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    Home ~ Recipes ~ Recipes For One

    Old Fashioned Banana Pudding from Scratch

    LAST UPDATED: Jan 12, 2023 · PUBLISHED: Mar 26, 2021 · BY: Sydney · Leave a Comment

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    If you're looking for a great recipe for old fashioned banana banana pudding from scratch, you've come to the right place! This classic banana pudding recipe is simple and delicious. My kitchen always has the ingredients to make this easy homemade pudding from scratch. 

    If you enjoy this recipe you might also like my homemade banana cream pie recipe

    Single serving  of banana pudding in clear dessert cup. this Recipe

    ❤️What to Love About This Recipe

    • It's a perfect easy weekend banana and graham cracker dessert to have on hand.
    • A great to make ahead dessert, and it gets even tastier the next day.
    • Say goodbye to powdered pudding mix and hello to easy homemade banana pudding with these eight simple ingredients.
    • This classic southern dessert yield is 2 cups, however it can easily be doubled.
    Table of Contents
    • ❤️What to Love About This Recipe
    • ✔ Ingredients Notes
    • ✔ Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
    • 📖How to Make Pudding from Scratch
    • ✎Recipe Notes
    • 🍽️How to Serve
    • ❄️Storage
    • ?Common Questions
    • 📖 Recipe

    ✔ Ingredients Notes

    banana pudding ingredients; sugar, milk, cornstarch, egg yolk,vanilla paste, butter, graham crackers and banana.
    what you need to make pudding from scratch, it's so easy you will never buy packaged again.

    Homemade Banana Pudding Web Story

    ✔ Ingredient Substitutions and Variations

    • Instead of whole milk, you can use low-fat milk with good results, the pudding won't be as rich but still good.
    • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract can be substituted for the vanilla paste. You can so use a lemon extract for a lemony pudding. For extra banana flavor add a drop or two of banana extract.
    • The basic pudding from scratch is really a base for other flavors. Try adding in mixed berries instead of banana slices.
    • You can substitute chocolate wafers, vanilla wafers, nilla wafers, or even go another direction and layer in granola instead of using graham crackers.
    • If out of cornstarch you can substitute flour at a 2:1 ratio, 2 parts flour to 1 part cornstarch.

    📖How to Make Pudding from Scratch

    pudding cooking in saucepan.
    • Combine your flour, sugar, cornstarch, and milk in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan and whisk in the egg yolk.
    • Whisk constantly until the pudding begins to thicken, remove from the heat and stir in your vanilla extract and butter.

    I use larger pieces of graham crackers for the bottom layer and fine crumbs sprinkled on top of the banana pudding.

    • Arrange sliced bananas and graham crackers on the bottom of a small casserole dish and pour in the vanilla pudding.
    • Slice the remaining bananas and place them on top of the pudding and sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.
    • Chill until set.

    This pudding is great topped with some homemade whipped cream. if you enjoy this recipe then check out more of my small batch dessert recipes.

    ✎Recipe Notes

    • I like the banana flavor to come from the fresh ripe bananas,  a banana-flavored pudding mix overpowers the fresh flavor and the instant vanilla pudding is always a little too sweet for my liking.  It's really about personal preference, I love sweets, just not so sweet that it is all you taste.  By using a homemade vanilla pudding, the flavor of the wafers and fresh banana mixes nicely. Again it really is about personal taste.
    • I love the lighter texture and flavor of the graham crackers. On the bottom layer, the graham crackers are in larger pieces and the top is sprinkled with a finer crumb.
    • Do I need to refrigerate the pudding?

    🍽️How to Serve

    The banana pudding should be chilled before serving. This old-fashioned pudding is a great make-ahead dessert.

    For the best banana flavor refrigerate the pudding overnight. 

    ❄️Storage

    Refrigerate any unused pudding in a covered container. The bananas may brown but will still taste wonderful!

    ?Common Questions

    What can I substitute for cornstarch when making pudding?

    Cornstarch is used as a thickener in the pudding. You can substitute flour at a 2:1 ratio, 2 tablespoons of flour for 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

    How Long Will Homemade Banana Pudding Last?

    Your banana pudding should last for about two days if you leave it covered in the refrigerator. The bananas might start to look brown but they will still taste amazing.

    Did you make this recipe? I would love it if you left a comment or review! Be sure to sign up for the email list and follow "A Weekend Cook" on Pinterest and my Facebook page.

    📖 Recipe

    vanilla pudding in rectangular casserole dish topped with sliced bananas and graham cracker crumbs.

    Homemade Banana Pudding

    An old-fashioned creamy dessert.
    Estimated Cost: $1.35 recipe / $0.34 serving
    4.47 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chill Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
    Servings: 2 cups
    Calories: 291kcal
    Author:Sydney Dawes

    Ingredients

    • 1 ripe banana’s sliced
    • 2 sheet graham crackers crushed
    • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1 ½ cups whole milk
    • 1 large egg yolk lightly beaten
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla paste

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan whisk together the sugar, milk, cornstarch, salt, and lightly beaten egg yolk
    • Cook over medium heat, whisking frequently. Cook until the mixture begins to bubble and starts to thicken about 10-12 minutes. Don't turn up the heat to make it cook faster, you want the pudding to cook slowly to avoid burning the mixture.
    • Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla paste.
    • Place broken-up pieces of graham crackers sliced bananas on the bottom of a small casserole dish.
    • Pour the pudding over the bananas and graham crackers, and top with more slices of banana.
    • Sprinkle finely crushed graham crackers on top.
    • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set and serve cold. 

    Notes

    For a more traditional banana pudding, substitute vanilla wafers for the graham crackers.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 169mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g

    What's your favorite graham cracker dessert?

    Other recipes you might enjoy include:

    • Small Batch Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe
    • Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe
    • Easy No Bake Strawberry Peach Pudding Pie
    • Greek Yogurt Cheesecake without Sour Cream

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    Cooking scrumptious small batch recipes for one and sometimes for two are created in my small 1960’s kitchen. I learned to cook Shepherds Pie in England and Classic Marinara while living in Italy. Born in Southern California and raised in the Midwest, my cooking represents the best of both regions with an added touch of Southern hospitality.

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    Looking for stew recipes? This is the place for all-season recipes! Stews aren't just a cold-weather dish.


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