Fancy smelling dish soap and a fresh sponge are a luxury.
Lotion next to the kitchen sink is a luxury.
Fresh dish towels are a necessity.
Not-so-fancy olive oil is a necessity .
Fancy olive oil is a luxury.
Homemade pudding is a luxury… sometimes a necessity… depends on the day.
A full bottle of whisky is a total luxury… caramelized bananas and cream, just icing on the cake.
Homemade pudding is what I plan on making for myself when I’m an old lady with no teeth. I’ll probably eat it warm from the bowl while watching Wheel of Fortune. Whatever.
I’m pretty sure the only things that takes homemade pudding from good to good-grief-good is brown sugar and whisky.
Butterscotch pudding is a deep, dark pudding made from brown sugar and melted butter. The two are cooked down with milk, cream and eggs. Whisky is a really beautiful addition to this pudding, but if you have a problem with whiskey in your pudding… you sure can skip it.
I never skip whisky… but that’s just me.
This pudding is thickened with both cornstarch and eggs.
It’s a nice balance. The pudding is neither too chalky thick tasting or too eggy tasting. Yay, balance.
Brown sugar is moistened with melted butter and combined with whole milk and heavy cream.
Come on…
After some stove top cooking, this pudding is the consistency of warm hot fudge. It thickens up in the cold fridge. It’s good warm too, if you’re as impatient as I am… but it’s really delicious cold.
I haven’t said a dang word about the bananas I snuck into this dessert.
Bananas were sauteed with butter and brown sugar, and finished with a splash of whisky. Holy cow.
I crumbled graham crackers on top just to add some crunch.
Whipped cream too. Well… whipped cream with a little sugar and whisky.
Did I put whisky in every bit of this recipe? Yes. I did. I don’t feel bad.
Thankfully, whisky is not the thing I gave up for Lent.
Butterscotch Pudding with Caramelized Bananas and Cream
serves 4 to 6 people
recipe adapted from David Lebovitz
For the Pudding:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon whisky (optional, but dang delicious)
For the Bananas:
2 to 3 ripe but firm bananas, sliced about 1/3″ thick, at an angel
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
scant 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons whisky (optional, but delicious)
For the Whipped Cream:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons whisky (again… optional, but delicious)
about 8 graham crackers, coarsely crumbled
Melt butter in a medium saucepan I used a saucepan with a rounded bottom, which helped keep any pudding bits from getting over cooked and curdled in the corners of the pan during the whisking phase. If you have a big enough pan with a slightly rounded bottom, go for it! If not… totally not the end of the world.
Add brown sugar to the melted butter and whisk together to ensure that all of the brown sugar is moistened by the butter. The mixture will be grainy. That’s ok. Remove the pan from the flame.
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, salt and 1/4 cup of milk. Make sure there are no cornstarch lumps in the mixture. Whisk in the eggs.
Return the sugar and butter mixture to a medium-low flame. Pour in the milk, cream and cornstarch mixture. Whisk almost constantly as the mixture heats. The mixture will thicken just as it starts to simmer. Allow to simmer, whisking constantly, until the pudding is the thickness of warm hot fudge sauce. Pass the pudding through a fine mesh strainer and into a bowl. Stir in the vanilla extract and whisky. Cover the pudding with plastic wrap, directly on top of the pudding, and allow to cool and thicken in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Once the pudding is thickened, caramelize the bananas.
Melt butter in a small sauce pan. Add banana slices in a single layer and top with brown sugar. Allow bananas to brown on one side. Flip bananas, cook down the sugar, and allow bananas to brown on the other side. This took me about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from the flame and drizzle in about 2 teaspoons of whisky. The pan will sizzle a bit. Use this sizzling time to remove the bananas and sugar from the pan and place on a plate to cool slightly before using.
While the bananas cool, whip together cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and whisky. Whip until soft peaks form.
In 4 or 6 small serving dishes, add a few spoonfuls of pudding. Top with a few banana spices, crumbled graham crackers and whipped cream. Repeat layering once more. Serve immediately or place in the fridge if necessary. Graham crackers will lose their crunch if they sit in the pudding in the fridge… just so you know.
maggie
What can I substitute cornstarch with?
joythebaker
I haven’t tried this, but another starch, like potato might work. I really can’t say for sure.
Ang
The flavor is so great but it came out really lumpy and weird! Any ideas on what went wrong? How long should you actually heat it? Thanks for any help!
Sophia Vojta
YUMMM. Just made the pudding (it’s cooling now), and it is DELICIOUS. Don’t worry, folks, this is a keeper. Really, really yummy, though I did leave out the alcohol, since we didn’t have any in the house. Still. Delicious. Best pudding ever.
Kari
I discovered this butterscotch pudding recipe on David Lebovitz’s site just under three weeks ago and have made it three times. I have only shared two servings of those three batches. I am addicted to this pudding and now two of my lucky friends are, too! I love the idea of adding the banana topping and cannot wait to try tit out. I’m going to try making this tomorrow, but I think I’m going to substitute rum for the whiskey and might throw some toasted coconut on top instead of graham crackers.
Tracey
I made this for Father’s Day and it was a hit all around!! I think I let the pudding go a little too long on the heat so it got a bit thicker than it looks in your pics but it was amazing!
sauertea
Loved it. But I think next time will only do the carmelized bananas. Amazing recipe.
Sahra
I think you’ve become my favorite baker….
XO Sahra
EffortlessCool.wordpress.com
Courtney
I made this last night for my roommates birthday. Major hit. Didn’t have graham crackers but I found some Nilla wafers, which were pretty delicious! Thanks so much for the great recipe, I am now the apartment favorite : )
Allie
Hi Joy,
I just wanted to tell you that my best friend and I tried out your recipe last night with HUGE success!!! I wanted to point out though a problem we came across. In your directions for the pudding, you only account for 1/4 cup of milk. When are you supposed to add the rest? We didn’t realize our mistake until after it was done, making the pudding much denser than I think you had intended. If you would let me know, I would really appreciate it–I think we will try the pudding part at least again next week.
Best,
Allie
joythebaker
i think i say to add the rest of the milk and the cream to the butter and sugar mixture. right?
miss stacy
um… yum!
and where did you get those delightful glasses?
Wedje
oh. my. god. i must make this. must. thank you – i am forever in your debt. i am pondering how to tweak it after i’ve made it in its original form – oh – 10 or 12 times. mebbe figure out how a good belgian chocolate can be incorporated…like a trifle or something.
Elena
I think banana in a cookie recipe will taste better. My mom who’s fighting thyroid cancer wants no more to eat fresh bananas…….
Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie
Now I know what to do with that bottle of whiskey in the cabinet :).
Rachel Peters
Brilliant! I made this last night (even have photographic proof) and my family thought they’d died and gone to heaven. I couldn’t stop eating the bananas out of the pan. I used Cuban cacao liqueur instead of whiskey and devonshire cream instead of whipped cream and it was perfection. Thanks Joy!
SusanK
I will try this one but no bananas for me. I hate bananas. And whiskey. I am no fun really!
Reagan @ Recipesmademyway
YUM!! butterscotch pudding sounds so good right now!!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
The pudding looks incredible! Love that you added so many yummy toppings! I definitely be devouring a bowl of this right now if I hadn’t given up sugar for Lent :)
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
…aaaand, drooling. I eat butterscotch pudding snack-paks a lot. Think it might be time to upgrade and make this!
JoJo
Made this tonight as a dessert for a family dinner I hosted. Everyone LOVED it. Absolutely fabulous. Thanks, Joy!
Mindi - Dandi
i have to admit something… i’m banana phobic! they freak the bejesus outta me. My boyfriend eats at least one a day though so i’m slowly becoming more tolerant. Once when he was sick i made him banana bread, it was probably the hardest thing i’ve ever done – peeling AND mashing 2 bananas. Then when i had to whip it with the electric mixer it sprayed up on my face and i screamed. wow – do i need therapy?
Claudia
What a delicious dessert! I’ve never tried to do a pudding but it looks perfect! And those caramelized banana are so sweet!
Megan
Graham crackers + carmel-ly bananas + pudding?! I’ll take 15, please.
Laura @ GotChocolate
YUM!!! Where’s the CHOCOLATE???
Katy
This looks like a bowl of dreamy goodness. :) Thank goodness it’s spring break and I can make it immediately… and revel in all the whisky too!
Matt
Wow, this looks amazing. I love butterscotch, but I’d probably pass on the bananas since I can’t stand them. The biscuits(crackers) for added crunch is a good idea.
Parsley Sage
Holy cow, indeed. I NEED this. Right now.
Philip Geneman
hay Joy that is it you did it ! an amazing post I love love love this pudding recipe thanks! for the whiskey makes it 10 times better. mmm :)
Amanda :}
i nearly passed out when i read the title, omg this sounds amazing!
Sarah @ The Pajama Chef
awesome. you’re hilarious.
Christina
holy moley- carmelized bananas. So easy but I would never think twice about doing that. This looks amazing!
peachkins
looks fantastic!
Ilene
That looks delish but let’s be clear about something. That’s not just whiskey. That’s bourbon! And it’s a necessity! At least for a Kentucky girl like myself.
homegrown countrygirl
That’s what I thought, too… I said to myself, “Wait, bourbon is a luxury? I thought it was a necessity!”
Thank you, Kentucky Girl Ilene!
And thank you, Joy, for yet another yummy recipe and a good read!
Jen
I live a few thousand miles from my ol’ Kentucky home and I make it a point to put Bourbon in everything, ya know gotta represent.
This is a nice addition to my Bourbon recipes. I think I might put Bacon on top though…
Anita Menon
I love your blog and love to hang around because I am sure to learn something new. The pudding looks splendid. Would try it for sure.
I have to let you know that you have saved my life so manytimes by doing a post on “how to make cake flour”. Where I live, cake flour is hard to come by. But your recipe makes it possible for me to try those beautiful cakes that demand the use of cake flour and nothing less.
Thank you again.
Lauren from Lauren's Latest
Wow. This looks simply amazing.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
This is a super decadent pudding! Warm pudding sounds like the perfect treat for a cold day
Naomi
You’re hilarious. Even if I thought your food was repulsive, I’d still read your blog every day. I think your food is much better than repulsive, by the way.
Sarah-Anne
wow, looks yummy! to bad i’m underage… ;)
jk scaglione
the photos finally came up after a long wait and after I clicked in to the screen after your intro.
I will not be making this pudding with the whiskey part but there’s enough fun stuff in this pudding to warm hearts anyway!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxox
Allison
Oh good grief indeed. This looks beyond amazing. I’m glad I’m not the only one who enjoys warm pudding. Sometimes you just can’t wait until it’s cold!
Kocinera
I was going to write something very clever and poetic about how much I love this pudding, but all I came up with was this…
om nom nom nom nom.
Susan (Oliepants)
Holy crap. I mean even if it was just the caramelized bananas, I would be screaming for joy! I’m in love. Talk about flavor combination that would kick it!
Gen
Looks so wonderful! almost a private pleasure! And the bottle of whiskey… I’d love to have the same in my kitchen!
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer
Homemade pudding has been on my list, I happen to have an abundance of bananas this week= perfect opportunity :) Nice!
what katie's baking
oh wow oh wow oh WOW my mouth is watering!!!!
you think this would hold up in the mail?
Pattypro
Yes, please!!
Stephanie
Can’t wait to make this, it’s been an eternity since I’ve had a good butterscotch pudding. As for slicing the bananas “at an angel”…. either you had thoroughly quality-checked the Maker’s Mark by the time you wrote that, or the butterscotch pudding was so good that it tempted the very angels in heaven to come down and see what you were up to! hee hee :P
Robyn {Planet Byn}
brainstorm: graham cracker crust, layer of caramelized bananas on the bottom, topped with this butterscotch pudding, whipped cream to finish it off! butterscotch banana cream pie! i’m totally going to make this for easter dessert!
Stephanie
Oh…. I like the way you think!!!
Jean
Nummies!!!!!! pudding with bananas….graham crackers….YUM! Don’t know about the whiskey but if you say so OK!
Clara
Wow, Joy! This looks amazing. I so appreciate all the work you put into your posts, I would imagine it takes quite a bit of time. Thanks so much for all you do, I really enjoy reading your blog!
ddstar
Joy, Joy, Joy….butterscotch pudding was one of the first things I cooked as a kid. Thank you for transporting me back to my cooking beginnings, of course mom didn’t mention anything about the whiskey..ha. I love your site and am finding it hard not to make just about everything you print. That cinnamon pull apart bread last week was incredible!!! Me thinks the pics were slow in getting up because the cook had to much whiskey while preparing the shoot??? <3 U
Anne @ Baking Me
I love homemade pudding! I think once you’ve had homemade pudding you can’t go back to the box stuff, you just can’t. I haven’t had butterscotch forever, I need to remedy this pronto!
Shaheen {The Purple Foodie}
oh my, oh my. I love this. But what I love even more are your cinnamon sugar pull aparts. Sunday morning baking plans have been made.
Katie @ The Well-Fed Newlyweds
Holy cow. I’ve had David’s recipe for Butterscotch Pudding flagged to try for a long time. I gotta say, I think you one-upped him with the caramelized bananas – and all the whiskey! I cannot wait to try this out!!
elizabeth / sophisticated pie
well, you just made my day (correction, you made my day + my boyfriend’s day); he has an obsession with all things butterscotch, and I have an obsession with all things whiskey, which is why I’m pretty sure you and I could be friends :) Thanks for the recipe!
sheila @ Elements
You had me at butterscotch! Then I saw the bottle of Maker’s Mark. Oh man….my heart skipped a beat! :) Gotta a question for ya. Do you think I’d have any problems if I used 1% or 2% milk instead of whole milk?
Laura
Oh, lucky you, you have Maker’s Mark and I don’t. It is my fav whisky but rather difficult to find here in Germany. I am sorry, I know I should be praising your delicious recipe but that Maker’s Mark got all my attention. Once I felt in love with a guy because he had Maker’s Mark on his home bar but at the end it didn’t work at all, he was not that much into whisky, disappointing.
Chez Us
I have become addicted to whiskey lately; really into cocktails made with the liquid devil. We event added it to the glaze on our corned beef. Now, thanks to you, I can add it to my dessert!
Cathy
LOL I’ll put this on my list of faves when I’m old and toothless! I’m sure my kids will want to make it for me since Makers is a fave of theirs.
Jenna
this looks great. I cant wait to try this.
Tiffany
I love this recipe AND I love that we share the same favorite bottle of whiskey. Here is a little story for you. It has nothing to do with pudding and everything to do with whiskey. I thought you might enjoy it.
On me and my husband’s first date we ended up in a little hole in the wall bar. We had spend all night driving around trying to figure out where to go and ended up in this little dive. He ordered Jim Beam, I ordered my usual – Makers Mark on the Rocks. He kind of snickered. He though that I was one of “those” girls that tried to order a cool drink I had heard someone else order so that maybe this super cute boy would like me.
I got my drink. I took a drink, mid sentence, and then carried on like normal. His jaw dropped. He said “You really like that, don’t you?” I said “um…yep…I would not have ordered it if I didn’t.” He said that he realized right then and there that we would get along JUST fine.
Over 5 years later we are still here. :) Makers Mark holds a very special place in my heart.
Courtney
I have to admit that at first, I thought, “eh, butterscotch pudding. meh.” But then I saw Maker’s Mark, and you had me. I’m sold! I can’t wait to try this.
Ella @ The Single Girl's Kitchen
oh wowza. i love anything that involves makers. i might just make up those bananas and eat them by themselves for dinner.
Vicki B
Heavens, Joy! You’ve outdone yourself, once again. Wish we could send a bowl or two to Japan along with http://www.shelterbox.org/
anjali
PERFECT! i’m going to the washington coast for the first time ever this weekend and i WILL be making this and devouring this while i hear those ocean waves.
Heidi @ Food Doodles
Mmmm… Butterscotch has to be the flavor of the week or something. I can usually resist, but not this week!
Holly B @ Recipes from a Normal Mum
Always a necessity.
cindy
so, i pretty much think that homemade pudding is one of the best things ever. i love butterscotch, and with whiskey…even better.
Kartik @ Bakeology 101
Yay! Looks amazing as usual!
laura @ a little barefoot
good lord woman, you’ve really outdone yourself on this one. i believe i have all of these ingredients in my house right now, so i know what i’ll be doing this weekend!!
Michelle
pudding pandemonium! Going bananas over whiskey.
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
You had me at banana pudding. No, wait, you had me at whiskey and brown butter. Ok, I think it was the cream and brown sugar.
Seriously, there is so much right about this dish and absolutely nothing wrong.
Thanks for the post – have an awesome weekend!
Jessica @ bake me away!
Caramelized bananas might be my favorite thing, so I’m sold even without the pics. And pudding!
Jamie
I am sooooooo thrilled I just found your site,This rocks,your cooking rocks and you rock.You are amazing at what you are doing.We are an homeschooling and homesteading family of three that enjoys baking homemade foods for ourselves and others.I am printing the Milk chocolate Pancakes and the Cinnamon Pull apart bread to make today.It reminded me of an Elephant Ear from the Fair.
God has blessed you with an beautiful life that you have chosen to share with everyone.Keep on Rockin~
I can’t wait to get your cookbook
Blessings
Jamie/Indiana
Trevor
Ooooooo I don’t have whisky!!!! :( But, can it do without?
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
There is not one ingredient here that is not on the “love it” list in our house. And then you put them in pudding. I am undone.
Sues
I can’t see the photos either… But it’s ALWAYS a sign of an amazing recipe if you don’t get to see any photos and you drool anyway. This sounds incredible :)
Giovanna burroealici
Who stole the photos????
Julia
Why are the pictures not coming up???
Lynne
Must have pictures, Joy!!
Also, how do you keep your girlish figure eating all these sweets?
Vanessa
WOW-I must make! Mmmm…..
jenny
I just had dental surgery yesterday, so this might just be in order for today. I think I will use rum instead of whiskey. Rum from the jar of Goslings and vanilla beans in my pantry. I doubt I will wait for it to cool.
Katrina
Mmmm amazing pudding recipe! I love butterscotch flavour, and this sounds heavenly!
tj
…Oh girl, you can bet your bottom dollar Jack Daniels himself had whiskey in his pudding! lol… :o)
…And btw, your photos aren’t showing up. :o\
…Thanks for the recipe! Enjoy your day!
…Blessings… :o)
tj
…Okay, seriously girl, just how much whiskey did you put in your pudding? Still no photos… *tap*tap*tap* Joy, you with us? *giggle* ;o)
SoMD Baker
Joy, the pics aren’t posting!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Butterscotch doesn’t usually appeal to me, but this sure does!
Jade @ No Longer 25
This sounds so very amazing, but I can’t see the photos, it’s probably just as well or I may drool over my keyboard.
What’s the fun in getting old if you can’t eat pudding – especially with whisky in it!!
Stef
I also can’t see the photos. Sadpants.
Sasha - Global Table Adventure
Double sadpants.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
Whipped cream, sugar, whiskey, OH YES PLEASE!
I love making bananas foster which is just bananas, brown sugar, banana liquor and rum. So your recipe already has a special little place in my heart.
And butterscotch pudding from scratch…oh my, how wonderful!