Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake) vs Southern Banana Pudding

Both desserts rely on a stovetop vanilla custard enriched with egg, milk and butter, but use it very differently. Bienenstich thickens its custard with cornstarch, then folds in whipped cream for a light filling inside a soft yeasted cake topped with caramelized honey-butter almonds. Southern Banana Pudding thickens its custard with flour and egg yolks and layers it warm over vanilla wafers and sliced bananas, finished with golden baked meringue or whipped cream. One leans on toasted almond and honey, the other on mellow banana and spoonable softness.