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A creamy dish of traditional Southern banana pudding topped with meringue.

Southern Banana Pudding

This recipe delivers a classic Southern Banana Pudding that is creamy, sweet, and comforting. Layers of vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and rich vanilla pudding are topped with a fluffy meringue.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pudding
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 large egg yolks beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Assembly
  • 1 box vanilla wafers
  • 4-5 medium bananas sliced
For the Meringue
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • whisk
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • electric mixer

Method
 

Pudding Preparation
  1. Whisk together sugar, flour, and salt in a medium saucepan.
  2. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils.
  3. Temper the beaten egg yolks by slowly whisking a small amount of the hot milk mixture into them, then gradually add the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan.
  4. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, and then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Assembly
  1. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with vanilla wafers, then layer with half of the sliced bananas and half of the warm pudding.
  2. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining pudding.
Meringue Preparation
  1. In a clean, dry bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, then gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
  2. Spread the meringue over the warm pudding, ensuring it touches the edges of the dish to prevent shrinking.
Baking
  1. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.
  2. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Notes

For best results, use ripe but firm bananas. You can adjust the sweetness of the pudding to your liking. If you prefer not to use meringue, you can top the pudding with whipped cream instead. The pudding needs ample time to chill to set properly and allow the flavors to meld.