Best Banana Pudding From Scratch (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Pudding Base

01 - ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
02 - ¼ cup (32 g) cornstarch
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 ½ cups (354 ml) whole milk
05 - 1 ½ cup (354 ml) heavy cream
06 - 4 large egg yolks
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 - 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces

→ Whipped Cream

09 - 3 cups (710 ml) heavy cream, cold
10 - 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar
11 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Assembly

12 - 2-3 ripe but firm bananas
13 - 3 Tablespoons lemon juice (lime juice may be substituted)
14 - 45 vanilla wafers, divided
15 - 2 oz dark chocolate bar (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Separately, whisk milk, cream, and egg yolks until combined. Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Heat mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency (typically 10-15 minutes). Remove from heat, strain through a fine mesh strainer, and whisk in butter and vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface and refrigerate until cooled completely.
02 - Using an electric mixer, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Reserve half of the whipped cream for topping, and gently fold the other half into the cooled pudding base until fully incorporated.
03 - Slice bananas into ⅛-inch thick slices. Lightly brush both sides of each slice with lemon juice to prevent browning.
04 - Spread a thin layer of pudding onto the bottom of a 2.5 qt baking dish. Add a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by banana slices on top of each wafer. Spread half the pudding mixture evenly over the bananas. Repeat layers with more wafers, bananas, and the remaining pudding. Top with the reserved whipped cream.
05 - Cover and refrigerate the assembled pudding for at least 4 hours (preferably up to 24 hours). Before serving, crumble 5-6 vanilla wafers over the top and garnish with chocolate shavings, if desired.

# Notes:

01 - Prepare the pudding a day in advance to allow it to cool and thicken properly before assembly.
02 - Assemble the dish no more than 48 hours before serving to ensure freshness of the bananas.

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