Easy Banana Pudding Recipe

Recipe Pin

Anytime I buy fruits, I always try to get some bananas on hand just so I can use that as an excuse to make Banana Pudding. Whether I am making it for a family gathering, taking it to a potluck, or just wanting something rich after a long day, this banana pudding never fails to hit the spot.

The best part is that the recipe comes together very easily in no time. Honestly, this recipe feels like nostalgia layered into a dish. I mean, soft cookies, sweet bananas, and that rich, cloud-like, creamy filling that somehow tastes like home is a perfect dessert for a cozy day.

So, if you’re looking for a quick, comforting, crowd-pleasing dessert or want to enjoy some sweet dessert on your own, this Banana Pudding is perfect. Definitely try it out, and you won’t regret it.

Equipment Required

Baking Dish: I use a baking dish to assemble the pudding for baking
Mixing Bowl: You can use a mixing bowl to combine the ingredients
Handheld Electric Mixer: I prefer using an electric mixer to blend the mixture
Rubber spatula: for folding and spreading
Measuring Cups: Use measuring cups to measure ingredients accurately
Whisk: Use a whisk for blending pudding.
Knife & Cutting Board: for slicing bananas

Banana Pudding Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 5 people. You can increase or decrease the quantities for more or fewer servings.

2 Cup Cold Milk: Add coconut or almond milk in the recipe if plain milk is unavailable.
1 Package Instant Vanilla Pudding: You can substitute instant vanilla pudding with custard powder, too.
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk: Substitute it with condensed coconut milk.
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract: Add vanilla powder if vanilla extract is missing.
1 Container Frozen Whipped Topping: Fresh Whipped Cream is also a good option to add to the recipe
1 Package Vanilla Wafers: You can use digestive or bourbon biscuits in the recipe, too.
12 Small Bananas

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Resting Time	Total Time
10 Minutes	2 hours	2 hours 10 Minutes

How To Make Banana Pudding At Home

Step 1

Take a bowl, add whipped cream, condensed milk, and vanilla pudding.

Step 2

Arrange a layer of wafers at the bottom of a glass serving bowl. Top with a layer of banana slices.

Step 3

Then, a layer of pudding mixture; repeat layers until all ingredients are used.

Step 4

Garnish it with crumbled wafers and refrigerate to chill.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

I prefer using cream cheese at room temperature only.
Make sure to fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture gently.
I usually avoid using overripe bananas because they can make the pudding mushy.
I let the pudding chill for a few hours so that I can enjoy most of the flavors.
To make the bananas look bright, I dip them in lemon water.

FAQs About Banana Pudding

How do I keep the bananas from turning brown?

To avoid bananas from turning brown, I dip them in lemon water.

Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?

Yes, you can use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip.

Can I use banana pudding mix instead of French vanilla?

Yes, adding banana pudding mix instead of French vanilla will enhance the flavors of pudding to the next level.

Why did my pudding turn runny?

Your pudding may get runny if the pudding mix wasn’t whisked enough or the dessert wasn’t chilled long enough.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

I know that Paula Deen’s Banana Pudding is super rich and decadent, and so are the calories. I mean, 595 calories for one serving is quite high. Even the sugar content is too much. That is why it is better to consume the pudding only in moderation.

Calories	29 kcal
Total Fat	2 g
Cholesterol	6 mg
Sodium	19 mg
Potassium	73 mg
Total Carbohydrates	2 g
Sugar	2 g
Vitamin A	79 IU
Saturated Fat	1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	0.3 g
Protein	2 g

If you want, you can tweak the recipe and customize it as per your dietary needs.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Gluten-Free: To make it gluten-free, I replace Chessmen cookies with gluten-free butter cookies, shortbread, or vanilla wafers.
Dairy-Free: I usually replace cream cheese with dairy-free cream cheese and use coconut whipped cream along with almond milk. I also switched to dairy-free cookies like gluten-free vanilla wafers.

Storing This Recipe

Refrigeration: I transfer the pudding into an air-tight container and store it for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I wouldn’t suggest freezing the pudding, as it will completely compromise the flavors and make it watery when thawed.

What To Serve With This Recipe

I love to serve Fresh Fruit Salad or Treacle Tarts with this pudding. If you want, you can serve Iced Tea or Cold Coffee. I would also recommend baking some Cookies and enjoying the sweet note to the fullest.

Printable Version

More Recipes That You Can Try

Paula Deen Scalloped Potatoes — Paula Deen Scalloped Potato

Paula Deen Cheesecake Recipe — Paula Deen Scalloped Potato

Conclusion

I know that making this recipe may sound simple, but once you make it, you will be super addicted to it. Anytime you have some bananas, you will make this pudding. If you don’t believe me, just try this recipe, and you’ll know. So, give it a try and enjoy some sweet notes of this banana pudding.