Milk Chocolate-Banana Pudding

With layers of milk chocolate pudding, chocolate wafer cookies and bananas, this nostalgic dessert beats all grandmotherly versions by a landslide.

Ingredients

• 5 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch salt
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream, plus 1 cup whipped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large bananas, thinly sliced
• 14 whole chocolate wafer cookies, plus 4 crushed, for garnish (see note)

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

    537 calories; 34 grams fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 124 milligrams cholesterol; 222 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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6 to 8 servings

Preparation

1. Place chocolate in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, sift together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt; whisk in egg yolks and 1/2 cup milk until smooth.
2. In a large saucepan over high heat, bring remaining 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream to a simmer. Pour over chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot chocolate mixture into egg mixture until completely incorporated and cocoa is dissolved.
3. Return custard to saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Do not let mixture reach a simmer. If custard begins to steam heavily, stir it, off the heat, a moment before returning it to stove top. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in vanilla.
4. Spread several tablespoons pudding evenly into an 8-inch square pan (or a glass bowl). Top with an even layer of bananas; arrange whole cookies on top of bananas. Cover with remaining pudding. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed cookies. Chill at least 3 hours or overnight before serving.

• Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers work perfectly. If you can’t find them or want to paint the lily, try using chocolate sandwich cookies like Newman-O’s.

45 minutes, plus chilling