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Banana Pudding Recipe America's Test Kitchen

Banana Pudding With Nilla Wafers

Banana pudding is a classic American dessert that has been around for more than a century. It is a comforting and creamy dessert made with layers of sliced bananas, vanilla wafers, and a rich custard. The recipe has evolved over the years, and America's Test Kitchen has come up with the perfect recipe for banana pudding that is sure to delight your taste buds. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of making banana pudding, America's Test Kitchen style.

Ingredients

Bananas And Vanilla Wafers

The first step in making banana pudding is gathering all the necessary ingredients. Here is a list of what you will need:

  • 1 and 1/2 cups of whole milk
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup of cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
  • 3 ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of vanilla wafers, crushed
  • Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions

Banana Pudding Layers

Now that you have all the ingredients, let's get started with the recipe:

  1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it starts to thicken. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, whisking constantly. This will temper the egg yolks and prevent them from curdling when added to the hot milk mixture.
  3. Slowly pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan, whisking constantly. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens even more. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  5. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer the sliced bananas on the bottom. Next, sprinkle a layer of crushed vanilla wafers on top of the bananas. Repeat until you have used up all the bananas and wafers.
  6. Pour the custard mixture over the layers of bananas and wafers. Use a spatula to smooth out the top of the custard mixture.
  7. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap touches the surface of the custard. This will prevent a skin from forming on the surface of the custard. Refrigerate the dish for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  8. When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap and top with whipped cream.

Tips for Making Perfect Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding In A Jar

Making banana pudding is easy, but there are a few tips that you can follow to ensure that your pudding turns out perfectly:

  • Make sure that your bananas are ripe but not overripe. Overripe bananas will turn to mush and not hold their shape in the pudding.
  • Use Nilla Wafers for the best results. These cookies were specifically designed for banana pudding and hold up well in the custard.
  • Do not overcook the custard. Overcooking will result in a lumpy and grainy texture.
  • Make sure to cover the dish with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming on the surface of the custard.

Conclusion

Banana pudding is a classic American dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With this recipe from America's Test Kitchen, you can create a creamy and comforting pudding that will be loved by all. Just remember to follow our tips for making the perfect banana pudding and you will impress your friends and family with your dessert-making skills.

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