Best Banana Pudding Recipe (2024)

Jump to RecipePin Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I’m going to let you in on the homemade banana pudding recipe my grandmother made, with my own special touches.

When you follow my easy steps below, you will impress all your friends and family with this no-bake dessert ready in just 30 minutes.

Best Banana Pudding Recipe (1)

There are so many new variations of the classic southern banana pudding, but sometimes taking it back to the basics is the very best.

Classic, creamy banana pudding transports me right back to childhood. This simple, old-school banana pudding hits the spot every single time.

Beginner Friendly Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding

If you’ve never tried banana pudding, this is the perfect recipe to start with! With layers of fresh bananas, layers of creamy vanilla pudding, and layers of crunchy vanilla wafers… my mouth waters just describing it!

This easy recipe is the perfect make-ahead dessert. Assemble your banana pudding in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap if you plan to make it the day before or take it to a get-together.

Best Banana Pudding Recipe (2)

Why You’ll Love This Easy Banana Pudding Recipe

  • Ready in 30 minutes
  • 5 Simple ingredients
  • No-bake dessert
  • Ultimate comfort food
  • Great recipe for family gatherings
Best Banana Pudding Recipe (3)

What You’ll Need For Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding

This classic dessert is a hit with the whole family, and the perfect summer treat to take to cookouts or family gatherings. Get the full measurements in the recipe card below.

  • Instant vanilla pudding
  • Milk – Make sure to use cold milk! Whole milk, 1%, or skim milk works well.
  • Cool whip
  • Nilla wafers
  • Bananas – Make sure your bananas are ripe!
Best Banana Pudding Recipe (4)

How to make Banana Pudding

This nilla wafer banana pudding is one of my favorite banana desserts, especially because it’s so easy. Get the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card below.

  1. Make pudding mixture. Whisk together the pudding mix and milk in a medium mixing bowl for 2 minutes.
  2. Add cool whip. Allow the pudding to sit for 3 minutes. Fold in 1/3 of the cool whip to the pudding.
  3. Layer banana pudding. Add a layer of vanilla wafer cookies to the bottom of a trifle dish. Add ¼ of the pudding mixture on top of the wafers, then top that with a layer of banana slices. Repeat these layers until you fill the trifle bowl.
  4. Add toppings. Spread the remaining cool whip on top. Add crushed nilla wafers and fresh banana slices to the top.
Best Banana Pudding Recipe (5)

Homemade Banana Pudding Tips

  • Let the pudding thicken. Make sure to let the pudding thicken completely before adding it to the recipe. Otherwise, your banana pudding may end up watery.
  • Avoid brown bananas. If you make this easy banana pudding recipe ahead of time, your bananas may start to get brown spots. To avoid this, use a very light spritz of lemon juice on the banana slice before adding them to the pudding. If you’re not worried about the look, leave them as is. The flavor won’t be changed when the bananas start to brown.
  • Serve this dish cold. The best way to serve banana pudding is cold. It can even start to get a little runny once it starts warming up. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
  • Use instant pudding. Instant pudding is the trick to making the best banana pudding recipe because it cuts the time majorly! Homemade pudding is great, but instant pudding is just as delicious and saves you so much trouble.
Best Banana Pudding Recipe (6)

Substitutions & Variations on this recipe for Banana Pudding

  • Reduced Fat – Reduce the fat and calories in this easy banana pudding recipe by substituting ingredients. Reduced-fat vanilla wafers, fat-free milk, and low cool whip can be used.
  • Use regular pudding mix (instead of instant) – If you already have a regular vanilla pudding mix on hand, you can use that instead. You’ll just need to allow for time to cook the pudding and allow it to cool and thicken for at least several hours.
  • Make it Paula Deen Style – Try my Paula Deen Banana Pudding recipe, which uses Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies and cream cheese for a twist on this classic recipe.

Storing Homemade Banana Pudding

You want to store this in a refrigerator covered for up to four days. You can use a container with a tight fitting lid or plastic wrap to cover your nilla wafer banana pudding.

Recommended Trifle Bowls

Looking for another dessert to make in a trifle? Try strawberry angel fluff!

Best Banana Pudding Recipe (7)

Best Banana Pudding Recipe FAQs

Can banana pudding be made with instant banana pudding?

Yes, a banana instant pudding mix is a great way to amp up the banana flavor in your banana pudding. If you still want the vanilla flavor, add a little vanilla extract to the banana pudding.

Can I use real whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?

You can use homemade whip cream instead of the Cool Whip but make sure you’re not using the can of whip cream on top of the pudding. It will just water down the pudding and become a mess.

Can old fashioned banana pudding be made up ahead of time?

Yes, I’d prefer to have this delicious dessert the next day just because all the flavors start to meld, and the layers of vanilla wafers begin to soften.

What can you put in bananas to keep them from turning brown in banana pudding?

To prevent bananas from turning brown, squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over the banana slices before adding them to the pudding.

Does banana pudding need to be covered in the fridge?

For best results,you want to store this in a refrigerator, covered, for up to four days. You can use a container with a tight fitting lid or plastic wrap to cover your nilla wafer banana pudding.

Why is my banana pudding runny?

Using a milk alternative or not letting the pudding thicken can cause banana pudding to be runny. Be sure to use cow’s milk and to let the pudding sit for 3 minutes to thicken before moving onto the next step.

How ripe should bananas be for pudding?

You want to use bananas that are fully yellow with little brown spots throughout the peel. Choose bananas that are soft, but not mushy.

More Banana Recipes

  • Banana Brownies
  • Banana Pudding Poke Cake
  • Banana Nut Bundt Cake
  • Healthy Banana Breakfast Cookies

4.72 from 21 ratings

Tap stars to rate!

Best Banana Pudding Recipe

By: Beth

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

SavePinRatePrint

This easy banana pudding recipe is like that classic banana pudding your grandma always made. Made in a trifle bowl with layer after layer of vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, creamy instant vanilla pudding mix, and cool whip to top it off.

Ingredients

  • two 3.2 oz packages instant vanilla pudding
  • 4 cups milk, cold
  • 8 oz cool whip
  • 11 oz box nilla wafers
  • 8 medium bananas, peeled and sliced

Instructions

  • Whisk together the pudding mix and milk in a medium mixing bowl for 2 minutes. Allow the pudding to sit for 3 minutes. Fold in 1/3 of the cool whip to the pudding.

  • Add a layer of wafers to the bottom of a trifle bowl. Add ¼ of the pudding mixture on top of the wafers, then top that with banana slices. Repeat these layers until you fill the trifle bowl.

  • Spread the remaining cool whip on top. Add crushed nilla wafers and banana slices to the top.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 509mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 258IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Beth

I believe that everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring to parties! With hundreds of recipes, I'll help you find yours!

Read More About Me

You May Also Like:

Miscellaneous Desserts

Best Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Family Favorites

Best Recipe for Dirt Cake

Pie

Mud Pie Dessert

No Bake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Best Banana Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What keeps bananas from turning brown in banana pudding? ›

There are a couple of things you can do to make not brown as fast: 1) Squeeze a half lemon (juice) over the cut bananas. 2) Try to keep them airtight. The less contact with the air the less they will brown.

How to make pudding mix better? ›

Use Evaporated Milk

Replace the regular milk for a can of evaporated milk to make a creamier, more decadent pudding. Not only does it yield a luxurious texture, it dramatically improves the flavor of a pudding mix. For a tropical twist, reach for some canned coconut milk.

What ingredients are in Patti LaBelle's banana pudding? ›

Ingredients for Patti LaBelle's Banana Pudding

To recreate Patti LaBelle's iconic banana pudding, you'll need sweetened condensed milk, cold water, instant vanilla pudding mix, heavy cream, ripe bananas and vanilla wafers.

How ripe should my bananas be for banana pudding? ›

You want your bananas ripe, but not browning too much (like you'd look for in banana bread). Choose bananas that are slightly ripe; yellow with little brown specks. Lemon juice. The best way to avoid brown bananas is to toss them in a a little bit of lemon juice before laying them on top of the Nilla wafers.

How much lemon juice to keep bananas from browning? ›

2. Add citric acid. To preserve peeled bananas, take a tablespoon of lemon juice and brush it over the banana. Lime juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice will work as well.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of milk in pudding? ›

You can substitute 3 cups regular milk for evaporated milk if you want to deviate and make regular plain pudding.

What is the best pudding thickener? ›

Exploring Cornstarch, Arrowroot, and Flour: The Best Thickening Agents
  • Cornstarch is a popular thickening agent for chocolate pudding due to its neutral flavor and high thickening power. ...
  • Arrowroot is another effective thickener, prized for its clear, shiny finish.
Jul 3, 2024

Should you stir pudding? ›

Resist the urge to stir

Once your pudding is set and chilling in the fridge, you're done stirring. Nope, don't even give it a swirl before serving up in dessert dishes. Extra stirring after the fact will loosen up the rich texture of the pudding that you worked so hard to create.

What is magnolia banana pudding made of? ›

World-Famous Banana Pudding

Our vanilla wafers, vanilla pudding mix, and sweetened condensed milk are carefully packed to ensure freshness and flavor authenticity. Each ingredient is selected to help re-create the irresistible treat that has made Magnolia Bakery a dessert destination.

How do you make banana pudding not lumpy? ›

I find that if I mix the thickened, whether it is cornstarch or some other dry powder, with the sugar first and then slowly add the liquid while whisking, I have few if any lumps. The idea is to add just a few tablespoons to the dry ingredients to make a smooth paste and then keep adding more until it's all added.

How to keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding? ›

While using acidic juice or a coating of honey can prevent browning, the way you construct your dessert also affects the bananas. For banana pudding, ensure you completely cover the layers of bananas with the pudding. Doing so forms a barrier between the bananas and the air, helping them stay fresh longer.

Why is my homemade pudding not thickening? ›

Cornstarch and flour play crucial roles in thickening the pudding. When these thickening agents are not measured correctly, they cannot absorb and swell adequately to achieve the desired consistency. For instance, too little cornstarch will result in a pudding that fails to set properly, leading to a runny texture.

Why does my banana pudding have lumps? ›

banana pudding was not thick enough. If you want your banana pudding thicker, all you gotta do is keep stirring it on the stove. to medium to low heat.

How to keep bananas from turning brown in a banana cream pie? ›

To avoid this, you could try Cooking Light's recommendation of using honey thinned with water to "coat" the banana slices. This method will also help hinder the browning and add a sweet flavor to your fruit.

What powder keeps bananas from turning brown? ›

Sprinkle citric acid over the slices to preserve freshness.

These powders are specifically designed to keep your sliced banana from turning brown.

References

Top Articles
New clues in unsolved murder of Adelaide model Corinna Marr
Texas executes Ramiro Gonzales after failed appeals that argued he was no longer a threat nor eligible for death penalty | CNN
Dannys U Pull - Self-Service Automotive Recycling
DPhil Research - List of thesis titles
Arkansas Gazette Sudoku
Obituary (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin): Tully Area Historical Society
Alpha Kenny Buddy - Songs, Events and Music Stats | Viberate.com
Tap Tap Run Coupon Codes
What's Wrong with the Chevrolet Tahoe?
Tcu Jaggaer
What Time Chase Close Saturday
“In my day, you were butch or you were femme”
180 Best Persuasive Essay Topics Ideas For Students in 2024
Sam's Club La Habra Gas Prices
Urban Airship Expands its Mobile Platform to Transform Customer Communications
Bank Of America Financial Center Irvington Photos
U Arizona Phonebook
The Menu Showtimes Near Regal Edwards Ontario Mountain Village
Officialmilarosee
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Showtimes Near Cinépolis Vista
O'Reilly Auto Parts - Mathis, TX - Nextdoor
College Basketball Picks: NCAAB Picks Against The Spread | Pickswise
Stihl Dealer Albuquerque
Pawn Shop Moline Il
Plost Dental
Foodsmart Jonesboro Ar Weekly Ad
No Limit Telegram Channel
Nottingham Forest News Now
Combies Overlijden no. 02, Stempels: 2 teksten + 1 tag/label & Stansen: 3 tags/labels.
24 Hour Drive Thru Car Wash Near Me
Cavanaugh Photography Coupon Code
MethStreams Live | BoxingStreams
Roch Hodech Nissan 2023
Newcardapply Com 21961
Justin Mckenzie Phillip Bryant
Hotels Near New Life Plastic Surgery
Merge Dragons Totem Grid
Blasphemous Painting Puzzle
Uc Santa Cruz Events
MSD Animal Health Hub: Nobivac® Rabies Q & A
Trap Candy Strain Leafly
Ig Weekend Dow
Shell Gas Stations Prices
Aurora Southeast Recreation Center And Fieldhouse Reviews
Leland Westerlund
Identogo Manahawkin
1Tamilmv.kids
Is My Sister Toxic Quiz
Superecchll
Gameplay Clarkston
login.microsoftonline.com Reviews | scam or legit check
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5772

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.