Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Meringue Topped Banana Pudding

About a year ago, I baked the brown sugar pound cake from Sweets: Soul Food Desserts and Memories, and I mentioned that there were several other things I wanted to try from that book. One of those other things was the meringue topped banana pudding, and just a short eleven months and twenty-something days later, I did finally try it. I’ve made banana pudding several times before and it’s a favorite of mine and Kurt’s, but this one was different because of the meringue on top. I usually serve it with a topping of whipped cream, and that’s how we see it served at restaurants too. I’d never tasted banana pudding with meringue on top. The pudding itself, as usual, is just a basic, vanilla pudding. Every time I make a pudding or pastry cream, I wonder why I don’t do so more often. I taste it warm from the saucepan just after the vanilla has been added, and every time, I marvel at how good that is. The lovely pudding is layered with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, and I did not bake homemade vanilla wafers for this. I followed the recipe which suggested using a twelve ounce box. However, I did seek out an organic brand.

The pudding was prepared with four egg yolks, and the four whites from those eggs were used for the meringue. Pudding was poured over a layer of vanilla wafers and sliced bananas in a one and a half quart casserole dish, and then the layers were repeated two more times. This filled the dish to the very top edge, and I should have been smart enough to realize it was a bit too full. The fluffy meringue was spread on top with lots of swirls and curls, and it went into a 350 F oven for about twelve minutes. Luckily, I had placed the casserole dish on a baking sheet, because the pudding bubbled up and spilled over a bit here and there. Next time, I’ll eat a little more pudding right after it’s cooked so as to keep it just below the top edge of the dish. I let it cool on a rack for an hour and then refrigerated it overnight.

I have to say, I didn’t miss the whipped cream. I like it that way too, but the meringue was different and light and just as nice. With meringue, you have the browned, near-crust on top and then the airy, pillowy texture underneath. In the book, there’s a warning that while you can refrigerate leftovers it doesn’t hold up well. I can tell you that’s true. After scooping out two servings for dessert, I placed the dish back in the refrigerator. The next day, it was a little runny and not so attractive. The side opposite of the runny stuff was still delicious, but serving this sooner rather than later is ideal. One thought for next time is to create individual servings which could remain refrigerated for a couple of days with no scooped-out areas for runniness.





35 comments:

  1. Oh YUM! Can't think of anything more descriptive than that at 10:30am with my cup of coffee! :)

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  2. Whoa! Look at that meringue. Who will be the lucky recipients of that treat?

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  3. Sooooo good! A fantastic idea!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. I have to say--I am not sure I wouldn't miss the whipped cream. but, the meringue does look inviting.

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  5. Mmm...Banana pudding. I love how your meringue topping came out. If only I could get mine to look like that.

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  6. Can I have a bowl to myself please?

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  7. Can't resist any meringue desserts, I shall make this one soon.

    Angie's Recipes

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  8. those spikes on ye dessert are funny!! hehe but lokking delish as usual :D

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  9. That sounds heavenly! The meringue is just gorgeous!

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  10. That just looks like the most perfect meringue ever!

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  11. I love meringue and bananas.Oh, This is yummy. I wanna take a spoon and dig in!

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  12. meringue is coming at me from all corners this week! This looks really fabulous, and I love banana!

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  13. That's the fanciest looking banana pudding i've ever seen!

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  14. I must say that I've never had banana pudding with meringue, but that looks so darn good; I'm drooling.

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  15. The meringue is so pretty!! I don't think there will be chance that this yummy pudding will be kept in a fridge, hahaha. Next time, pls ring me up when you have any leftovers, haha

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  16. the banana pudding i know and love consists of pudding mix, cool whip, and sour cream, so this would be a new and exotic experience for me. your meringue is quite lovely to behold, but i wouldn’t mind busting right through it. :)

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  17. Oh my lord. What a killer meringue. Gorgeous.

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  18. Scrumptious, meringue topping look divine!

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  19. I love your meringue spikes! I did something similar as I always think it looks so striking! And the pudding underneath? WOW!

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  20. Home-made banana pudding is the best! What a delicious treat with the meringue topping!

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  21. aiyoh how come look so nice one ! hmmm you are truly a baker! ;)

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  22. Oh Lisa, I want this, you are making me hungry, hahaha!

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  23. Wow, wow, wow even for me that am not into banana, this sounds and looks delicious...creamy and so tasty. The meringue on top looks yummie!

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  24. Love those perfect peaks on top - looks delicious!

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  25. This looks so old-fashioned and fun. A true comfort dessert with a beautiful golden meringue all full of peaks and valleys to explore.

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  26. so so pretty. This is a work of art :)

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  27. I wish I could tell you how much I love sweets with banana and how much this particular one has made me drool.

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  28. This looks very simple to make and looks incredible.

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  29. I've never tried banana pudding but would LOVE to have a big scoop of yours. It looks sooooo delicious!

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  30. Is meringue on banana pudding a Southern thing? I think it is.

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  31. I see a sign above this dish, and it says "Home Sweet Home"...

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  32. Ooooo - I haven't made banana pudding in such a long time and I've never had it with meringue topping before. This looks beautiful! Thanks for the tip about saving leftovers; your individual ramekin idea sounds like an ideal solution. Otherwise, I'd be forced to eat all this in one sitting! (Sweet torture indeed.)

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  33. I really don't love meringues, but they sure do look beautiful. I do however love banana pudding, so good and comforting.

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  34. these look sooo delish...such a super blog..EXCELLENT pics...just have to add u to my blog roll...

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