Easy and Tasty Banana Pudding Recipe

With a layer of fresh banana slices, a layer of rich and creamy vanilla pudding, and a layer of freshly whipped cream, this simple banana pudding dish is a traditional no-bake meal.

This is the ideal dessert to prepare ahead of time and is popular all year long.

An Easy Favorite is Banana Pudding

One of those dishes that has been around forever is homemade banana pudding. That this dessert isn't "technically" banana pudding is what makes it amusing. It's more like pudding with bananas. In any case, Grandma used to make this traditional meal for Sunday dinner.

This recipe is simple, quick, and tasty despite the fact that there are numerous variations of it, including the well-known Magnolia Bakery banana pudding (which is honestly SO excellent).

Banana Pudding Ingredients

Start with a layer of 'Nilla Wafer cookies as the foundation for the crust layer. These squish down and take on a cake-like consistency. Graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or chessmen cookies are further cookie choices.

Bananas are the following layer. Pick bananas that are ripe when they are still yellow and slightly firm. To prevent them from browning, slice them just before layering. Bananas that are too ripe should be saved for banana bread or dessert.

Pudding Layer: The creamy layer is made up of sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and instant vanilla pudding mixture. Make sure you are using instant pudding mix in the box (and not a cooked pudding).

Whipped Cream: While you can use whipped topping (like cool whip) in this recipe, the genuine article is fresh whipped cream.

The Best Flavor is Vanilla Pudding

In this recipe, I strongly advise against using banana pudding mix and instead calling for vanilla. This dessert's flavor will be altered by the use of a banana pudding mix, which will substitute a faux banana flavor for the fresh banana vanilla flavor that this dessert should have.

How to Prepare Banana Pudding

This dish is simple and hassle-free. Make it in advance and let it sit for the night. As a result, the cookies become cake-like in texture.

Layer cookies, sliced bananas, and a creamy pudding mixture to make banana pudding.

1. Make the cream cheese/pudding mixture for the "creamy layer" (per the recipe below).

2. Whip Cream - Whip up some handmade whipped cream. Some of it should be folded into the cream cheese mixture.

3. In a 9x13 pan or two 9x9 pans, layer the cookies and bananas for the banana pudding. The cream cheese mixture should be added next, and then the whipped cream.

4. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for four hours or overnight.

Guidelines for This Recipe

• Dish Use two 99 pans or a 913 pan. This can also be prepared in a trifle dish or other sizable bowl, and spoons can be used to eat it.
• Bananas Cover the bananas entirely with the other layers. As a result, they avoid turning brown.
• Time Allow the dessert to sit for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight. This makes the cookies softer.
• Cream Whipping I add one or two packets of stabilizer, a powder that prevents your whipped cream from "wilting," to my whipped cream. Personally, I prefer Dr. Oetker Whip.

Make-Ahead

Remember that this dish needs to sit for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight!

Just before serving, garnish with the bananas to prevent them from browning. After slicing them, squeeze some lemon juice over them to prevent browning if you're going to leave them out for a while.

Keeping Remainders

Although it can be stored in the fridge for a few days, this recipe is best enjoyed the day it is prepared. The bananas could start to leak a little, but they'll still taste fantastic!

Ingredients:

▢14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk

▢8 ounces of cream cheese softened

▢1 package instant vanilla pudding mix 6 servings size

▢2 cups whole milk

▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract

▢3 cups heavy cream

▢¼ cup powdered sugar

▢5 ripe bananas

▢1 package vanilla wafer cookies*

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk should be frothy after being hand-mixed in a big basin. Pudding mix, milk, and vanilla can now be added. Beat the ingredients together thoroughly.
2. Beat heavy cream until soft peaks form in another bowl. Once you've added the sugar, keep beating until firm peaks form. Reserve 2 1⁄2 cups for the topping.
3. The pudding mixture will be combined with the remaining whipped cream.
4. Vanilla wafers should be used to line the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan or two 9×9-inch pans. Banana slices should be placed on top. Making sure the bananas are well covered, spread the pudding mixture over the top.
5. Add the last of the whipped cream on top. Overnight or for four hours, cover and chill.
6. If you'd like, add more banana slices as a garnish while serving.

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Chill time: 4 hours
• Total time: 4 hours 15 minutes 
• Servings: 15 servings

Recipe By: Holly Nilsson