A from-scratch stovetop custard beats instant pudding mix by a mile, and it is only egg yolks, milk, and sugar. Layer it warm over ripe (not brown) bananas and wafers, then chill so the cookies soften into cake-like layers.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep25 min
Cook10 min
Makes8 servings
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegetarian
Contains dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for8servings
Whole milk
The base of the cooked custard; whole milk keeps it rich.
Just-ripe with a few freckles; brown bananas turn mushy.
4 medium
Local / market
The Rundown
Greedometer●●●●●A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence. · plan ahead — needs marinating, soaking, or resting time
EffortEasy
Cook it with
No-cook
The Method
CustardWhisk yolks, sugar, and 1/4 cup cornstarch, then slowly add hot milk and cook over medium heat, stirring, until it thickens and coats a spoon, about 8 minutes.
Finish custardOff the heat, stir in 2 tbsp butter and 1 tsp vanilla, then let it cool slightly.
LayerIn a dish, alternate wafers, sliced bananas, and warm custard, ending with custard on top.
ChillCover with plastic pressed onto the surface and chill at least 4 hours so the wafers soften into cake-like layers.
Can you make Banana Pudding in an air fryer? — Not needed
No cooking needed here — this one comes together without heat, so the air fryer sits it out.
Can you freeze Banana Pudding? — Not ideal
Not really — the cream, custard, or emulsion turns grainy or splits once thawed. This one is best kept fresh in the fridge.
Can you make Banana Pudding ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.
Is Banana Pudding gluten-free? — Not as written
Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
Is Banana Pudding vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan
It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →