Silky Southern Banana Pudding Recipe: A Family Favorite

Creamy banana pudding captures hearts with its irresistible Southern charm and nostalgic comfort.

Sweet memories flood back from childhood gatherings where dessert meant pure joy.

Layers of vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, and silky custard create a magical combination that delights every palate.

Grandmothers across the South have perfected this classic treat through generations of love and careful preparation.

Soft, cloud-like meringue crowns this decadent dessert, promising a heavenly experience in each spoonful.

Crumbly cookies provide delightful texture against smooth, rich custard that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that feels like a warm, sweet embrace from home.

Why This Banana Pudding Is Loved

Craft a Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: This banana pudding brings pure joy to any gathering with its creamy, dreamy layers that everyone will adore.

Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: Combining simple ingredients and a quick mixing process means you can create a stunning dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

Perfect Make-Ahead Treat: Chilling allows the flavors to blend beautifully, making it an ideal dessert you can prepare in advance for parties, potlucks, or family dinners.

No-Bake Comfort Classic: Forget complicated baking techniques – this recipe requires no oven time, making it a stress-free option for home cooks of all skill levels.

What You Need for Banana Pudding

• Vanilla Wafers: Classic cookies that create a delightful crunchy foundation for the dessert.
• Bananas: Fresh, ripe fruits that add natural sweetness and creamy texture to the pudding.

• Instant French Vanilla Pudding Mix: Provides a smooth, rich vanilla flavor and helps thicken the dessert.
• Milk: Helps activate the pudding mix and creates a creamy consistency.

• Cream Cheese: Adds a tangy richness and helps create a luxurious, smooth texture.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Brings extra sweetness and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Whipped Topping, Sweetened Whipped Cream: Provides a light, airy texture and additional creaminess to the dessert.

How to Make Banana Pudding Perfectly

Step 1: Create the Tasty Base

Grab a 9×13 inch baking dish and create a delectable foundation by spreading a generous layer of vanilla wafers across the bottom. Slice fresh bananas into beautiful rounds and arrange them evenly over the wafers, ensuring a perfect balance of cookie and fruit.

Step 2: Whip Up Creamy Pudding Magic

Grab a medium mixing bowl and your trusty hand mixer. Pour in milk and instant French vanilla pudding mix.

Blend with enthusiasm until the mixture transforms into a smooth, velvety texture that promises pure deliciousness.

Step 3: Mix Dreamy Cream Cheese Goodness

In a large bowl, unleash your mixer’s power to blend cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk.

Whip until the mixture becomes silky and uniform. Gently fold in fluffy whipped topping using a rubber spatula, creating a cloud-like mixture that will make taste buds dance.

Step 4: Marry the Flavor Sensations

Carefully combine the pudding mixture with the cream cheese blend. Fold gently to ensure a perfect marriage of flavors, creating a luscious, creamy concoction that screams indulgence.

Step 5: Build Your Banana Pudding Masterpiece

Pour the creamy mixture over the waiting layer of wafers and bananas. Spread evenly to create a smooth, inviting surface.

Crown your creation with the remaining vanilla wafers, adding a delightful crunch to the creamy landscape.

Step 6: Chill and Anticipate

Tuck your banana pudding into the refrigerator for at least an hour.

This crucial resting time allows the flavors to mingle and intensify, transforming your dessert into a mind-blowing treat that will have everyone begging for seconds.

Tips to Improve Your Banana Pudding

• Opt for ripe, spotty bananas to maximize natural sweetness and ensure a rich, creamy banana flavor in your pudding.
• Chill the dessert for at least 4-6 hours or overnight to allow wafers to soften and flavors to develop fully.
• Prevent browning by tossing banana slices in a bit of lemon juice before layering in the dish.
• Use full-fat cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk for the most luxurious, velvety texture in your pudding.
• Crush some extra vanilla wafers and sprinkle on top just before serving for added crunch and visual appeal.

Tasty Ways to Remix Banana Pudding

• Low-Sugar Banana Pudding: Replace sweetened condensed milk with sugar-free condensed milk and use sugar-free vanilla wafers for a diabetic-friendly version.
• Gluten-Free Banana Pudding: Swap regular vanilla wafers with gluten-free cookie alternatives like almond flour or rice flour-based wafers.
• Vegan Banana Pudding: Use coconut milk pudding mix, dairy-free cream cheese, coconut whipped cream, and vegan vanilla wafers for a plant-based adaptation.
• Chocolate Banana Pudding: Add cocoa powder to the pudding mix and sprinkle chocolate shavings between layers for a rich chocolate variation.

Great Pairings with Banana Pudding

• Savor Sweet Wine Pairing: Moscato d'Asti's light, sweet bubbles perfectly complement the creamy banana pudding's rich texture and enhance its dessert notes.
• Brew Perfect Coffee Match: Medium roast Colombian coffee with caramel undertones cuts through the pudding's sweetness while highlighting its vanilla and banana flavors.
• Create Delightful Milk Companion: Chilled whole milk provides a classic, refreshing counterpoint to the dessert's creamy consistency and balances its sugary profile.
• Blend Dessert Cocktail Option: Banana liqueur mixed with light rum creates a sophisticated adult version that intensifies the pudding's tropical banana essence.

How to Store Banana Pudding Best

Transfer leftover banana pudding to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or lid to prevent air exposure and maintain freshness.

Carefully place pudding in a freezer-safe container, seal completely, and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Avoid adding fresh banana slices before freezing to prevent browning and texture changes.

Remove frozen pudding from freezer and let it slowly defrost in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours. Gently stir before serving to restore original creamy consistency.

For best results, enjoy banana pudding cold directly from the refrigerator. If desired, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly before serving.

FAQs

• What ingredients give this banana pudding its unique texture?

The cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk create a rich, creamy base, while the whipped topping adds lightness and smoothness. The vanilla wafers provide a delightful crunch and complement the soft banana layers.

• Can I use homemade pudding instead of instant mix?

While instant pudding works best for convenience, you can use homemade vanilla pudding. Just ensure it’s cooled and thick before mixing with the cream cheese mixture to maintain the right consistency.

• How do I prevent bananas from turning brown?

Slice bananas just before assembling the dessert and layer them between the pudding mixture to minimize oxidation. For extra protection, you can lightly toss banana slices in a bit of lemon juice before adding them to the dish.

The Best Banana Pudding Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Creamy Southern banana pudding brings comfort and nostalgia to dessert tables with layers of silky custard, ripe bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers. Guests will savor each spoonful of this classic Southern treat that promises pure indulgence and sweet memories.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 to 6 bananas, sliced
• 11 ounces (311 grams) vanilla wafers
• 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Pudding and Milk Components:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) milk
• 1 (5 ounces / 142 grams) box instant French vanilla pudding
• 1 (14 ounces / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk

Topping:

• 1 (12 ounces / 340 grams) container frozen whipped topping, thawed (or equal amount of sweetened whipped cream)

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Instructions

1. Arrange a foundational layer of vanilla wafers across the bottom of a 9×13 inch dish, creating an even base. Strategically place banana slices atop the wafers, ensuring uniform coverage.
2. Utilize a hand mixer to combine milk with instant French vanilla pudding mix in a medium bowl. Whisk until the mixture transforms into a smooth, velvety consistency.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, blend cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk using a hand mixer until achieving a seamless texture. Gently incorporate thawed whipped topping using a rubber spatula, creating a light and airy mixture.
4. Delicately fold the prepared pudding mixture into the cream cheese blend, ensuring thorough integration without deflating the mixture’s delicate structure.
5. Carefully pour the combined mixture over the initial wafer and banana layer, spreading evenly to create a uniform surface. Elegantly garnish the top with remaining vanilla wafers, creating a decorative finish.
6. Refrigerate the dessert for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and the pudding to set. For optimal taste and texture, extended chilling time is recommended.

Notes

• Slice bananas uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even distribution throughout the dessert.
• Use ripe, soft bananas for maximum sweetness and natural flavor enhancement.
• Prevent banana browning by adding a light splash of lemon juice to the sliced fruit before layering.
• For a gluten-free version, replace traditional vanilla wafers with gluten-free cookies or graham crackers.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 410 kcal
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg