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Straight on shot of homemade banana pudding in mini glasses with nilla cookies and meringue
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4.47 from 32 votes

Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe

A true Southern classic done right.  This old fashioned banana pudding is flavored with ripe banana and vanilla essence. This wonderful recipe from "Carla Hall's Soul Food".  
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Refrigeration2 hours
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: soul food, Southern
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 308kcal

Ingredients

For the Banana Pudding

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 ripe bananas, cut into 1/2 inch slices

For the Meringue

  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

For the Pudding

  • Whisk the cornstarch, sugar, egg yolks and salt in a medium bowl. Heat the milk, half-and-half, and mashed banana in a medium saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form around the edges. While whisking the egg yolks, add the hot milk a little at a time. When the bowl feels warm, whisk in the remaining milk.  Make sure you whisk well.
  • Return to the saucepan and set over medium heat.  Whisk until the custard thickens and then boils for 2 minutes.  Put the vanilla and butter in a large bowl and strain the hot cream over them through a fine-mesh sieve.  Stir until smooth, then press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate until cold.
  • Whisk the cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form.  Whisk one third of the whipped cream into the pastry cream to loosen it, then gently fold the remainder until incorporated.  Fold in the banana chucks.

For the Meringue

  • Whisk the egg whites and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer set over a saucepan of simmering water until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is warm to the touch. Immediately transfer to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk on medium-high speed until shiny, stiff peaks form. The bowl should no longer feel warm. Whisk in the vanilla and vinegar. 
  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Place 12 ramekins on a half-sheet pan.  Crumble one cookie into the bottom of each.  Divide the pudding among the ramekins, then top with the meringue.  Broil until golden brown.  Stick 2 shortbreads into each ramekin and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

This recipe is just fantastic with shortbreads but you can also go with an original classic using nilla cookies.  That will give you an old fashioned taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 71mg