Topped with a fluffy meringue and baked until golden brown, baked banana pudding is a sweet Southern staple, especially when layered with homemade vanilla wafers. This recipe first appeared in Season 14 of Good Eats.
Toss the banana slices and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar, the flour, and salt in a 3-quart saucier. Add the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Add the half and half and carefully whisk to combine. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 172° to 180ºF, 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
Spread a small amount of the pudding in the bottom of an oven-safe 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Pour one-third of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding.
Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue whisking until stiff peaks form. Spoon the meringue over the warm pudding, being sure to cover the edges. Bake until the meringue is evenly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pudding from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving. Cool completely before refrigerating. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.