The Easiest (And Best) Banana Pudding Recipe You'll Ever Try

Where Did the Banana Pudding Recipe Originate?

Banana pudding is a classic dessert that has been enjoyed over generations. While the exact origin of the recipe is unknown, it is believed to have come from the southern United States. Banana pudding was likely created as a way to use up overripe bananas, while making good use of the region's abundant milk and cream in the process.

Over time, the banana pudding recipe has evolved and there are now many different variations of the popular dessert. Some recipes call for the bananas to be cooked in a custard, while others simply layer sliced bananas with vanilla wafers and pudding. No matter what ingredients you use, banana pudding is an all-round treat! That's why no Southern social gatheringbe it a wedding, funeral, or simple dinneris complete without this classic dessert.

One of the earliest versions of the banana pudding recipe in the US was found in an 1888 issue of Good Housekeeping. It consisted of layers of custard and bananas, alternating with cake. However, the first version of the banana pudding recipe, as we know it, was first shared by a home cook named Laura Kerley in 1921. Her recipe used Nabisco Nilla Wafers along with custard and bananas. Later, Nabisco added the recipe to their packaging box, making it an instant hit across the country.

How To Select The Right Bananas for Your Pudding

Selecting the right bananas for your banana pudding is as important as getting hold of the right carrots for a Carrot Cake or the right cheese for a Cheesecake Recipe. Here's a handy banana buying guide.

• Make sure the bananas you choose for your pudding are ripe enough to bring out the essential flavor of dessert. But the bananas should not be overripe or close to spoiling.
• You'll know if the bananas are ripe from their skin color. The yellower and darker the skin, the more ripe the banana.
• Get hold of large-sized bananas that allow you to cut 1-inch thick slices. This will ensure the banana slices mix well in the pudding and are easy to scoop out.

Ingredients for Your Banana Pudding

Here's a list of ingredients you'll need for a classic banana pudding recipe.

For the vanilla pudding-

• 560 ml milk
  
• cup heavy cream
  
• 6 oz sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 2 egg yolks
  
• 2 oz cornstarch
  
• 2 oz butter
  
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
  

• 15 oz whipping cream
  
• 5 ripe bananas (sliced)
  
• 1 pack Nilla wafers
  

How to Make Your Banana Pudding

1. Take a medium-sized saucepan, add the milk and cream and stir on medium heat. Let it simmer.
2. In another bowl, whisk the egg, egg yolks, cornstarch and sugar to blend it well.
3. Now slowly add the hot milk mixture to the egg mix and keep stirring while adding the milk.
4. Pour this mixture back into the saucepan and place it on medium heat. Constantly stir the pudding mixture for 7-8 minutes as it starts to thicken.
5. When it's thick, remove it from the heat and add the butter, salt and vanilla extract. Whisk it well and ensure there are no lumps in the vanilla pudding.
   
6. Let it rest and cool down. The vanilla pudding will further thicken with cooling.
   

How to Assemble Your Banana Pudding

Once the vanilla pudding is cooked, we come to the second stageassembling the banana pudding, layering it with wafers, cream, banana slices, and vanilla pudding. Along with these basic ingredients, you can also make your own variations with condensed milk, wafer cookies, or sprinkles. Here are the steps to follow-

1. Get a trifle dish or a large bowl in which to assemble the banana pudding.
   
2. First, layer the bottom of the trifle dish with the pudding, then add a layer of the crushed vanilla wafers. Add a third layer of whipped cream. Now top it up with a layer of banana slices. Add as many alternate layers as you want by repeating the previous pattern.
   
3. Refrigerate overnight before serving cold.
   

How To Store Your Banana Pudding

It's very unlikely you'll have leftovers of this dessert, but on the off-chance you door if you want to make this pudding in advance for a later gatheringyou need to make sure to store it well. Here's how to go about it-

Firstly, cover the pudding surface with a plastic wrap. Make sure the trifle dish or the large bowl your banana pudding is in, is airtight by stretching the plastic wrap across the mouth of the dish and firmly placing the lid on. Keep the dish in the refrigerator.

However, it is to be noted that the banana pudding is only as fresh as the bananas in it. So it is better to consume the pudding within 72 hours after it's prepared. If you want to keep the pudding longer than that, you can freeze it. Frozen banana pudding will last for up to three months in the freezer.

Cooking Tips and Tricks

• While preparing the vanilla pudding, make sure you keep stirring the egg mixture while adding the hot milk so that the eggs don't scramble or curdle into lumps.
  
• Reduce Food wastage by ensuring you store the banana pudding in the correct way. Using an airtight container to store and refrigerate the pudding is important to make sure it doesn't spoil.
  
• Banana puddings are best served chilled, but it won't hurt to consume it at room temperature too.