This homemade Banana Pudding is one of the easiest desserts to make. It has several layers of creamy vanilla pudding, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas. I made this as a "make ahead dessert" for my wife's friends over the weekend, and they loved it! Only six ingredients are required, but it's bursting with deliciousness!
If you like this recipe, you'll like my classic Tiramisu recipe as well!
About This Recipe
Most people I know have never heard of banana pudding. Whenever I mention it to someone, they always assume I'm talking about banana-flavored pudding- which, let's be honest, is not everyone's favorite.
The banana pudding I'm talking about is a layered dessert. It's super popular in the American South. It has layers of soft Vanilla wafers (not the kind you may think of), creamy vanilla pudding lightened with whipped cream, and slices of banana. It's very similar to a Tiramisu in how it's prepared, but without the coffee!
The best part of this recipe is that it's no bake! All you do is layer the ingredients together in a dish and refrigerate for a few hours (just enough time for the wafers to soften). Once the time is up, I like to sprinkle some extra wafers on top for extra crunch.
The banana pudding can technically stay good in the fridge for up to one week, but in my experience, it has never stuck around for more than 2 days ๐.
Key Ingredients
Instant vanilla pudding: We will need one 4.6-ounce box of instant vanilla pudding. I actually used one-and-a-half smaller boxes because I could not find a family size today.
Milk: Any type of milk should work for this, including milk alternatives like oat, almond, or soy.
Sweetened condensed milk: This is the main sweetener for the dessert. I used an entire 14-ounce can. If you do not like it to be as sweet, you can cut it in half. What I would recommend is mixing in half the amount, then tasting and adjusting as necessary.
Heavy cream: We will beat the cream separately to make it light and airy, then fold it into the vanilla pudding.
Nilla wafers: These are a special type of wafer. They are circular and crunchy. The most popular brand is Nilla wafers. One important thing is these are only available in the United States. If you're from Canada, there is a similar version from Kinnikinnick.
Bananas: I highly recommend using slightly underripe bananas for this. The dessert is very sweet. Underripe bananas will have a more tart flavor that balances better.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a large bowl, combine the milk, vanilla pudding mix, and condensed milk. Whisk for 2-3 minutes until smooth (it's okay if not all the pudding grains dissolve). Transfer to the fridge and let it thicken while you beat the heavy cream.
STEP 2: In a medium bowl, add the heavy cream and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
STEP 3: Fold the cream into the pudding.
STEP 4: To assemble, add ยฝ of the wafers to a glass dish. I like to cut some cookies in half to fill the empty spaces.
STEP 5: Add ยฝ of the pudding mixture.
STEP 6: Add ยฝ of the banana slices.
STEP 7: Repeat the layers again. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for a few hours. Right before serving, add some extra sliced bananas and wafers on top. Enjoy!
๐ Recipe
Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 (4.6-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 (12-ounce) box Nilla Vanilla Wafers (or graham crackers or ladyfingers)
- 5 large bananas (sliced)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the milk, vanilla pudding mix, and condensed milk. Whisk for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate for 5 minutes or until set.
- In a large bowl, add the heavy cream. Beat with a hand mixer for 3-5 minutes until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the pudding and refrigerate until ready to use.
- To assemble the pudding, grab a large glass dish (I used a large square baking dish. A 9x13 baking dish is best). Add ยฝ of the wafers, followed by ยฝ of the pudding, and ยฝ of the bananas. Repeat the layers again.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Right before serving, I like to crumble on some more wafers for extra crunch. Enjoy!
Kathryn
Made this for the first time for my granddaughterโs birthday party and it was delicious! So creamy with the perfect amount of sweetness. It is now my favorite dessert!