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.
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
- What’s ‘So Special’ 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 – 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.
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.
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 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 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).
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)
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!
Recipe
Homemade Banana Pudding
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.
- 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published August 10, 2011; updated February 2019.
Kirsten@My German Kitchen...in the Rockies says
Hi Toni, I must have completely missed this post about Chef Alex. Fruition is our very favorite restaurant. We have been going there for several years and always enjoy our dinners. Yes, he is a very down to earth chef and always takes the time to connect with his diners in person. You need to go back soon! He has a pork chop on the menu that is to die for.
Dee at Deelicious Sweets says
Wow, I'll bet this is To. Die. For! Roasted banana pudding. Gimme sum!
Sarah Catherine says
That sounds great! You've got me thinking about banana cream pie with banana pudding… 🙂
janet@cupcakestocaviar says
Wow! What a great way to make an old classic. I love the idea of the roasted bananas and the banana milk. 🙂
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
I wish you had been able to meet him in Snowmass Toni, he was such a sweet unassuming guy and you would never have guessed he was hurtling from one place to the other. I just wish you could have been there when I mentioned you; when he knew who you were and made a point of wanting to make sure you did connect and not lose touch over an errant email. Very impressed for sure.
I did chuckle over your quantity dilemma, I've got a connection with Nordstrom's Cafe to get their recipes if requested…the work to break them down into manageable quantities is quite the job and I for one, REALLY appreciate you doing that for us. Love banana pudding, love your photos and think I also love Chef Seidel.
Chef Dennis says
breath taking images!! and who doesn't love banana pudding!! I would gladly devour that bowl for breakfast, I mean it is fruit, right?
Mama's Gotta Bake says
I love your step-by-step! Great job, and the pudding looks amazing!
Erin says
Great pudding! Roasting is such a great idea!
Lizzy says
Gorgeous photos as always, Toni…and hubby would just love this pudding~
SweetSavoryPlanet says
Banana pudding is one of the desserts that I grew up with (both instant pudding type and from scratch, my preference is definitely scratch made). This is such an interesting way to take the flavors to a whole new level. Thanks.