Description
Creamy strawberry banana pudding swirls classic Southern charm with fruity freshness in one delightful dessert. Silky layers of ripe bananas, sweet strawberries, and velvety vanilla pudding will transport you to a blissful culinary paradise.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
- 1 container strawberries, chopped
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) milk
- 2 boxes vanilla wafers
Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 (5 ounces / 142 grams) box French vanilla pudding mix
- 1 (8 ounces / 227 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (14 ounces / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12 ounces / 340 grams) container frozen whipped topping, thawed (or equal amount sweetened whipped cream)
Instructions
- Craft a solid foundation by carefully arranging vanilla wafers across the bottom of a rectangular serving dish, creating a uniform cookie base. Strategically place banana slices atop the wafer layer to ensure complete coverage.
- Utilize a mixing bowl to combine milk and French vanilla pudding mix. Employ an electric mixer to whip the ingredients until achieving a smooth, velvety consistency with no lumps.
- In a separate mixing vessel, blend softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until achieving a silky texture. Delicately incorporate thawed whipped topping, folding gently to maintain the mixture’s airy structure.
- Merge the pudding and cream cheese mixtures, stirring thoroughly to create a harmonious, uniform filling with consistent color and texture.
- Methodically pour the combined mixture over the cookie and banana foundation, ensuring even distribution. Artfully scatter fresh strawberry pieces across the surface, providing vibrant color and fruity bursts.
- Complete the dessert by layering remaining vanilla wafers across the top, creating an attractive and textural finishing touch.
- Refrigerate the dessert for minimum 4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and pudding to set completely. Best served chilled within 24 hours of preparation.
Notes
- Customize wafer layers by toasting them lightly in the oven for enhanced crunch and deeper flavor profile.
- Prevent banana browning by tossing sliced bananas in fresh lemon juice before layering to maintain bright color and prevent oxidation.
- Consider using reduced-fat cream cheese and sugar-free pudding mix for a lighter, lower-calorie version without compromising taste.
- Elevate presentation by garnishing with fresh mint leaves or additional sliced strawberries just before serving for a vibrant, restaurant-style finish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg