Description
This classic banana pudding recipe is a creamy, dreamy layered dessert made with vanilla pudding, sweetened condensed milk, whipped cream, banana slices, and vanilla wafers. It’s perfect for potlucks, holidays, or any day you’re craving comfort food in a bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cold whole milk (480ml)
- 1 (14-ounce/397g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (5.1-ounce/144g) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream, divided (720ml)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
- 1 (15-ounce/425g) box vanilla wafer cookies
- 5 large bananas
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and sweetened condensed milk until well combined.
- Sprinkle in the instant vanilla pudding mix and whisk until smooth and lump-free. Refrigerate for 5 minutes or until set.
- In a separate bowl, whip 2 cups of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the whipped cream gently into the chilled pudding mixture until fully combined.
- Peel and slice the bananas into ½-inch thick coins just before assembly to prevent browning.
- To assemble, layer vanilla wafer cookies on the bottom of a trifle dish or large serving bowl.
- Spoon a quarter of the pudding mixture over the cookies and smooth it out with a spatula.
- Repeat layers: cookies, upright cookies along the edge, banana slices, and another quarter of pudding. Smooth again.
- Continue layering cookies, bananas, and pudding until all ingredients are used, alternating banana slices and cookies along the dish walls.
- Chill assembled dessert for at least 3 hours.
- For the topping, whip the remaining 1 cup of cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until soft peaks form (about 2 minutes).
- Top the pudding with whipped cream, extra banana slices, and crumbled vanilla wafers if desired. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Slice bananas just before assembling to keep them from browning.
- Chilling the dessert for a few hours helps the flavors blend and improves texture.
- You can use an electric mixer for faster whipping of cream.
- Trifle dish presentation enhances the look, but any large bowl will work.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 75mg