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  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Desserts (No Bake) ยป Homemade Banana Pudding: Decadent Comfort Food that Can’t Be Beat!

    LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2021 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: February 28, 2019 By Toni Dash 41 Comments

    Homemade Banana Pudding: Decadent Comfort Food that Can’t Be Beat!

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Homemade Banana Pudding title image

    Homemade Banana Pudding tastes like buttery caramelized bananas with the texture of silk! This pudding from scratch will become a decadent favorite!
    Usually we are all looking for fabulous recipes that are quick, easy and convenient. I am at least.

    Homemade Banana Pudding title image
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    Homemade Banana Pudding title image

    But sometimes taking extra time to make a recipe from scratch truly makes all the difference in the world.

    Such is the case with this luxurious Banana Pudding recipe.

    If you’ve only had pudding from a box mix, your life is about to change!

    Jump to:
    • Homemade Banana Pudding from Scratch
    • Whatโ€™s โ€˜So Specialโ€™ about this Banana Pudding Recipe?
    • Ingredients in Homemade Banana Pudding
    • What Gives Banana Pudding Its Color?
    • Roasting Bananas for Homemade Banana Pudding
    • What is an Ice Bath?
    • How to Make Banana Pudding
    • Tip for Tempering the Eggs
    • Supplies for Making Banana Pudding
    • Original Recipe Credit โ€“ Chef Alex Seidel
    • Recipe

    To be clear, this is a recipe for actual banana pudding; not a banana pudding dessert which includes vanilla wafers and whipped cream.

    HOWEVER, it sure would be good in that too!

    Homemade Banana Pudding from Scratch

    I realize banana pudding may not sound like the sexiest thing on the dessert tray but this homemade banana pudding definitely is. 

    Banana pudding from scratch is a rich dessert with a texture of silk. 

    The banana flavor is caramelized and authentic; buttery, very much like that of Bananas Foster.

    It’s delicious on its own and perfect for recipes calling for banana pudding.

    This homemade banana pudding recipe is great for making Trifles or Ice Box Cake.

    What’s ‘So Special’ about this Banana Pudding Recipe?

    Unlike most pudding recipes, this banana pudding recipe has a special touch:

    • It’s made with homemade ‘banana milk’
    • The bananas are roasted (game changer)
    • It includes banana liqueur
    • A whole lot of butter is used.

    If that list doesn’t win you over, nothing will.

    homemade banana pudding ingredients

    Ingredients in Homemade Banana Pudding

    The ingredients in the banana pudding recipe are ordinary ingredients you may have in your kitchen now!

    • Homemade Banana Milk (made with ripe bananas  or roasted bananas, granulated sugar, butter and whole milk)
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Kosher Salt
    • Egg Yolks
    • Eggs
    • Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch
    • Unsalted Butter
    • Banana Liqueur

    What Gives Banana Pudding Its Color?

    It’s yellow so you’d guess bananas, right?

    It’s actually the egg yolks and butter!

    Homemade Banana Pudding can be drab in color or even look a bit green’ish. That is from the actual bananas.

    Once the egg yolks and butter are added you’ll notice it becoming more yellow (see the process photos below).

    TIP: if the Homemade Banana Pudding doesn’t have an end color you love, add whipped cream and banana slices to top it!

    Roasting Bananas for Homemade Banana Pudding

    My first experience with roasting bananas was through this banana pudding recipe and I’ve never looked back.

    Roasting bananas is easy and produces a caramelized flavor unlike using very ripe bananas.

    I’ve added them to The Best Hummingbird Cake, Pumpkin Roasted-Banana Quick Bread, Roasted Banana Chia Pudding Breakfast Bowl and more.

    Roasting Bananas
    Left: bananas before roasting. Right: bananas after roasting at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

    To Roast Bananas:

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Place bananas on an ungreased baking sheet. Do not peel or piece the peel.
    • Place in the middle of the oven for about 12 minutes until the peel has turned black (note: the banana may begin to seep from the peel.)

    Once roasted, allow the bananas to cool long enough to peel.

    If you are in a time pinch, or want to streamline the banana milk portion of the recipe, ripe bananas also may be used.

    What is an Ice Bath?

    This recipe uses an ‘ice bath’, a technique common in custard making for ice cream.

    Once a hot custard or pudding is ready to be chilled, it is strained through a fine-mesh strainer, into a bowl set on top of ice.

    Using an ice bath creates a quick chill which will stop the cooking of egg-based custards before chilling them for a longer time.

    how to set up an ice bath to quick chill banana pudding - diagram

    How to Make Banana Pudding

    The banana pudding recipe is made in two main parts:

    • Making the Homemade Banana Milk
    • Making the Banana Pudding

    Though it can all be done in one day, it’s easiest to make the banana milk the day prior to making the pudding.

    The banana milk can also be made early in the day so it chills fully before making the banana pudding.

    For recipe specifics, please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    Making Homemade Banana Milk

    STEP 1. Simmer ingredients

    Place all ingredients into a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to simmer. 

    STEP 2. Chill

    Remove from heat, and cool overnight or until fully chilled (photo 1).

    STEP 3. Strain

    Strain mixture, pushing the bananas with a wooden spoon or firm spatula to release all the milk (photo 2).

    Set aside for the pudding recipe (photo 3; finished banana milk).

    NOTE: the bananas left in the strainer will NOT be used further. You can discard them or use them for another recipe like banana bread, baked oatmeal, etc.

    Making Banana Milk process photos

    Making Homemade Banana Pudding

    STEP 4. Heat ingredients

    In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, heat banana milk, sugar and salt. Bring just to the start of a boil, stirring frequently.

    STEP 5. Blend

    In a blender, blend the eggs, yolks and cornstarch/arrowroot starch to combine (photo 4). Pour into a large heat proof bowl (photo 5).

    Making Homemade Banana Pudding process photos

    STEP 6. Combine and whisk

    Slowly pour the heated milk mixture into the egg/starch mixture, whisking all the time (photo 6).

    Pour back into the saucepan on low-medium. Whisk constantly until mixture is very thick (photo 7). Remove from heat. 

    Add the melted butter and banana liqueur, whisking until smooth (photo 7).

    STEP 7. Blend

    Add pudding in batches to the blender. Blend until smooth (photo 8). 

    STEP 8. Ice bath

    Pour into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl set in an ice bath (refer to Ice Bath diagram photo above) and push pudding through the strainer with a spatula. Fully cool.(photo 9)

    Making Homemade Banana Pudding process images

    Tip for Tempering the Eggs

    ‘Tempering eggs’ is a method of adding a hot liquid to uncooked eggs.

    When adding a hot liquid to eggs, the liquid needs to be added very slowly or the eggs will scramble!

    I found an easy way to temper the eggs in the banana pudding is to use a soup ladle and slowly drizzle the hot liquid into the eggs while whisking constantly with the other hand.

    Supplies for Making Banana Pudding

    • Rimmed Baking Sheet (for roasting bananas)
    • Heavy Pot
    • Wooden Spoon or firm Spatula
    • Whisk
    • Blender
    • Fine Mesh Strainer

    Original Recipe Credit – Chef Alex Seidel

    I was originally provided this recipe from one of my favorite local chefs, James Beard Award Winner Chef Alex Seidel.

    ‘Top Chef’ viewers will have seen him and his Fruition farm featured on the TV show’s Colorado season.

    We crossed paths at a culinary festival years ago and he gave me this recipe to share with my readers.

    I have adapted the original recipe to be home-chef friendly!

    Check out his Thai-Style Octupus Ceviche recipe too!

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and PINTEREST!

    Recipe

    Homemade Banana Pudding

    This rich, creamy banana pudding is like none you’ve ever tasted!
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 -1/2 cup servings (makes 4 cups total)
    Calories: 439kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    For Homemade Banana Milk:

    • 5 medium (aproximately 25 ounces with peel on) Ripe Bananas or Roasted Bananas (recommended) see below for roasting instructions
    • 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
    • 2 1/2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
    • 4 cups Whole Milk

    For Banana Pudding

    • 3 3/4 cups Homemade Banana Milk see recipe below
    • 1 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 4 large Egg Yolks
    • 4 large Eggs
    • 1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch
    • 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) Unsalted Butter melted
    • 2 ounces Banana Liqueur

    Instructions

    How to Roast Bananas (optional)

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Place bananas on an ungreased cookie sheet. Do not peel or piece the peel.
    • Place in the middle of the oven for about 12 minutes until the peel has turned black. NOTE: the banana may begin to seep from the peel.
      Roasting Bananas
    • Allow to cool enough to peel and proceed with the banana milk recipe below.

    Making Banana Milk

    • Place all ingredients into a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
      5 medium (aproximately 25 ounces with peel on) Ripe Bananas or Roasted Bananas (recommended), 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 4 cups Whole Milk
    • Simmer 10 minutes. Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon mash the bananas. 
    • Cool overnight or until fully chilled.
    • Strain mixture, pushing the bananas with a wooden spoon or firm spatula to release all the milk. Set aside for the pudding recipe.
      The bananas in the strainer will not be used further for this recipe. You can discard them or use them for another purpose.

    Making the Banana Pudding

    • In a heavy bottomed sauce pan heat banana milk, sugar and salt. Bring just to the start of a boil, stirring frequently, scraping the bottom of the pan.
      3 3/4 cups Homemade Banana Milk, 1 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar, 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • In a blender, blend the eggs, yolks and cornstarch/arrowroot starch to combine. Pour into a large heat proof bowl.
      4 large Egg Yolks, 4 large Eggs, 1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch
    • Slowly drizzle the heated milk mixture into the egg/starch mixture, whisking all the time.*NOTE: pouring too fast will scramble the eggs.
    • Pour back into the saucepan on low-medium. Whisk constantly until mixture is very thick (aproximately 5-10 minutes over medium heat).
    • Remove from heat. Add the melted butter and banana liqueur, whisking until smooth.
      1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) Unsalted Butter, 2 ounces Banana Liqueur
    • Add pudding in batches to the blender. Blend until smooth. 
    • Pour into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl set in an ice bath (see diagram) and push pudding through the strainer with a pliable spatula. Fully cool.
      How to strain custard (method photo)

    Video

     

    Notes

    Select ripe bananas (not under ripe green bananas or over ripe black or spotty bananas)
    *Tip: use a soup ladle to slowly drizzle the hot liquid into the egg mixture while whisking with the other hand so the eggs do not cook.
    This pudding is very rich and sweet. Some people have commented they find it to be too sweet. If you prefer a dessert that is slightly less sweet you can reduce the amount of sugar in the pudding itself.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 219mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 473mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 1mg
    Homemade Banana Pudding title image
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    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published August 10, 2011; updated February 2019.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rachel (^ฯ‰^) says

      April 28, 2024 at 10:47 am

      5 stars
      The absolute BEST Banana Pudding recipe!! It is worth every step! I made a Nilla wafer Banana Pudding after making this pudding and it didn’t even last 24 hours! Everyone loved it so much i’m making again this evening

      Reply
    2. Sandra says

      April 04, 2023 at 7:01 pm

      5 stars
      This was thee best banana pudding I’ve had. UH MAZING! It was a real pain trying to find an actual BANANA PUDDING recipe so thank you for this.
      I tried it with 99 bananas the first time and it was still good but this time I found some Banane du Brasil ๐Ÿคค
      excited as all get out!

      Reply
    3. Dena strait says

      December 03, 2022 at 12:40 pm

      I am in process of making this and working on the banana milk piece. When mushing the bananas through a sieve, will you have leftover solids that you discard or make smoothie or??? ? I have solid banana mash that I donโ€™t know if I should have.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        December 04, 2022 at 4:34 am

        Did you reference the process photos? It sounds like you are at the step shown in image step #2?

        Reply
    4. Suzy says

      March 02, 2019 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      One of my favorite treats!

      Reply
    5. Sommer says

      March 02, 2019 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      I love to add this to my desserts! Such a good recipe.

      Reply
    6. Liz says

      February 28, 2019 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      Whoa, so much delicious banana flavor in every bite!! Thanks for all the terrific tips!

      Reply
    7. Beth says

      February 28, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      I love banana pudding and this was awesome! Kids loved it too! Thanks for such a delicious recipe!

      Reply
    8. Julie Blanner says

      February 28, 2019 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this is awesome! I can’t wait to try this! My girls will love it.

      Reply
    9. Anna says

      February 28, 2019 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      This banana pudding was a huge hit! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    10. lauren kelly says

      February 28, 2019 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      My grandmother used to make this all the time! I love it!

      Reply
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    5 from 25 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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