Print

Creamy Southern Banana Pudding Trifle Recipe with Homemade Vanilla Wafers

southern banana pudding trifle - featured image
Print Recipe

A classic Southern dessert featuring layers of creamy banana pudding, fresh bananas, and homemade vanilla wafers assembled as a beautiful trifle. This recipe balances rich, sweet, and fresh flavors with a satisfying crunchy texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp milk (optional, for dough consistency)
  • 3 cups (720ml) whole milk
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ⅓ cup (45g) cornstarch
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 large bananas, sliced
  • 1 ½ cups (360ml) whipped cream (homemade or store-bought)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, cream softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until a dough forms. Add milk if dough is too crumbly.
  5. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to about ⅛ inch (3mm) thickness. Cut out wafers with a 1½ inch (4 cm) round cookie cutter.
  6. Place wafers on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are golden. Cool completely.
  7. For pudding, whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks in a saucepan until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk.
  8. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbling, about 8-10 minutes.
  9. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla extract.
  10. Strain pudding through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface and chill at least 2 hours.
  11. To assemble, layer wafers, banana slices, and pudding in a trifle bowl, repeating layers and finishing with pudding.
  12. Top with whipped cream and additional wafers for decoration.
  13. Chill assembled trifle for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Slice bananas just before assembling to prevent browning. Chill pudding fully to ensure smooth texture and stable layers. Baking wafers thin and cooling completely ensures crispness. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend and verify cornstarch is gluten-free. Vegan adaptations include using plant-based milk, vegan butter, and flax eggs.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana pudding, southern dessert, trifle, homemade vanilla wafers, creamy pudding, layered dessert, classic southern recipe

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/creamy-southern-banana-pudding-trifle-recipe-with-homemade-vanilla-wafers-easy-and-perfect/