Black Folks Southern Banana Pudding Recipe
This post may contain affiliate partner links. View our privacy statement HERE.
Southern banana pudding has long stood as a symbol of comfort, tradition, and love in African American cuisine. It’s Southern comfort food at its finest, and what we proudly call soul food!
Homemade banana pudding evokes memories of warm Southern hospitality and often graces tables at family gatherings, cookouts, and holiday meals, fostering a sense of togetherness that is hard to replicate. Its presence signifies a celebration of soul food heritage, honoring the simplicity of a few high-quality ingredients transformed into a delicious masterpiece!
Artfully layered with cookies, ripe bananas, and creamy custard, topped off with a delightful layer of whipped cream. Growing up in the South, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying this delightful treat throughout my life. But how do you make banana pudding the Black way?
Southern banana pudding the Black way
The secrets to making Southern banana pudding have been passed down through generations in my family, beginning with my Great-grandma Florence, an esteemed caterer who taught my dad how to achieve silky-smooth pudding using her professional stand mixer. Banana pudding became his signature dessert for our special occasions, always rich, creamy, and unforgettable.
The decadent whipped topping comes from my mom’s Southern North Carolina recipe. I remember watching her expertly layer whipped cream not just on top, but in between the layers for an extra indulgent touch. This ultimate Black folks’ Southern banana pudding is more than dessert. It’s a legacy of soul food flavor and cherished family tradition. Learn more about the Black history of banana pudding HERE.
Ingredients
- Bananas –You will need ripe bananas (but not overripe) to prepare this recipe. Look for firm bananas with bright yellow skin and brown spots.
- Vanilla pudding– While banana-flavored pudding is available, the traditional soul food approach is to use vanilla pudding. You could make homemade vanilla pudding. However, Black foodies have discovered that “old-school soul food banana pudding” still remains just as tasty and is easily accessible for anyone to prepare quickly with cook-and-serve or even instant pudding.
- Nilla Wafers – The dessert base starts with the iconic Nilla Wafers. There’s simply no substitute for this classic cookie. For the best results (and the most authentic flavor), stick with the original!
- Whole milk – is another key ingredient to a pudding. Whole milk adds rich milky flavor and smooth texture to your dessert.
- Whipped cream – For an extra creamy texture, add whipped cream. Banana pudding becomes instantly more decadent and indulgent with this luscious finishing touch. For an alternative topping, try my classic old-fashioned banana pudding recipe, featuring traditional meringue!
- Cream cheese – This secret ingredient enhances the flavor of the banana pudding and thickens its consistency, preventing it from becoming watery.
How to make Southern banana pudding the Black way
Making this dish may seem complicated at first due to its layers. But it’s actually quite simple to prepare once you know what ingredients are needed. Even if you’re short on time, this Southern dessert can be ready quickly!
- Make the pudding and set it aside in the refrigerator.
- Mix the whipped topping and set aside.
- Layer the dessert with the cookies, bananas, pudding, whipped topping, and repeat!
- Let the banana pudding chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Chilling also makes it easier to slice.
How to keep bananas from browning
If you are preparing your banana pudding ahead of time, you can prep all the ingredients and keep them separated until you’re ready to serve.
However, you should only peel and slice the bananas when ready to add them to the pudding. This will prevent the bananas from browning right away and ensure they look fresh when you serve the banana pudding at the dessert table.
Storing leftovers
While the pudding may still be good, the bananas will brown when exposed to oxygen. Bananas oxidize more quickly than other fruits and vegetables. Despite the browning, this banana pudding recipe remains good in the refrigerator while stored in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
Equipment
- Saucepan If using Jell-O Cook & Serve Pudding
- 2 qt. glass bowl (preferably with a lid)
- Or a 9×13 baking dish (preferably with a lid)
Ingredients
- 3 bananas ripe & sliced into banana rounds
- 4.6 oz. vanilla pudding instant pudding or Cook-&-Serve
- 3 cups milk for the pudding mix
- 8 oz. whipped cream 1 container
- 8 oz. cream cheese 1 container, whipped-version
- 11 oz. Nilla Wafers 1 box and ¼ cup of crumbled Nilla Wafers cookies
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding according to the instructions on the pudding box mix and set it aside in the refrigerator. (I made Jell-O Cook & Serve Pudding by heating the pudding mix with milk on the stovetop until it boiled, then I let it cool to thicken.)
- Mix the whipped topping and cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
- Line the bottom and sides of a baking pan or dish with Nilla Wafers cookies.
- Add a layer of banana slices over the Nilla Wafers.
- Using a small spatula, spread the vanilla pudding evenly over the bananas.
- Add a layer of the whipped topping and cream cheese mixture over the pudding layer.
- Repeat the above steps for a second layer of cookies, bananas, pudding, and whipped topping.
- Then, sprinkle the ¼ cup of crumbled cookies over the top layer of whipped cream.
- Allow the banana pudding to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Banana pudding is easiest to slice after being refrigerated, then serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Like this post? Pin the below picture to your “Soul Food Recipes” Pinterest Board!
Your recipes look fantastic