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Classic Banana Pudding

Featured in: Sweet Desserts

This comforting Southern pudding combines smooth layers of homemade-tasting pudding, sweetened condensed milk, and cream cheese for a rich base. Add slices of ripe bananas and crisp vanilla wafers that soften perfectly as they sit. What makes this version shine is freshly whipped cream, both in the filling and as a fluffy topping. It’s simple to put together yet feels special. A must-have for summer get-togethers or whenever you’re craving a nostalgic treat. Everything melds into pure deliciousness by the time it’s ready to serve!
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punchofyummy
Updated on Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:33:41 GMT
Glass bowl filled with bananas and crunchy cookies. Pin it
Glass bowl filled with bananas and crunchy cookies. | pinchofyummy.com

Smooth vanilla pudding layered with sweet banana slices and crunchy vanilla cookies creates this unforgettable Southern dessert. This no-bake treat comes together quickly, making it ideal for family get-togethers, neighborhood potlucks, or whenever you're craving something sweet to finish your meal. The magic happens as the cookies slowly soften against the creamy pudding, creating an amazing texture that gets better the longer it sits.

I took this banana treat to my cousin's backyard cookout a few weeks back, and it disappeared right away. Even my banana-hating uncle grabbed a second helping. There's just something special about pudding, cookies and fresh fruit that wins over even the biggest doubters. My grandma always told me it tastes like bottled sunshine, and I totally get what she meant now.

Essential Pudding Components

  • Cream cheese: Gives a luxurious base with a touch of tang
  • Sweetened condensed milk: Adds smooth sweetness without sugar crystals
  • Pure vanilla extract: Boosts the overall taste wonderfully
  • Kosher salt: Cuts the sweetness and brings out other flavors
  • Cold milk: Works with pudding mix for the right thickness
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix: Makes thickening super easy
  • Fresh whipped cream: Makes everything airier while staying rich
  • Ripe bananas: Supply the signature sweetness and flavor
  • Vanilla wafer cookies: Give that must-have crunch between layers

Mastering Your Banana Layers

Start With Softened Cheese:
Put room temperature cream cheese in a big mixing bowl. Beat it with electric beaters until it's completely smooth with zero lumps. This makes your pudding base velvety and ensures everything mixes evenly.
Mix In The Sweet Stuff:
Pour sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt into your bowl. Beat until everything's mixed up and looks shiny. The condensed milk doesn't just sweeten—it makes everything extra creamy.
Mix Up The Pudding:
Add cold milk and instant pudding to your cream cheese mix. Beat at medium speed until everything's combined and starting to get a bit thicker. It should be smooth but still easy to pour.
Cooling Time:
Cover your bowl with plastic and stick it in the fridge for at least 20 minutes so the pudding can set up properly. For best results, let it chill several hours or overnight so it gets super thick and flavorful.
Cream Preparation:
In another large bowl, whip your heavy cream until it forms firm peaks but still looks glossy. Don't whip too long or it'll get grainy. Set aside about a quarter of it for the top.
Easy Combining:
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the rest of your whipped cream into the cold pudding mixture with up-and-down motions. This keeps all the air bubbles intact for a fluffier texture.
Building Your Layers:
Create beautiful stacks in a see-through bowl starting with pudding on the bottom, then vanilla wafers placed next to each other, then overlapping banana slices. Repeat these layers, ending with pudding and your saved whipped cream.
Top It Off:
Just before you serve, decorate the top with extra vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices arranged in a pretty pattern. This gives guests a hint of what's waiting inside.
A glass bowl filled with bananas and nuts. Pin it
A glass bowl filled with bananas and nuts. | pinchofyummy.com

The coolest thing about this dessert is watching it change over time. When you first put it together, you get that awesome contrast between crunchy cookies and smooth pudding. After it chills, the wafers turn cake-like and soak up all that banana goodness. My children always want this instead of birthday cake, saying it's like watching food magic happen in the fridge overnight.

Delightful Serving Ideas

Dish this pretty dessert into separate parfait glasses for fancy dinner parties, giving everyone their own mini version that shows off all the layers. For casual family meals, just scoop big portions into bowls and watch everyone smile at their first taste. During hot months, make sure it's super cold then pack it in a cooler with ice packs for the perfect picnic dessert that stays nice and cool.

Tasty Twists

Switch things up by using chocolate cookies instead of vanilla ones to make a chocolate-banana combo that satisfies sweet tooth cravings. For a beachy feel, try adding a layer of crushed pineapple and toasted coconut between banana layers. During Christmas time, mix crushed candy canes into the whipped cream topping for a fun twist that both kids and grown-ups will love.

Keeping It Fresh

Try to eat this treat within two days for the best taste and texture. Always keep it in the fridge, and cover any exposed pudding directly with plastic wrap to stop that weird skin from forming. If you want it to last a bit longer, make single servings in small jars with lids for grab-and-go treats that stay fresh a little better.

A bowl of banana and nutella. Pin it
A bowl of banana and nutella. | pinchofyummy.com

What makes banana pudding so special is how such basic ingredients can bring everyone together around the table. This simple dessert has been at all my family gatherings, becoming part of our stories and memories. Somehow these everyday ingredients mix together into something way better than you'd expect, showing that sometimes the best foods are the ones grandma used to make.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make banana pudding the day before?
Sure! But to keep everything as fresh as possible, it’s best to make it the night before and serve it within 8-10 hours. Over time, bananas may brown, and the cookies will soften more.
→ How do I keep bananas from browning?
You can brush the banana slices on top with a little lemon or pineapple juice to slow browning. Inside the pudding, the layers keep them protected.
→ Can I swap out vanilla wafers for a different cookie?
Yes! Options like graham crackers, shortbread, or butter cookies give it a unique twist while still pairing beautifully with the creamy pudding and bananas.
→ Is there a way to skip instant pudding mix?
Sure can! A scratch pudding comes together using sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, milk, and a bit of vanilla. Stir on medium heat until thick, then cool before adding to your dessert.
→ What kind of bananas work best?
Go for bananas that are mostly yellow with just a few brown dots. They should taste sweet but still hold their shape rather than being overly soft.

Classic Banana Pudding

Layers of velvety pudding, sweet bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers come together in this comforting dessert that everyone loves.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
20 Minutes
By: Amelia

Category: Sweet Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Southern American

Yield: 12 Servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened until smooth and easy to mix
02 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, use ¾ can if you prefer less sweetness
03 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for extra flavor
04 ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, just a small pinch
05 1⅓ cups of 2% milk, chilled for the best consistency
06 5.1-ounce box of instant vanilla pudding mix
07 3 cups of cold heavy cream right from the fridge
08 5-6 bananas that are perfectly ripe, thinly sliced into circles
09 11-ounce box of vanilla wafer cookies, with extras saved for munching

Instructions

Step 01

Grab a big mixing bowl and beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until it’s velvety and lump-free. Take your time here to make it super smooth. Pour in your sweetened condensed milk (¾ can for a lighter sweetness or the full can if you’re into sweet things), vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Mix again until the mixture looks well-blended. Next, add the milk and instant pudding mix, and blend on medium speed until there are no lumps in sight and the mixture is perfectly smooth. Cover the bowl and stick it into the fridge for at least 20 minutes—or even overnight if prep time is on your side.

Step 02

Use a fresh bowl for this step. Pour in your cold heavy cream and whip it up with clean beaters until stiff peaks form—it’ll take about 3 to 4 minutes. Check if it’s ready by lifting the beaters; the cream should stay in place. Scoop out 1¼ cups of the whipped cream and stash it in the fridge as a topping for later. Then gently fold the rest of the whipped cream into the chilled pudding base, using a spatula to carefully blend until the streaks disappear. Keep the mixture airy while mixing!

Step 03

Here comes the fun! Grab a deep serving dish (a trifle bowl is ideal, but any dish with depth will work). Cover the bottom with one-third of your pudding. Layer on half the vanilla wafers, then top with half the banana slices. Add another third of the pudding on top of that layer, followed by the remaining wafers and bananas (set aside a few for decoration). Spread the last portion of pudding over the top to seal it all in neatly.

Step 04

Now for the final touch—take that chilled whipped cream you set aside earlier and spread it gently over the top of your pudding masterpiece. Create some fun peaks and swirls with your spatula. Decorate with the last few banana slices and some extra wafers however you’d like. Cover the dish loosely with plastic wrap, avoiding direct contact with the topping, and let it chill until serving time. For the tastiest result, dig in within 8-10 hours of making it.

Notes

  1. A go-to dessert for family gatherings and celebrations in the South.
  2. Unlike variations that use Cool Whip, this recipe uses fresh whipped cream for a richer flavor.
  3. The cream cheese brings a slight tang and helps keep the pudding stable.
  4. Give it time to sit so the wafers soften and all the flavors come together for the perfect banana pudding texture.

Tools You'll Need

  • Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Big mixing bowls
  • Flexible rubber spatula
  • Deep serving bowl or trifle dish
  • Sharp knife for slicing bananas

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy: cream cheese, milk, and heavy cream
  • Contains wheat: vanilla wafer cookies
  • Contains eggs: found in pudding mix and possibly the cookies