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    Home » Desserts » Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

    Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

    Published: Jul 14, 2021 · Modified: Jul 14, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade vanilla pudding layered with vanilla cookies and fresh bananas make this the ultimate old fashioned banana pudding recipe.

    Pan of old-fashioned banana pudding with a spoon in it.

    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. This has always been the homemade banana pudding recipe.

    I love old fashioned desserts, and this is a great recipe. I have so many memories of my mom making this banana pudding, and now I make this recipe for my kids.

    The banana pudding has layers of creamy pudding, Nilla wafers, and sliced banana with a light and fluffy egg white meringue topping. This delicious dessert is total comfort food!

    Ingredients for banana pudding in dishes.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients for banana pudding are simple pantry staples. To make this recipe, you'll need

    • Granulated sugar
    • All-purpose flour
    • Salt
    • Eggs
    • Milk
    • Vanilla extract
    • Nilla Wafers
    • Ripe bananas

    How to make banana pudding

    Egg yolks and flour in a saucepan.

    Whisk 1 cup sugar, flour, and salt together in the top of a double boiler.

    Uncooked vanilla pudding in a saucepan.

    Stir in 6 egg yolks and milk into the flour mixture.

    Cooked vanilla pudding in a saucepan.

    Cook over boiling water for 10-15 minutes, or until thickened, whisking the entire time.

    Once thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.

    Vanilla pudding topped with nilla wafers and banana slices.

    Spread a small amount of pudding in the bottom of the pan. I used a 10.5x7.5-inch dish (about a 2-quart baking dish).

    Layer about one third of the cookies, one third of the banana slices, and one third of the custard.

    Vanilla pudding over part of the nilla wafers and banana slices.

    Repeat the alternating layer of pudding, layer of wafers, and layer of bananas.

    Beaten egg whites in a bowl.

    Beat 6 egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form.

    Sprinkle remaining ½ cup sugar over egg whites; continue beating until stiff peaks form.

    Beaten egg whites over banana pudding.

    Spoon egg whites over custard, sealing edges.

    Browned egg whites over banana pudding.

    Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

    Serve warm or chilled. Chill any leftovers.

    Dish of banana pudding with a spoon in it.

     Tips

    • Milk: You can use any milk from skim milk to whole milk. Whole milk will give you a richer, creamier pudding.
    • Bananas: 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. Save those bananas for banana bread or banana cake.
    • Slicing the bananas thinly makes it easier to stack the layers. However, you can slice the bananas thicker if you want the banana to be more noticeable in the pudding.
    • Serving: Feel free to serve this pudding as-is or with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

    Storage

    Leftover banana pudding should be stored, covered with plastic wrap, in the fridge. The pudding isn't a great keeper.

    The topping will start to get weepy, and the bananas will start to get overly soft after a couple of days. So, it's best eaten within 1-2 days after it was made.

    Two dishes of banana pudding next to the baking dish.

    More vintage dessert recipes!

    • Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    • Chiffon Cake
    • Angel Food Cake

    If you’ve tried this old fashioned banana pudding recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Pan of old-fashioned banana pudding with a spoon in it.

    Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

    Old Fashioned Banana Pudding is the classic, made-from-scratch recipe for banana pudding.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 364kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar divided
    • â…” cup all-purpose flour
    • Pinch of salt
    • 6 large eggs separated
    • 4 cups milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 60 Nilla wafers
    • 5 barely ripe bananas sliced
    US Customary - Metric

    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 10-20 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 ½ 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

    1. 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. 
    2. Nutrition facts are estimates.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 366mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 4.3mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 0.9mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally published 4/22/13. Updated with new photos and tips on 7/14/21.

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    4.2K shares
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sammie

      August 08, 2021 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      Holy cow what a great dessert. Brought back a lot of memories, just like mom used to make.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 09, 2021 at 9:48 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Liz

      August 28, 2018 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic! This tastes just like grandma used to make.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 28, 2018 at 7:44 pm

        Thank you! That's a big compliment. =) And thank you for coming back to comment.

        Reply
    3. Rob

      April 02, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      Holy cow! this was amazing! Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 02, 2018 at 5:40 pm

        Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! =)

        Reply
    4. Hannah

      July 21, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      Made 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.

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        July 21, 2013 at 11:22 pm

        I'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!! =)

        Reply
    5. Monica

      July 20, 2013 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      I 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.

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        July 20, 2013 at 9:42 am

        That's awesome!! I love hearing things like this! I hope you and your husband enjoy it!! =)

        Reply
    6. Joanne/Winelady Cooks

      May 12, 2013 at 6:37 pm

      Love 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

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 13, 2013 at 11:01 am

        Thanks! 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! =)

        Reply
    7. Marlys @Thisand That

      May 12, 2013 at 5:09 pm

      sounds great. Thanks for sharing on Foodie friends Friday.

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 13, 2013 at 11:02 am

        Thanks! And thanks for hosting! =)

        Reply
    8. Ruthie

      May 03, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      Be 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! Have a great night! xoxo~ Ruthie

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 04, 2013 at 2:25 pm

        Thank you so much! You always leave such nice comments!! =)

        Reply
    9. Melissa @ Keep Calm and Decorate

      May 03, 2013 at 7:15 pm

      This 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. :)

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 03, 2013 at 8:39 pm

        Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy it! =)

        Reply
    10. Carrie @ Frugal Foodie Mama

      May 03, 2013 at 6:39 pm

      Girl, 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!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 03, 2013 at 8:39 pm

        Thanks so much! Carrie, you would be welcome any time!! =)

        Reply
    11. Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!

      April 30, 2013 at 5:02 pm

      This sounds so good! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #10!

      ~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 30, 2013 at 5:34 pm

        Thanks! =)

        Reply
    12. Shannon {Cozy Country Living}

      April 30, 2013 at 8:48 am

      This 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!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 30, 2013 at 10:39 am

        Thanks!! I hope you enjoy it! =)

        Reply
    13. Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life

      April 27, 2013 at 7:42 pm

      Yummy! 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.

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 28, 2013 at 12:57 am

        Thanks so much for coming by!! I hope you enjoy the pudding! =)

        Reply
    14. Wendy

      April 27, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      This 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. :)

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 28, 2013 at 12:50 am

        Thanks!! This is the only way my mom ever made banana pudding. I didn't know that people made it without meringue until recently! =)

        Reply
    15. Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry

      April 24, 2013 at 8:39 am

      Looks like heaven....

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 24, 2013 at 10:41 am

        Thanks!! =)

        Reply
    16. Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen

      April 22, 2013 at 6:57 pm

      Oh this looks so delicious - perfect comfort food! Thanks for the recipe! :)

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 22, 2013 at 9:47 pm

        Thanks! And thanks so much for coming by to check it out!! =)

        Reply
    17. marcie@flavorthemoments

      April 22, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      This looks so divine! Nothing better than comforting banana pudding!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        April 22, 2013 at 2:47 pm

        Thanks! I agree! Banana pudding is total comfort food. =)

        Reply
        • AMBER SEWELL

          November 29, 2020 at 1:22 pm

          4 stars
          I. Chose recipe because it looked as if it would make more custard than usual and I wanted to make large batch. Indeed I used 9 bananas and box and a half of wafers. I did however cut back on the flour and used half cup. It was very good but next time my personal preference will have me cut back on the sugar to 2/3 of a cup Thank you

          Reply
          • Kate

            November 30, 2020 at 2:21 pm

            I'm glad that you liked it! =)

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