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A Southern classic made with rich, from-scratch pudding, layers of bananas and vanilla wafers, and topped with golden meringue.

Homemade Baked Banana Pudding

A Southern classic made with rich, from-scratch pudding, layers of bananas and vanilla wafers, and topped with golden meringue.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 10
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pudding:
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
Assembly:
  • 1 12 oz box vanilla wafers
  • 6 bananas sliced
  • Meringue optional:
  • 6 egg whites
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar
  • 6 tbsp sugar

Equipment

  • - 9x13 baking dish
  • Saucepan & whisk
  • electric mixer
  • mixing bowls
  • Rubber spatula

Method
 

  1. Whisk yolks + sugar → add flour → slowly whisk in milk. Cook until thick. Stir in vanilla + butter.
  2. In baking dish: wafers → bananas → pudding → repeat.
  3. (Optional) Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, add sugar → spread over pudding.
  4. Bake 20–25 mins until golden (or 15–20 without meringue).
  5. Cool, then refrigerate 4 hrs. Serve cold.

Notes

Best eaten within 2–3 days.
For shortcut, top with whipped cream instead of meringue.
Ripe but firm bananas work best.