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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, banana pudding made from scratch 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 cold.  Better yet – enjoy a bowl while it is still warm and then the next day have a serving of chilled banana pudding.

Homemade Banana Pudding

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 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 1/2 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.

*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.)

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.

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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 6-7, 2018 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.