Banana Pudding

Name: Banana Pudding
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 490 min
Ingredients: 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk; 3 cups milk; 1 cup water; 10.2 ounces instant vanilla pudding; 4 to 6 bananas; 11 ounces vanilla wafers; 8 ounces Cool Whip

Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafers are topped with Cool Whip in this quick and easy old fashioned banana pudding!

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Table of Contents

BANANA PUDDING INGREDIENTS
HOW TO MAKE THIS BANANA PUDDING RECIPE
HOW TO SERVE
STORAGE
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
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This delicious, homemade banana pudding recipe is an old-fashioned favorite you’ll love. Easy and no-bake, it’s the ultimate Southern dessert, made in minutes and featuring layers of crunchy wafers, fresh bananas and sweet creamy pudding.

For a fun version of this easy recipe, I think you’ll love this Chessmen banana pudding. We have plenty of other banana desserts too! How about trying our banana upside down cake which is a real family favorite.

close up shot of a slice of Banana Pudding topped with a slice of banana on a plate

BANANA PUDDING INGREDIENTS

Banana Pudding raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

2 cans of sweetened condensed milk
3 cups milk
1 cup water
2 large boxes of instant vanilla pudding
4-6 bananas
1 box vanilla wafers (Nilla wafers or other brand of vanilla wafers)
1 tub of Cool Whip

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

PUDDING: You could also make this with an instant banana pudding mix for an even more intense banana flavor. Instant cheesecake pudding or French vanilla pudding are other favorites for us!

COOL WHIP: This banana pudding recipe calls for Cool Whip but you can also use our homemade whipped cream on top of your delicious dessert instead of Cool Whip.

HOW TO MAKE THIS BANANA PUDDING RECIPE

PRO TIP:

You’ll want to make sure you’re starting with firm, just-ripe bananas. If you get bananas that are too ripe, they’re likely to brown much quicker.

You can treat the bananas with a spritz of lemon juice or lime juice. To avoid changing the flavor, you won’t want to use a ton of citrus juice — just a quick brush to each side or spritz from a spray bottle.

STEP ONE: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk with the water and milk. Stir in the instant pudding mix and blend well.

Banana Pudding process shot of ingredients in a bowl

STEP TWO: Line the bottom of an 8x 8-inch casserole dish with one layer of Nilla or vanilla wafers.

STEP THREE: Give your pudding mixture a quick stir and pour a layer of pudding over the wafers.

STEP FOUR: Thinly slice your bananas and add a layer of banana slices over top of the pudding.

PRO TIP:

Slice your bananas just before you use them. The longer they’re exposed to air, the more likely they are to turn brown. The layers of pudding also help them stay out of the air and maintain their color.

STEP FIVE: Repeat the layers using wafers, pudding, and sliced bananas until you have filled your dish. But the top layer should be pudding topped with the remaining cookies instead of bananas — this way they don’t get brown.

Banana Pudding process shot of vanilla wafers layered over pudding

STEP SIX: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the vanilla wafers to soften.

PRO TIP:

It is best to make this classic dessert a day in advance as it will allow time for all of the flavors to mingle and the wafers will have softened just the right amount by the next day.

STEP SEVEN: Top with Cool Whip before serving and garnish with extra banana slices or wafers.

Banana Pudding process shot of whipped topping spread over pudding

HOW TO SERVE

Top your homemade pudding with Cool Whip before serving and garnish with extra banana slices or wafers. My mom has also served it with a few fresh sliced strawberries and bananas on the top as well.

P.S. I also won’t judge you if you just sit and eat the entire pan by yourself, no garnishes needed!

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STORAGE

IN THE FRIDGE: Store your banana pudding in the fridge covered in plastic wrap for up to 3-4 days.

close up overhead shot of Banana Pudding in a pan

This easy banana pudding recipe was always one of my favorite desserts to make and eat — it’s the best banana pudding recipe ever. It’s simple to layer together and has only a few ingredients. You can’t go wrong with this kind of soul food. It’s one of those recipes that reminds me of childhood and makes me all nostalgic every time I eat it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long will the banana pudding keep in the fridge?

This no-bake banana pudding will keep in the fridge for up to four days. The only thing you will want to keep in mind is that the bananas will start to turn brown unless you spray them with lemon juice before layering them in the dish.

What can I use if I can’t find vanilla wafers?

Butter or shortbread cookies are probably the closest you can get to vanilla wafers if you can’t find them in the store. They would taste just as delicious in this southern banana pudding.

How do I keep bananas from turning brown?

To keep your bananas from turning brown, spritz them with a bit of lemon or lime juice.

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Banana Pudding

5 from 12 votes

Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafers are topped with Cool Whip in this quick and easy old fashioned banana pudding!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

28 ounces sweetened condensed milk
3 cups milk
1 cup water
10.2 ounces instant vanilla pudding
4 to 6 bananas
11 ounces vanilla wafers
8 ounces Cool Whip

Instructions

In a medium-size bowl whisk together the sweetened condensed milk with the water and milk.
Stir in the instant vanilla pudding and blend well.
Line the bottom of an 8×8 casserole dish with one layer of vanilla wafers.
Thinly slice your bananas and add a layer of bananas over the wafers.
Give your pudding a quick stir and pour a layer of pudding over the bananas.
Repeat the layers using wafers, bananas, pudding, wafers, bananas, pudding until you have filled your dish and make the top layer be a layer of vanilla wafers.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the vanilla wafers to soften.
Top with Cool Whip before serving and garnish with extra banana slices or wafers.

Notes

TIP: You’ll want to make sure you’re starting with firm, just-ripe bananas. If you get bananas that are too ripe, they’re likely to brown much quicker.

TIP: You can treat the bananas with a spritz of lemon juice or lime juice. To avoid changing the flavor, you won’t want to use a ton of citrus juice — just a quick brush to each side or spritz from a spray bottle.

TIP: Slice your bananas just before you use them. The longer they’re exposed to air, the more likely they are to turn brown. The layers of pudding also help them stay out of the air and maintain their color.

TIP: It is best to make this classic dessert a day in advance as it will allow time for all of the flavors to mingle and the wafers will have softened just the right amount by the next day.

Nutrition

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