Description
Creamy banana pudding ice cream blends Southern comfort with cool dessert magic. Homemade vanilla wafer crumbles and silky custard base promise a nostalgic treat you’ll savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup Nilla Wafers (crushed, plus more for garnish)
- Pinch of salt
- Whipped cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Create Cream Base: Combine heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan, warming gently over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely without boiling.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: Whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until smooth and pale yellow, then gradually temper by slowly incorporating hot cream while continuously whisking to prevent curdling.
- Cook Custard: Return tempered mixture to saucepan, cooking on low heat and stirring constantly until custard thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, reaching 77-79 degrees Celsius.
- Refine Mixture: Strain custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, then blend in vanilla extract, mashed ripe bananas, and lemon juice to enhance flavor profile.
- Chill and Develop Flavors: Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 4-8 hours, allowing ingredients to meld and intensify their taste characteristics.
- Churn and Incorporate: Process the chilled mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions, adding crushed Nilla Wafers during the final churning moments to distribute crunchy elements.
- Freeze and Finish: Transfer churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container, layering with additional crushed Nilla Wafers, then freeze for 4-6 hours until achieving a perfectly scoopable consistency.
- Serve with Flair: Present the banana pudding ice cream chilled, garnishing with extra Nilla Wafers and optional whipped cream for a luxurious dessert experience.
Notes
- Temper Technique: Slowly add hot cream to egg yolks while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling and create a smooth, silky custard base.
- Banana Ripeness Matters: Use fully ripe, soft bananas with brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and intense banana flavor.
- Chill for Depth: Refrigerate custard mixture overnight to allow flavors to develop and meld, resulting in a more complex and rich ice cream taste.
- Wafer Texture Tip: Add crushed Nilla Wafers during the last few minutes of churning and when layering to maintain their crunch and prevent complete softening.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg