How to Make Banana Pudding with Meringue Topping

I recently ate in a cafeteria where they served old fashioned banana pudding with meringue topping. It has been years since I had this type of banana pudding, since I long ago gave in to an easier, more instant recipe for my Southern-style banana pudding.

I had some of the pudding, and I was reminded of just how delicious this pudding can be. I was inspired to drag out my old recipe and add it once again to my current recipe repertoire.

That is not to say that I'm going to quit using my nouveau Old-Fashioned Southern-Style Banana Pudding. It's very good, too.

I've decided that I will use both recipes, alternating between the two, or using them seasonally. Old fashioned Old Fashioned Southern-Style Banana Pudding is good for the cooler months, with its sweet, lightly browned meringue topping, great when served warm. Nouveau Old Fashioned Southern-Style Banana Pudding is always cool, so it is great during the warmer months.

I don't know which one I like best. Maybe you will try them both and see if you have a favorite. See the recipes below:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• bananas
• vanilla wafers
• vanilla pudding

1. COLLECT INGREDIENTS FOR OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN-STYLE BANANA PUDDING WITH MERINGUE TOPPING
   
   1 1/3 cup grandulated sugar
   3 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
   dash of salt
   
   BLEND above dry ingredients together in a heavy saucepan.
   
   3 eggs, separated
   3 cups milk
   
   BEAT egg yolks until fluffy. Add milk and mix thoroughly. Add the egg and milk mixture to dry ingredients in the saucepan.
   
   COOK over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent sticking. When pudding is smooth and thickened, remove from heat.
   
   ADD 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix again.
   
   BEAT egg whites with electric mixer until frothy.
   
   Slowly ADD 1/3 cup sugar, a small amount at a time, beating after each addition.
   
   When meringue holds stiff peaks,
   
   ADD 1 teaspoon vanilla.
   
   LINE casserole dish with vanilla wafers.
   
   SLICE 2 bananas onto wafers. POUR 1/3 of the pudding over the bananas.
   CRUMBLE wafers over the pudding. SLIDE 2 more bananas onto the crumbled wafers. POUR 1/3 of the pudding over the bananas. CRUMBLE wafers over the second layer of bananas. SLICE bananas over the wafers. POUR the remainder of the pudding over the bananas.
   
   SPREAD meringue over top of pudding, making certain that the meringue seals all along the inside edge of the casserole.
   
   BROWN meringue in oven preheated to 425 degrees. Watch carefully, it will brown quickly. REMOVE from oven.

2. COLLECT INGREDIENTS FOR NOUVEAU OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN-STYLE BANANA PUDDING
   
   1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
   1 1/2 cups cold water
   1 4-oz package instant vanilla pudding mix
   
   COMBINE Eagle Brand Milk and water. STIR well.
   ADD instant vanilla pudding and mix with whip until thickened.
   ADD 1/2 16-oz. carton Cool Whip. BLEND well.
   
   LINE a casserole dish with vanilla wafers.
   
   SLICE 2 bananas over wafers. CRUMBLE additional wafers over bananas.
   POUR 1/2 pudding mixture over bananas and wafers. SLICE 2 more bananas on top of pudding. CRUMBLE additional wafers over bananas. POUR remaining pudding over wafers.
   
   TOP with remaining Cool Whip. REFRIGERATE.

3. SERVE BANANA PUDDING with any meal. Banana pudding goes well with a light meal, as it can be a heavy dessert.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow cooked pudding to cool so that it is warm but not hot when the bananas are added. If the pudding is too hot when poured over the bananas, it cooks the bananas and changes the pudding in an undesirable way.
• Vanilla pudding mix--cook style--can be substituted for making your own from scratch, but you will still need egg whites to make meringue.

[wesellforu]

on 12/1/2009 Banana Pudding is my favorite! Thanks for the great recipe. 5* and recommend.

[ourlastchance]

on 11/30/2009 This banana Pudding with Meringue topping sounds delicious! Thanks for the great recipe. 5* recommend and subscribe

[nathanblair]

on 11/13/2009 mmm... just the title of this article makes me salivate.

[langleycornwell]

on 9/16/2009 These banana pudding recipes sound delicious. I like yur suggestion to try them both.

[kristara]

on 9/13/2009 WOW! This is a MUST try 5*