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Banana-Pudding

Classic Banana Pudding Recipe with Vanilla Wafers

A good Banana Pudding Recipe is about balancing ripe bananas, a creamy pudding, and just the right amount of cookies layered together. The most common mistake is using underripe bananas, which taste starchy instead of sweet and mellow. For best results, choose bananas with plenty of brown spots on the peel; they’ll add natural sweetness and blend smoothly into the creamy layers.
This recipe is for anyone who wants a straightforward homemade dessert that’s easy to assemble and always comforting.
Difficulty: Easy
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill time: 2–4 hours, Total time: ~2½–4½ hours 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 8
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream whipped to soft peaks
  • 1 box vanilla wafers about 11 oz.
  • 4 –5 ripe bananas sliced
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Make pudding. In a bowl, whisk pudding mix with cold milk until thickened.
  2. Sweeten. Stir in the condensed milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. Fold in the cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture.
  4. Layer. In a 9x13 dish, arrange a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by sliced bananas, then the pudding mixture.
  5. Repeat. Continue layering until ingredients are used, finishing with pudding on top.
  6. Chill. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours (longer for best flavor).
  7. Serve. Garnish with crushed cookies or extra banana slices.

Video

Notes

Banana tip: Use ripe bananas with brown spots for natural sweetness.
Avoid: Mushy, overripe bananas; they discolor quickly in pudding.
Cookies: Classic vanilla wafers work best, but shortbread or Graham crackers can be used.
Creaminess: Folding in whipped cream makes the pudding lighter.