time a few weeks ago and it was so good. I will have to try this.
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says
I had no idea it was so easy to make pudding!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I like making my pudding homemade too, but I’ll have to use those vanilla wafers next time!
patti says
that’s the way my mom made it
Angela says
I haven’t made banana pudding in ages. Seriously yummy!
Vanessa: the queen of swag ! says
Omg this looks so good. Thanks for sharing the recipe!! A must try.
Tammy says
I always used to buy Bud’s cookies for my daughter’s lunches when she was in elementary school. I think this would make a great dessert for a backyard cookout!
Emily @FamilyNLifeLV says
Banana pudding reminds me of being sick as a child. We always got it when we had sore throats!
Elaina- @atimeout4mommy says
this looks and sounds delicious!
Lisa says
I’ll have to try this!
Kathleen says
Yum! This looks great. I don’t think I have ever seen it made with meringue.
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
Love banana pudding!
Theresa says
So yummy.
Leilani says
This looks amazing. I’ve never tried banana pudding, but I love bananas so I’ll give this a try!
courtney says
Oooh yummy! I loveeeee anything banana 🙂
Stefani says
My son LOVES bananas and banana flavored foods. I bet he would like this.
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
YUM! I’ve never made *real* banana pudding …. I think I need to rectify that!
Marcie W. says
Oh goodness, I am drooling just from the photos.
Tricia Nightowlmama says
looks delicious perfect party sharing dish
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
I haven’t this in forever!
Mary Beth Elderton says
OMGoodness! This recipe is straight out of my childhood and the best of memories!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says
Awesome! I love how simple the recipe is and the browned top looks so appetizing!
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
OMG, that looks amazing.
Sheilacakes says
Looks great. I love pudding.
Mellisa says
This looks so good. I love banana pudding.
Colleen says
Oh yum my husband loves banana pudding.
HilLesha @To the Motherhood says
I love Banana pudding. 🙂
Donna says
I don’t like bananas, but my hubby and son would love this!
Katy says
Yummy! You made the most beautiful meringue. That’s not an easy task.
Andy says
I love me some “nanner” pudding.
Jennifer says
that looks so yummy! I’ve never tried making my own pudding like this before!
Maryann says
yummy, yummy, yummy
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com says
Yum, yum, yum. Thanks for sharing the recipe.