Description
Creamy banana pudding embraces Southern comfort with layers of vanilla-soaked wafers and ripe bananas. Rich custard and fluffy whipped cream create a nostalgic dessert you’ll savor to the last delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 bananas, sliced
- 1/2 (12 ounces) package vanilla wafers
Dairy and Pudding Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese
- 1 (14 ounces) can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups (720 milliliters) cold milk
- 1 (8 ounces) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 (5 ounces) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whip cream cheese with an electric mixer until silky and velvety, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Incorporate sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, and cold milk, blending thoroughly until the mixture transforms into a thick, luxurious consistency, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Infuse vanilla extract into the mixture, stirring until perfectly integrated.
- Delicately fold thawed whipped topping, creating a smooth, aerated texture.
- Construct the first foundation layer in a 9×13-inch dish by arranging vanilla wafers across the bottom, followed by a generous spread of banana slices.
- Generously distribute half of the pudding mixture over the wafers and bananas, creating an even landscape of creamy goodness.
- Replicate the layering process with remaining wafers, bananas, and pudding mixture, building delectable strata.
- Crown the dessert with scattered wafer fragments and banana garnishes.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and pudding to solidify into a perfectly set dessert.
- Serve thoroughly chilled, presenting a classic southern-style banana pudding that promises pure indulgence.
Notes
- Softening cream cheese beforehand ensures a smoother, lump-free texture that blends easily with other ingredients.
- Use ripe, slightly spotted bananas for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor profile in the pudding.
- Make gluten-free by substituting regular vanilla wafers with gluten-free alternatives or crushed gluten-free graham crackers.
- Prevent banana browning by tossing sliced bananas in a little lemon juice before layering, which maintains their fresh appearance and prevents oxidation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 238 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg