Banana Pudding From Scratch

 Banana Pudding From Scratch – Classic Southern Dessert

If there’s one dessert that captures the heart of Southern comfort food, it’s homemade
 banana pudding.  Creamy, nostalgic, and irresistibly delicious, this Southern Banana Pudding Recipe has been passed down through generations—an heirloom dish that brings families together around the table.

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This recipe delivers everything you love about classic banana pudding: velvety homemade custard, layers of ripe bananas and vanilla wafers, and a cloud-light meringue browned to perfection. It’s the kind of dessert that turns simple ingredients into unforgettable memories.
Why You’ll Love This Southern Banana Pudding

    Made completely from scratch—no instant pudding mix

    Rich, silky custard cooked slowly for depth of flavor

    Beautiful layers of nilla wafers and fresh bananas

    Traditional meringue topping that bakes to a golden finish



    Perfect for holidays, potlucks, Sunday dinners, or anytime you want true comfort food

    Groceries

What It Looks Like

Your photo shows a gorgeous bowl layered with pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafers—classic Southern style. It’s creamy, thick, and beautifully rustic.
Ingredients
For the Custard

    ½ cup sugar

    2 tbsp all-purpose flour

    ¼ tsp salt

   
    2 cups milk

    4 eggs, separated

    1 tbsp vanilla extract

For the Layers

    1 box Nilla vanilla wafers

    4 medium ripe bananas

    
For the Meringue Topping

    Egg whites from the 4 separated eggs

    ¼ cup sugar

How to Make Southern Banana Pudding From Scratch
1. Make the Custard

    In a saucepan over low heat, whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt.

    Slowly add in the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.

    Cook for 15 minutes, stirring the whole time, until thickened.



    Beat the egg yolks in a separate bowl.

    Slowly temper the yolks by adding a small amount of warm custard to them, stirring fast.

    Pour the yolk mixture into the saucepan and cook 5 minutes more, stirring.

    Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

2. Assemble the Pudding

    In a glass casserole dish, layer:

        Vanilla wafers

        Banana slices

        Warm custard

    Repeat the layers, ending with custard on top.



3. Make the Meringue

    Beat the egg whites until stiff.

    Add ¼ cup sugar and whip until glossy peaks form.

    Spread the meringue over the pudding, sealing edges.

4. Bake

    Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 5 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve & Enjoy

Let the pudding cool slightly, then serve warm—or refrigerate it for a cold, thick, creamy version. Either way, it tastes like childhood, comfort, and Southern hospitality.

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Final Notes

This recipe takes a little time and patience, but the results are worth every second. Homemade custard makes all the difference, giving you a pudding that’s rich, silky, and full of flavor.