Southern-Style Gluten-Free Banana Meringue Pudding

You will need 6 8-ounce custard cups or ramekins Prepare pudding:

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and coconut milk OR milk in a heavy saucepan and whisk to blend ingredients. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly for about 6-8 minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken and bubble. Boil for 1 minute while continuing to whisk. Remove the pan from heat.

Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk to blend. Slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of hot pudding mixture into egg yolks while briskly whisking. Slowly drizzle the egg mixture into the saucepan with remaining pudding. Return pudding to medium heat and whisk constantly until the mixture begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Don't overcook!

Stir in dairy-free butter substitute OR butter.

Preheat oven to 425° F / 218° C To assemble individual puddings:

Place 2 gluten-free vanilla wafers or animal crackers in the bottom of each custard cup. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to pour 1/4 cup pudding into each custard cup. Top pudding with sliced bananas (about 5 slices per layer.) Add another 1/4 cup pudding followed by another layer of bananas. Top with enough pudding to fill custard cups.

Ring top of cups with cookies or animal crackers as pictured.

Prepare meringue:

Place room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar in a medium mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer and beat on high for about 2 minutes. Mixture will be frothy. With mixer on high, add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until glossary and peaks form but don't over beat or meringue will be dry.

Use a spoon to mound meringue on top of each pudding cup. Spread meringue out to edges of custard cup and make high peaks in the center. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 5-8 minutes or just until meringue is golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid scorching the meringue.

Cool puddings on a rack for about 30 minutes. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Recipe for Gluten-Free Vanilla Wafers Reminder: Always make sure your work surfaces, utensils, pans and tools are free of gluten. Always read product labels. Manufacturers can change product formulations without notice. When in doubt, do not buy or use a product before contacting the manufacturer for verification that the product is free of gluten.