Banana Pudding has always been a staple at southern gatherings, and so I grew up seeing it served on holiday dessert tables. I have to admit, as a child, I was never a big banana pudding fan. And then, I discovered the old-fashioned way of making pudding from scratch, thanks to Southern Living magazine. I have been using this recipe from the Southern Living Annual Recipes Cookbook for the year 2000 (page 334) for 20 years now. I tried to find it online to link to it, but this Southern Living Banana Pudding recipe is as close as I could find. I only make the one written below.

This recipe is basically homemade vanilla pudding with layers of bananas and Nilla wafer cookies- and then topped with a fluffy meringue. It is a recipe with simple ingredients that combine to create a rich and flavorful dessert that keeps everyone going back for seconds (and asking for the recipe!).

Banana Pudding has become a tradition for our family on New Year’s Day. It is a perfect ending to a southern -style meal that we look forward to each January 1st. Luckily, this dessert works for any time of the year, and so keep it handy by Pinning it! It’s a delicious indulgence, and I hope you enjoy every bite!

To make this homemade, homestyle, old-fashioned, made-from-scratch banana pudding recipe, you will only need 9 ingredients. Follow along below for step by step instructions…

My Favorite Banana Pudding Recipe

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Ingredients

  

• 6 large ripe bananas
• 1 12 oz. box of Nilla Wafers
• ⅔ cup sugar
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
• 2 ½ cups milk
• 4 eggs, separated
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Meringue Topping

• This is when you will use the egg whites
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

How to Make Banana Pudding

• Mix flour, 2/3 cup of sugar, and pinch of salt in a bowl.
• In a medium sized pot, whisk egg yolks and both types of milks.
• Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and whisk constantly over low-medium heat. Whisk mixture for about 15 minutes until the pudding is smooth and thickened.
• Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla.

How to Assemble Banana Pudding

• Place 1/3 of Nilla wafers in the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish. Slice 2 bananas over the wafers and then add a layer of pudding. Repeat layering 2 sliced bananas and pudding two times. I also add Nilla wafers around sides and edges as the banana pudding gets taller in the dish. Simply push the wafers down into the mixture along the edges.
• Next, prepare the meringue…
• Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until they are foamy.
• Using a tablespoon at a time, add the 1/3 cup of sugar to the egg whites and continue beating until stiff peaks appear and the sugar dissolves.
• Mix in vanilla extract and then spread meringue mixture over top of pudding. Seal to the edges of the dish.
• Bake at 325 degrees (F) until top is golden brown (about 20-25 mins.)
• Let pudding set and cool. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• This banana pudding recipe yields 8-10 servings.

Here is a quick video I made on IGTV

I am grateful for my southern roots and for having Southern Living as a guide to so many delicious recipes. If you prefer a boxed pudding version, you can substitute boxed vanilla pudding for the homemade vanilla pudding- but I really think the homemade pudding is what makes this recipe shine!

For more banana-inspired posts, visit these fun ideas from The Party Wagon…

Gigantic Banana Split

Curious George at the Drive-In Party

Thanks for being here!

Cheers,

Lydia xo