Banana Pudding
Banana Pudding is a pretty popular classic dessert with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and cookies. If you are looking for an easy and delicious banana pudding recipe, you need to try this one.
The ultimate potluck dessert, weeknight treat, or summer potluck has Chessman cookies, real banana slices, with a creamy pudding.
What is Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is a layered banana dessert with creamy pudding, banana slices, and cookies. For this recipe I used Chessman but you can easily use Vanilla wafers for a more traditional version.
There's also a no bake banana pudding, which is what this is, and a baked banana pudding version with a delicious meringue topping. It tastes fantastic both ways.
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Ingredients
For this easy no bake banana pudding recipe, you only need a few ingredients. This is semi-homemade but you can put more of a homemade spin on it by making a vanilla custard instead of using instant pudding mix.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- Bananas - This isn't a recipe you want to use with overripe bananas because you'll want the slices to maintain their shape in the layers, but you also don't want them to be green. Take a look at the bananas in the picture above to get the perfect ripeness.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - This helps flavor and sweeten the heavy whipping cream that will be added after the pudding thickens up.
- Pudding - I used Godiva white chocolate vanilla bean instant pudding mix, but any vanilla instant pudding mix will work.
- Heavy Whipping Cream - The heavy cream is whipped up to stiff peaks and then folded into the vanilla pudding. You can substitute this for 16 ounces of whipped topping but you may want to reduce the amount of sweetened condensed milk that will be added or omit it entirely.
How to make Banana Pudding
The full directions for this banana pudding are in the recipe card below. Here is a quick overview on how to make it.
Start by adding water and condensed milk in a bowl. Whisk together. Next add in your pudding and mix until fully combined.
Place in the fridge to set up for around 4 hours.
Once the pudding has set up, you can then assemble your pudding. Start by whipping up your heavy cream, and then fold it into the pudding that's set up.
Now you will do a layer of pudding, fresh bananas, cookies, and repeat. Use a casserole dish of your choice or glasses for individual servings.
Variations and Tips
- Use vanilla wafers in place of the Chessman cookies.
- You can leave out the fresh banana slices if you would like.
- If you have overripe bananas, mash them up and fold them into the pudding with the whipped cream instead of slicing them and layering them in.
- Use store-bought whipped topping instead of making homemade whipped cream.
- If you can't find Godiva pudding vanilla or French vanilla pudding can be swapped in replace.
- You can make homemade vanilla custard instead of instant vanilla pudding mix.
- Top with extra banana slices, cookie crumbles, and whipped cream if you want.
Recipe FAQs
This recipe will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator. The first thing that will go bad is the bananas. They will begin to turn brown as it sits in the refrigerator a bit.
You will find that freezing banana pudding can be done, but you run the risk of it crystalizing once it freezes. It will do that because its higher water content.
If you do choose to freeze, it will freeze for 2-3 months in the freezer. The cookies will be very soft when thawed.
If you want to make this pudding in advance, you can make 24 hours in advance. Just store in the fridge covered. Then slice and serve the next day. I wouldn't go over 24 hours or it will begin to become too soggy.
Banana Desserts you will love:
- If you are looking for a bite-sized banana cream pie recipe, these Mini Banana Cream Pies are perfect.
- If you want to jazz up your ice cream with bananas, check out this Banana Flambe Sundae recipe.
- Overripe bananas? Maybe not perfect for a banana pudding recipe, but great for this Banana Cake with Cake Mix recipe.
- Want a little chocolate with your banana recipe? This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is just the ticket. It's moist, tender, and full of chocolate chips.
- Looking for a recipe that's fried? These Banana Fritters are like fair food but homemade!
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Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 5-6 bananas sliced
- 1 ½ cups cold water
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 box Godiva instant white chocolate vanilla bean pudding
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 packages Chessman Cookies about 48 cookies
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the water and sweetened condensed milk. Whisk until combined.
- Add in the packet of pudding and continue to whisk until incorporated.
- Place in the fridge for 4 hours.
- Whip the cream with a hand mixer on medium until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the whipped cream into the chilled pudding mixture until no streaks remain.
- In a trifle bowl or casserole dish, layer pudding, cookies, and then bananas. Repeat pattern.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 12 hours or overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
