Description
A refined twist on classic pudding, featuring silky custard layered with macerated strawberries, tender banana slices, and crisp cookie shards.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups whole milk (or 1 cup milk + 1 cup half-and-half) — cold
- 3 large egg yolks — room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 12 oz ripe strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 medium ripe bananas, sliced on the diagonal
- 12–16 vanilla wafer cookies or light shortbread, lightly crushed
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1–2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp sliced toasted almonds or chopped pistachios
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberries: place quartered strawberries, 2 tbsp sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a bowl. Gently macerate and let sit for 15–20 minutes until glossy and slightly saucy.
- Whisk the custard base: in a medium saucepan, combine cold milk and half the sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, remaining sugar, and cornstarch until pale and smooth. Temper the yolks by whisking in 1/3 cup warm milk mixture, then return everything to the saucepan.
- Cook to silky pudding: over medium-low heat, stir constantly until the mixture thickens to a pourable custard (about 6–8 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Cool slightly: transfer the pudding to a shallow bowl, press plastic wrap onto the surface, and chill for 20–30 minutes.
- Assemble layers: in individual glasses or a trifle bowl, spread a thin layer of pudding, add crushed cookies, arrange sliced bananas, spoon macerated strawberries and syrup, and repeat to 2–3 layers. Finish with a final layer of pudding.
- Whip the cream: whip cold cream with powdered sugar to soft peaks. Dollop or pipe the cream atop each serving, scatter toasted nuts, and garnish with mint.
Notes
Use ripe bananas and cook the custard slowly to avoid graininess. The pudding can be prepared up to 2 days in advance; assemble shortly before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Chilling, Whisking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 150mg