Creamy vanilla pudding layered with vanilla cookies and fresh bananas make this the ultimate old-fashioned banana pudding recipe.
Originally published 4/22/13. Updated with new photos and tips on 3/22/18.
When it comes to certain foods, like brownies or chocolate chip cookies, I’m a recipe collector. No matter how much I may like my recipes, I’m always trying new recipes for those foods.
And then there are the foods like banana pudding (or banana puddin’ as we like to call it). You see, this has always been the banana pudding recipe.
I have so many memories of my mom making this banana pudding, and now I make this recipe for my kids.
Tips for making old-fashioned banana pudding
- Use bananas that are just barely ripe. I like mine to have a little green on the ends. Bananas that are just ripe slice well and keep their shape better in the pudding. Overripe bananas turn to mush in this pudding.
- Slicing the bananas thinly makes it easier to stack the layers.
More pudding recipes!
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Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar divided
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
- 6 large eggs separated
- 4 cups milk skim is ok
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 60 Nilla wafers
- 5 ripe (not overripe) bananas, sliced*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Whisk 1 cup sugar, flour, and salt together in the top of a double boiler.
- Stir in 6 egg yolks and milk.
- Cook over boiling water for 10-15 minutes, or until thickened, whisking constantly.
- Once thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.
- Spread a little of the pudding mixture in the bottom of a baking dish. I used a 10.5x7.5-inch dish.
- Layer about 20 cookies, one third of the banana slices, and one third of the custard.
- Repeat layers two more times.
- Beat 6 egg whites to soft peak stage.
- Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup sugar over egg whites; continue beating to stiff peak stage.
- Spoon egg whites over custard, sealing edges.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Serve warm or chilled.
- Chill any leftovers.
Notes
- The bananas should not be too ripe. If they're too ripe, they will be difficult to slice, and they'll get very mushy in the pudding.
- Nutrition facts are estimates.
Nutrition Information
Liz says
August 28, 2018 at 7:34 pmFantastic! This tastes just like grandma used to make.
Kate says
August 28, 2018 at 7:44 pmThank you! That’s a big compliment. =) And thank you for coming back to comment.
Rob says
April 2, 2018 at 4:23 pmHoly cow! this was amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
Kate says
April 2, 2018 at 5:40 pmThank you! I’m glad you liked it! =)
Hannah says
July 21, 2013 at 9:41 pmMade this tonight for a dinner party. My brother and father love banana pudding and this did not disappoint. My dad had 3 helpings and also helped himself to all the kids leftovers, which weren’t much! Thank you for the recipe! I personally prefer a bit more custard/pudding so I am hoping to multiply the pudding measurements by 1 1/2. It was decadent, creamy, and the flavors blended so nicely.
kateheartseating says
July 21, 2013 at 11:22 pmI’m so glad that your family liked it!! It’s great that you can find a way to adapt it to make it just the way you like it, too! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave such a nice comment!! =)
Monica says
July 20, 2013 at 8:02 amI am so glad to have found this recipe. My mom and grandmother, along with my aunt’s used to make this and I never stuck around to see how it was made. It is like pulling teeth to get my sister to make it, so now I can surprise my husband with a real banana pudding instead of the pudding mix one that I normally make.
kateheartseating says
July 20, 2013 at 9:42 amThat’s awesome!! I love hearing things like this! I hope you and your husband enjoy it!! =)
Joanne/Winelady Cooks says
May 12, 2013 at 6:37 pmLove the idea of making banana pudding and using vanilla waffers. It’s definitely comfort food made easy. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.
One of the FFF co-hosts,
Joanne
kateheartseating says
May 13, 2013 at 11:01 amThanks! This was the recipe that my mom made for us while we were growing up, so this is my favorite way to have banana pudding. Hopefully others enjoy it, too! =)
Marlys @Thisand That says
May 12, 2013 at 5:09 pmsounds great. Thanks for sharing on Foodie friends Friday.
kateheartseating says
May 13, 2013 at 11:02 amThanks! And thanks for hosting! =)
Ruthie says
May 3, 2013 at 8:49 pmBe still my heart! YUM! and a beautiful photo too… Thanks so much for coming to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell last week… I hope you’ll come back to party with me again tomorrow! https://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com Have a great night! xoxo~ Ruthie
kateheartseating says
May 4, 2013 at 2:25 pmThank you so much! You always leave such nice comments!! =)
Melissa @ Keep Calm and Decorate says
May 3, 2013 at 7:15 pmThis looks amazing! I have never had old fashioned banana pudding. I am going to have to try to make this. I am visiting from Tater Tots and Jello. :)
kateheartseating says
May 3, 2013 at 8:39 pmThanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy it! =)
Carrie @ Frugal Foodie Mama says
May 3, 2013 at 6:39 pmGirl, you are on a roll this week! I want to come to dinner at your house. ;) I have a huge bunch of quickly ripening bananas that are begging me to make them into this.
Thank you for sharing at Marvelous Mondays this week!
kateheartseating says
May 3, 2013 at 8:39 pmThanks so much! Carrie, you would be welcome any time!! =)
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
April 30, 2013 at 5:02 pmThis sounds so good! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #10!
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
https://dessertnowdinnerlater.blogspot.com
kateheartseating says
April 30, 2013 at 5:34 pmThanks! =)
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
April 30, 2013 at 8:48 amThis looks delicious! I love that there is more cookie than pudding:) This is on my “things to make” list for this weekend..I can’t wait:) Yum!
kateheartseating says
April 30, 2013 at 10:39 amThanks!! I hope you enjoy it! =)
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life says
April 27, 2013 at 7:42 pmYummy! Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing. I have a box of Nilla wafers just calling out for this recipe. I’m visiting from It’s Overflowing.
kateheartseating says
April 28, 2013 at 12:57 amThanks so much for coming by!! I hope you enjoy the pudding! =)
Wendy says
April 27, 2013 at 2:56 pmThis banana pudding looks great! That meringue takes it over the top. Warm out of the oven this must be amazing! I am a pudding person but the proportions of pudding to banana and cookie look just right to me. :)
kateheartseating says
April 28, 2013 at 12:50 amThanks!! This is the only way my mom ever made banana pudding. I didn’t know that people made it without meringue until recently! =)
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
April 24, 2013 at 8:39 amLooks like heaven….
kateheartseating says
April 24, 2013 at 10:41 amThanks!! =)
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says
April 22, 2013 at 6:57 pmOh this looks so delicious – perfect comfort food! Thanks for the recipe! :)
kateheartseating says
April 22, 2013 at 9:47 pmThanks! And thanks so much for coming by to check it out!! =)
[email protected] says
April 22, 2013 at 12:14 pmThis looks so divine! Nothing better than comforting banana pudding!
kateheartseating says
April 22, 2013 at 2:47 pmThanks! I agree! Banana pudding is total comfort food. =)