Southern Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers
A comforting dessert made with layers of creamy banana pudding and crispy vanilla wafers, perfect for gatherings or as a snack.
Ingredients
Pudding Base
- 3/4 cup sugar Sweetness
- 4 tablespoon flour Thickening agent
- 1/8 teaspoon salt Enhances flavor
- 1 whole egg Richness
- 3 cups milk Liquid base
- 4 egg yolks egg yolks For richness; save the whites for meringue
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Flavor
Crust
- 45-50 pieces vanilla wafers Crunchy texture
Meringue
- 4 egg whites egg whites For volume
- 1/4 cup sugar Sweetness
Bananas
- 4 pieces Bananas Sweetness and moisture
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grease your 13” x 9” casserole dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, salt, the whole egg, and milk. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until smooth.
- Add in the four egg yolks to the mixture and mix well.
- Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and cook the mixture until it thickens, stirring frequently.
- Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Line the bottom and sides of your greased casserole dish with vanilla wafers.
- Slice two bananas over the layer of vanilla wafers just before adding the pudding.
- Pour half of the warm pudding over the wafers and bananas.
- Slice two more bananas and layer them over the pudding.
- Pour the remaining pudding over the sliced bananas.
Meringue Topping
- In a large bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Gradually add the sugar to the egg whites and mix until well combined.
- Spread the meringue over the top of your pudding mixture.
Baking
- Bake your assembled pudding in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.
- Allow the pudding to cool in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
Ensure that you stir the pudding constantly as it thickens to prevent sticking. Use ripe but firm bananas for the best flavor. Don't skip the chilling time after baking for the best texture.