It's a picnic or barbecue must-have in the summertime.
Our family recipe is to use only Nilla Wafers.
The creamy pudding, bananas, real whipped cream, and vanilla wafers make this a dreamy, creamy dessert that everyone loves.
You have two options, one to use store-bought pre-made or the one I make from scratch.
If you want to bring back fond memories with your family and your mom made this, here is the perfect recipe to do that, and great for any get-togethers.
If you love easy dessert try our Strawberry No Bake Cheese Pie or our Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats both a family favorite as a child.
Don't wait any longer to try this if you're a banana lover, this is such a simple recipe everyone raves about all summer long!
For this homemade pudding recipe scroll to the bottom to my printable recipe card for instructions.
Best Every Banana Pudding
I love homemade pudding and this is the best recipe.
It's a must-make if you have the time, homemade from scratch is so worth the time.
This creamy confection has the wholesome old-fashioned goodness you may remember from childhood and right into adulthood.
If you haven't tried this dessert homemade you're missing out for sure.
It's a dreamy delicious dessert you will be hooked on after one bite!
Layers of nilla wafers, filled with a rich creamy filling, and freshly whipped cream give this that old-fashioned flavor that is etched in my mind from grade school.
Ingredients to make Old Fashioned Banana Pudding
- sugar
- whole milk
- cornstarch
- egg yolks
- salt
- vanilla extract
- butter
- peeled and sliced bananas
- lemon juice
- vanilla wafers
- heavy cream or more whipped
Other Additions( or substitutions for food allergies)
- caramel ice cream topping or other ice cream topping flavors
- raspberries or strawberries
- nuts of any kind or pumpkin seeds
- crushed candy bars of any kind in the layers
- chopped chocolate and marshmallows with graham crackers pudding and whipped cream
- pineapple, coconut, and maraschino cherries with vanilla pudding
- use sugar-free pudding for diabetic versions, graham crackers, and fruit of choice low in sugar
- use another pudding other than vanilla you prefer ( chocolate goes great with bananas or butterscotch)
- for a faster dessert use whipped topping, fruit, and instant pudding
- use a sweetened meringue topping in place of whipped cream. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat egg whites with a mixer at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3 tablespoons of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue onto the custard. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. This can be refrigerated for up to 2 days with meringue.
Some Fun Combinations To Try
- oreo, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, raspberries
- shortbread cookies, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, strawberries
- nutter butter, chocolate or vanilla pudding, banana, whipped cream
Tips:
- You will need to add a hot liquid to an egg mixture. The hot liquid to the eggs a little bit at a time and whisk this constantly
- Chill your bowl and beaters first before whipping the cream
- Layer evenly by alternating the pudding, cream, and wafers
- The whipped cream has that old-fashioned flavor that can't be compared to using a whipped non-dairy topping
- Keep in mind when you do make this it needs to be refrigerated During the summer, we would pack this in a cooler on ice
- use heavy cream whipped, whipping cream has less fat
- use the leftover over eggwhite for a meringue topping or try my Homemade Angel Food Cake Recipe with them
More Easy No-Bake Dessert Recipes:
No Bake Eggless Tiramisu
Peanut Butter Oreo Bars
Holiday Cannoli Mousse
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding Pin For Later
Banana Pudding Popular In Southern States
This is on many restaurant's menus, here in the South.
Mom used to make this often when I was a child even in New York!
Maybe your mom made this too and you remember licking the beaters like we did and fight over them?
Mom even used to take the cream off the top of our milk to whip for freshly made topping.
We had our milk delivered back in the 1960s and she would make the cream from it.
Of course, those days are gone, but you can certainly whip up some fresh cream from your local dairy.
This pudding is so smooth and creamy the whipped cream and nilla wafers is perfect in every bite.

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding
Yield: 8
Prep time: 17 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 29 Min
This is an old-fashioned childhood dessert mom made and we hardly could wait for the banana pudding to cool. Real whipped cream, bananas, and nilla wafers make up this easy-made from-scratch dessert.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 5 egg yolks (see notes)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 peeled and sliced bananas
- lemon juice
- 1 box of vanilla wafers
- 1 pint of heavy cream or more whipping cream (heavy cream has more fat) whipped with 3 teaspoons of sugar and chilled
- Note: use a sweetened meringue topping in place of whipped cream. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the 5 egg whites with a mixer at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3 tablespoons of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue onto the custard. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. This can be refrigerated for up to 2 days with meringue.
- .
Instructions
- In a pie plate, slice the bananas, drizzle with lemon juice, and set aside.
- Whip the cream with 3 teaspoons sugar until soft peaks, place in the refrigerator.
- Make the Pudding recipe:
- In a nonstick 1-quart saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Scald mixture.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the remaining 2 cups of milk and cornstarch together to make a slurry.
- Whisk egg yolks with salt in a medium bowl.
- Temper yolks by adding 1/2 cup scalded milk mixture to yolks and whisk well.
- Add yolk mixture and put back into milk mixture and whisk vigorously over medium heat until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, add vanilla, and butter. Whisk until uniformly incorporated.
- In a large casserole dish or see-through trifle bowl, layer the wafers, pudding, sliced bananas then whipped cream.
- Repeat layers until you use everything up, ending with the whipped cream.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Old Fashioned Bread Pudding Pin for later
Other Fun Recipes To Try
Oreo Truffles
Peanut Butter Krispies Eggs
Rum Balls
Buckeye Bars
Looks like a wonderful dessert!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a perfect summertime dessert! This would be a huge hit with my family.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was never much of a banana pudding fan, until a co-worker brought a version that doesn't use the store-bought vanilla pudding (totally not my thing). I love that you make pudding from scratch for this, and I bet that it's just divine!
ReplyDeleteI am always looking for things to do with bananas when I see few lying around. This one is such a great recipe.
ReplyDeleteChildhood memories of food are the best! This classic banana pudding recipe is a keeper for sure!
ReplyDeleteI love that this is such a nostalgic recipe for you! So important to pass those kinds of memories on. I know EXACTLY what you mean about waiting impatiently for a beater covered in cream!! Love that this is a no bake recipe :)
ReplyDeleteHard to beat good ole fashioned Banana Pudding and it brings back my childhood as well
ReplyDeleteI love classic dessert recipes like this banana pudding. No bake desserts are perfect to make in the summer too!
ReplyDeleteOh man, such rich, decadent and delicious looking banana pudding. My mom used to skim off Cream from top from fresh milk back in India, but I've never been able to do it here in US.
ReplyDeleteBill loves banana cream pie, so I know he'll be crazy about your banana pudding! And it's the perfect dessert to make while we're remodeling!
ReplyDeleteWow this really sounds soooo delicious. I never tried banana pudding before but now I really can't wait to make this. I love how easy this recipe is. Perfect weekend dessert.
ReplyDeleteI am a 'from scratch' kinda person too! I love making my own pudding. My mom use to make banana pudding often and I cannot remember when was the last time I made banana pudding. Need to try this soon.
ReplyDeleteRecipes that evoke memories are the very best. We can hand them down to our kiddos and the tradition keeps on. I consider banana pudding sheer comfort food. It's especially so down South.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great recipe to use up bananas, makes a change from banana bread. Perfect for summer picnics
ReplyDeleteThis is a great recipe to use up bananas, makes a change from banana bread. Perfect for summer picnics
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great dish to take along to a party....great to feed a crowd. Easy and delicious desserts are great for entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI think this simple homemade dessert is a favorite of so many of us...my husband loves it. Thanks for rekindling the memories.
ReplyDeleteDear Claudia, your banana pudding looks marvelous and brings back a lot of fond memories! I would love a scoop of this right now. XO dear, Catherine
ReplyDeleteI love banana pudding so much! I can't wait to try this version for dessert soon, it will be such a huge hit at my house!
ReplyDeleteBanana pudding is so good. I haven't had it for years though! I need to try your recipe.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine this brought back lots of memories in a good way?
ReplyDeleteBanana pudding takes me back to my childhood too. Such a classic dessert.
ReplyDeleteBanana is my favorite flavor and has been my whole life.
ReplyDeleteMy whole family loves banana puddings! It's the perfect easy (love the no-bake) summertime dessert.
ReplyDeletevery nice post i like your post.
ReplyDeleteI've seen banana pudding with nilla wafers before, but have never tried it. I'll need to make this one soon - you know, for the kids! Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe best part about this pudding is that it is a no bake pudding.I have tried many local market banana pudding but none of them gave me the satisfaction of taste than the one I made by myself. Thank you for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI'm such a huge fan of banana pudding. It's such a great summertime dessert. This looks delicious :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us the option of using either store-bought pudding mix or making it from scratch at home! I love the versatility :)
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat an old fashioned hearty pudding, this looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had this since I was a kid! Definitely brings back memories.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about this kind of banana pudding a few weeks ago because I haven't had it in years! Thanks for reminding me...I need to make this!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my all time favorite desserts, a no bake and super tasty recipe perfect for any day of the year!
ReplyDeleteI love banana pudding and this look AMAZING! It's also super easy to make as does not require any baking.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to make something like this for my family when I was younger! I can't wait to make this for my family!
ReplyDeleteYour banana pudding reminds me of a dish my grandmother used to make when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever made my own banana pudding before, but I do love it and this looks so, so good! Adding to my must-make list for soon!!
ReplyDeleteMy dad LOVES banana pudding so this is perfect! thanks for this recipe!
ReplyDeleteThis is going right on my list to make! It is not a popular dessert where I live, but I absolutely love banana desserts, and can't wait to have my boys try it.
ReplyDeleteI find this pudding intriguing. It always catches my eye, I don't think we have anything similar her in the UK. Going to have a go at making this gluten free so my family can try it for themselves.
ReplyDelete