Baked Meringue Banana Pudding

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°.

Step 2: Grease an 8 inch or 2 quart baking dish.

Step 3: Whisk together 2/3 cup sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl.

Step 4: Whisk together the sugar mixture with 4 egg yolks and milk in a medium-size heavy saucepan until well blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 6 to 8 minutes or until pudding is thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla and whisk until butter is melted and mixture is smooth.

Step 5: In the baking dish, add a little pudding to the bottom (about 1/2 cup or so). Add nilla wafers on top of pudding. Do not overlap. Then add half sliced bananas and more pudding (about 1 cup or so to cover cookies). Repeat with more nilla wafers and bananas and end with pudding. Set aside and make meringue.

Step 6: Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until sugar dissolves and stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pudding, sealing just about to edge of dish.

Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven until the meringue has browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.