Southern Banana Pudding vs Maritozzi con la Panna (Sweet Buns with Cream)

Both desserts rely on milk, eggs, butter and sugar, but use them very differently. The banana pudding cooks milk, egg yolks and flour into a thick stovetop custard with butter and vanilla, then layers it with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas for a soft, spoonable dessert topped with baked meringue or whipped cream. The maritozzi work egg, butter and milk into a yeasted dough scented with orange zest, baked into golden buns. These are split and generously filled with cold cream whipped with powdered sugar and vanilla, pairing a soft, bready bun with an airy filling.