Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe
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
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine sugar, flour, and salt in the top of a double boiler*; stir in milk. Cook over boiling water, stirring until thickened.
- Beat the egg yolks, then gradually stir them into the hot mixture. Return to the 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 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 the mixture forms stiff peaks. Pile on top of pudding.
- Bake 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.)
If you love creamy banana desserts, you’ll also enjoy my Easy Banana Pudding Recipe for a quick version of this Southern classic, Banana Cream Pie for a cool, dreamy treat, Banana Cheesecake for an indulgent twist, and Homemade Banana Muffins for a delicious way to use ripe bananas any time of day.
Southern Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 cups milk
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
- Bud’s Best Vanilla Wafers
- 6 ripe bananas sliced thin
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- 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.
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 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: Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the first Bud’s Best Cookies were sold in 1993. Bud’s Best are known for their bite-sized 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 last festival was on October 4-5, 2025, in Centerville, Tennessee. The annual festival began in 2009 as a nonprofit organization to help raise funds. The two-day event features fun activities for the whole family and arts and crafts booths.
Last Bite
Did you make this Homemade Banana Pudding? I’d love to know what you thought! Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to pin or share this recipe so you can make it again for your next family gathering or sweet Southern dessert craving.
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!
OH MY WORD! This is my Grandma’s recipe! I LOVE banana pudding!
This looks so yummy!
That looks soooooo good!
I had bread pudding for the first time a few weeks ago and it was so good. I will have to try this.