Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• Kosher salt
• 5 large egg yolks, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 ripe bananas, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 3 ounces vanilla wafer cookies, lightly crushed (about 24)

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Instructions

1. Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
2. Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
3. Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the pan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue to whisk until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding and refrigerate until completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
5. One hour before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in 3/4 of the sliced bananas. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Fold in the vanilla wafers, spoon the pudding into six to eight individual cups and top with the remaining banana slices.