Banana pudding (sometimes banana cream pudding) is a
pudding
Pudding is a type of food. It can be either a dessert or a savoury (salty or spicy) dish served as part of the main meal.
In the United States, ''pudding'' means a sweet, milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, ins ...
generally consisting of layers of sweet
vanilla flavor
Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia'').
Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
ed
custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in consistency fro ...
,
vanilla wafers and/or
ladyfingers and sliced fresh
banana
A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...
s placed in a dish and served, topped with
whipped cream
Whipped cream is liquid heavy cream that is whipped by a whisk or mixer until it is light and fluffy and holds its shape, or by the expansion of dissolved gas, forming a firm colloid. It is often sweetened, typically with white sugar, and ...
or
meringue
Meringue (, ; ) is a type of dessert or candy, often associated with Swiss, French, Polish and Italian cuisines, traditionally made from whipped egg whites and sugar, and occasionally an acidic ingredient such as lemon, vinegar, or cream of ...
. Some recipes incorporate the use of
Twinkie
A Twinkie is an American snack cake, described as "golden sponge cake with a creamy filling". It was formerly made and distributed by Hostess Brands. The brand is currently owned by Hostess Brands, Inc. (), having been formerly owned by private ...
s.
It is commonly associated with
Southern American cuisine
The cuisine of the Southern United States encompasses diverse food traditions of several regions, including Tidewater, Appalachian, Lowcountry, Cajun, Creole, and Floribbean cuisine. In recent history, elements of Southern cuisine have sprea ...
, but it can be found around the country and specific areas. Furthermore, it closely resembles an
English trifle
Trifle is a layered dessert of English cuisine, English origin. The usual ingredients are a thin layer of Ladyfinger (biscuit), sponge fingers or sponge cake soaked in sherry or another fortified wine, a fruit element (fresh or jelly), custard ...
in that it is assembled in layers and includes custard, fruit,
sponge cake
Sponge cake is a light cake made with egg whites, flour and sugar, sometimes leavened with baking powder. Some sponge cakes do not contain egg yolks, like angel food cake, but most of them do. Sponge cakes, leavened with beaten eggs, originated ...
, and whipped cream.
Banana pudding can be prepared using a
baked
Baking is a method of preparing food that uses dry heat, typically in an oven, but can also be done in hot ashes, or on hot stones. The most common baked item is bread but many other types of foods can be baked. Heat is gradually transferre ...
or
refrigerated
The term refrigeration refers to the process of removing heat from an enclosed space or substance for the purpose of lowering the temperature.International Dictionary of Refrigeration, http://dictionary.iifiir.org/search.phpASHRAE Terminology, ht ...
method, with the latter being the more popular, particularly among home cooks. Moreover, many
recipes
A recipe is a set of instructions that describes how to prepare or make something, especially a dish of prepared food. A sub-recipe or subrecipe is a recipe for an ingredient that will be called for in the instructions for the main recipe.
His ...
have been adapted using
vanilla or banana pudding instead of a true custard. Other recipes omit the wafers.
Method of preparation
A typical method for making banana pudding is to repeatedly layer the bananas, custard, and wafers into a dish and top with whipped cream or meringue. Over time, the wafers will absorb the custard and the layers will press together causing the flavors to intermingle.
National Banana Pudding Festival
The National Banana Pudding Festival is held at the Centerville River Park in
Centerville, Tennessee
Centerville is a town in Hickman County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,489 as of the 2020 Census. It is the county seat and the only incorporated town in Hickman County. It is best known for being the hometown of American comed ...
. It is a 2-day event held on the first weekend of October.
See also
*
Banana bread
Banana bread is a type of cake made from mashed bananas. It is often a moist and sweet quick bread but some recipes are yeast raised.
History
Banana bread recipes began to feature in well-known cookbooks across North America as sodium bicarbonate ...
*
Banana custard
Banana Custard or Bananas and Custard is a type of traditional pudding made from banana slices mixed with custard.
Preparation
Bananas are peeled and then sliced horizontally into thin slices and added to a bowl of custard, the custard is then h ...
*
Banana Foster
Bananas Foster is a dessert made from bananas and vanilla ice cream, with a sauce made from butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, and banana liqueur. The butter, sugar and bananas are cooked, and then alcohol is added and ignited. The bana ...
*
Bánh chuối
''Bánh chuối'' (literally "banana cake") is a sweet banana cake or bread pudding from Vietnam. Although its exact ingredients may vary, it is usually made with ripe bananas or plantains, rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, white bread, shredd ...
*
List of banana dishes
This is a list of banana dishes and foods in which banana or plantain is used as a primary ingredient. A banana is an edible fruit produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas us ...
*
List of custard desserts
This is a list of custard desserts, comprising prepared desserts that use custard as a primary ingredient. Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg or egg yolk.
Custard desserts
Fil ...
*
Summer pudding
*
Tipsy cake
*
Trifle
Trifle is a layered dessert of English origin. The usual ingredients are a thin layer of sponge fingers or sponge cake soaked in sherry or another fortified wine, a fruit element (fresh or jelly), custard and whipped cream layered in that o ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banana Pudding
American desserts
Puddings
Custard desserts
Cuisine of the Southern United States
Banana dishes
Thanksgiving food