Banana pudding is a classic Southern American dessert made with layers of fresh banana slices, vanilla custard or pudding, vanilla wafers or sponge cake, and whipped cream or meringue, typically chilled before serving so the flavors blend and the cookies soften; it became especially popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as boxed vanilla wafers from companies like Nabisco became widely available, and today it exists in traditional baked meringue versions, easy no-bake styles, and rich bakery-style varieties popularized by places like Magnolia Bakery.