Indulge in the sweet nostalgia of the Original Nilla Banana Pudding, a classic homemade dessert that combines layers of creamy vanilla custard, luscious ripe bananas, and buttery Nilla Wafers. This comforting recipe features a rich, silky pudding made from scratch with whole milk, eggs, and a hint of pure vanilla extract, ensuring a fresh, authentic flavor. Topped with a cloud of freshly whipped cream sweetened with powdered sugar, this dessert is the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy, sweet and fruity. It’s an ideal make-ahead treat, as refrigeration allows the flavors to meld beautifully while the wafers soften into a cake-like texture. Whether served in a trifle dish for an elegant presentation or scooped straight from the pan for a casual gathering, this Nilla Banana Pudding is a quintessential Southern dessert you’ll want to savor at every occasion.
In a medium-sized saucepan, whisk together granulated sugar, flour, and salt.
Gradually add milk to the saucepan, whisking constantly until smooth.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken. This should take about 7-10 minutes.
In a separate medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs.
Once the pudding mixture is hot and thickened, slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
Slowly pour the tempered eggs back into the saucepan while continuing to whisk constantly.
Cook the mixture for another 2 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until fully thickened.
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the unsalted butter and vanilla extract until completely melted and incorporated.
Allow the pudding mixture to cool slightly while prepping the bananas and Nilla Wafers.
Slice the ripe bananas into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish (or a trifle dish), spread a thin layer of the warm pudding along the bottom.
Add a single layer of Nilla Wafers on top of the pudding, followed by a layer of sliced bananas.
Pour another layer of pudding over the bananas. Repeat layering Nilla Wafers, bananas, and pudding until all ingredients are used, ending with a final layer of pudding on top.
In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form to create homemade whipped cream.
Spread or pipe the whipped cream evenly on top of the pudding.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the Nilla Wafers to soften.
Before serving, garnish with additional Nilla Wafers or banana slices, if desired.
Serving size | 2920.7 grams (2920.7g) |
---|
Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
---|---|
Calories | 6399 |
Total Fat 224.90g | 288% |
Saturated Fat 109.30g | 547% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.10g | |
Cholesterol 1163mg | 388% |
Sodium 2634mg | 115% |
Total Carbohydrate 1041.60g | 379% |
Dietary Fiber 13.50g | 48% |
Total Sugars 845.10g | |
Protein 76.80g | 154% |
Vitamin D 589IU | 2947% |
Calcium 1349mg | 104% |
Iron 14mg | 77% |
Potassium 3722mg | 79% |
Source of Calories