Chessman Banana Pudding

close up shot of a slice of chessmen banana pudding on a spatula

Creamy, decadent, and irresistible, this homemade classic chessman banana pudding is a delicious, rich dessert you'll love!

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Table of Contents

Why you’ll love Chessmen Banana Pudding
Not Your Mama’s Banana Pudding ingredients
Chessman Banana Pudding substitutions and additions
How to make Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding
How to serve Paula Deen’s Banana Pudding
Paula Deen Banana Pudding Recipe storage
This is Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding
Not Yo Mamas Banana Pudding FAQs
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This chessmen banana pudding recipe is a fun twist on a classic treat. Instead of vanilla wafers, this version, a la Paula Deen, uses Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies on top of fresh bananas and the best banana pudding recipe for a sweet, crunchy, (and fun!) dessert.

If you love creamy banana pudding, our banana pudding cake and banana split cake will also be your new favorites.

Why you’ll love Chessmen Banana Pudding

Chessmen banana pudding is a delightful dessert that offers a combination of flavors and textures, making it a favorite among many people. Here are some reasons why you might love Chessmen Banana Pudding:

Creamy and luscious: Chessmen banana pudding features layers of creamy, velvety pudding made with vanilla and fresh bananas. The smooth texture of the pudding provides a luxurious and indulgent experience with every bite.
Delicious banana flavor: This dessert showcases the natural sweetness and flavor of ripe bananas. The bananas add a fresh and fruity element to the pudding, complementing the richness of the cream and the buttery cookies.
Perfect balance of sweetness: Chessmen Banana Pudding strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and creaminess. The pudding is sweet, but not overwhelmingly so, allowing the flavors of the bananas and other ingredients to shine throug

Not Your Mama’s Banana Pudding ingredients

chessmen banana pudding raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6-8 bananas, sliced
2 cups of milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

What is similar to chessmen cookies?

Chessmen cookies are a type of buttery shortbread cookie. Using plain shortbread cookies or vanilla wafers can provide a similar buttery and slightly sweet flavor.

How ripe should bananas be for banana pudding?

The ideal ripeness of bananas for banana pudding depends on personal preference and the desired texture and flavor of the dessert. Slightly underripe bananas will give you a firmer texture and a less pronounced banana flavor. Most people prefer using ripe bananas for banana pudding as they offer a sweeter taste and a softer texture. Overripe bananas, which have more brown spots and a softer texture, can also be used for banana pudding. These bananas are very sweet and have a more pronounced banana flavor.

How ripe is too ripe for banana pudding?

Using bananas that are overly soft and mushy may not be ideal for banana pudding, as it can result in a overly soft and mushy texture throughout the dessert. Bananas with a dark brown or blackened skin may have a fermented taste and an unpleasant texture. Overripe bananas can also develop a strong, fermented smell. If the bananas have an overpowering, off-putting odor, it’s an indication that they may be too ripe and not suitable for use in banana pudding.

Chessman Banana Pudding substitutions and additions

PUDDING: If you can’t find French vanilla pudding, plain vanilla pudding is a close substitute. For a creamier version, add ½ French vanilla pudding and ½ cheesecake pudding (it’s decadent)!

STRAWBERRIES: Add a layer of thinly sliced strawberries on top of your layer of bananas for a pop of color and some extra sweet, fruity flavor.

How to make Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding

STEP ONE: Using a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, line bottom of the pan with one bag of cookies.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

If there are any broken cookies in your bag, use them here! Save all of the prettiest cookies for the top of your pudding.

STEP TWO: Layer the banana slices over the top of the layer of cookies.

sliced bananas layer over cookies in a baking dish

STEP THREE: In a large bowl, combine the milk and instant pudding mix using a hand mixer. Mix for about 5 minutes, until it starts to get thick.

ingredients being whisked together in a bowl

STEP FOUR: In another large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk with the mixer until smooth.

PRO TIP:

Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise, you may end up with lumps in your mixture.

STEP FIVE: Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.

STEP SIX: Then add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.

STEP SEVEN: Pour the combined mixture over the top of the sliced bananas and cookies.

pudding mixture being poured on top of bananas in a baking dish

STEP EIGHT: Then, place the rest of the cookies on top of this mixture. Carefully cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours until ready to serve.

PRO TIP:

Make sure you don’t skip the chilling step. It’s important to give your dessert time to let all the flavors mingle and soften the cookies slightly.

pudding mixture topped with cookies in a baking dish

How to serve Paula Deen’s Banana Pudding

This amazing no-bake dessert will be a huge hit with its fun chessmen on top. If you are looking for an extra indulgent dessert, why not add a scoop of our no-churn vanilla ice cream on top?

MORE BANANA RECIPES

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Banana Pudding Pie

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Banana Bread Pudding

Paula Deen Banana Pudding Recipe storage

IN THE FRIDGE: If you need to make this delicious dessert ahead of time or store your leftovers, it will keep in the fridge in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap for 2 to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: It’s not recommended to freeze your chessmen banana pudding because the bananas won’t hold up well in the freezer and thawing it can make the texture soggy.

Should banana pudding be kept in the fridge or freezer?

Refrigeration is the preferred method for storing banana pudding to maintain its taste, texture, and freshness. Freezing is generally not recommended as it can negatively affect the overall quality of the dessert.

How long do bananas stay fresh in banana pudding?

When using fresh bananas in banana pudding, it is best to enjoy the dessert within 2-3 days.

close up shot of a slice of chessmen banana pudding on a plate

This is Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding

This chessmen banana pudding has everything that you want in a dessert: it’s easy to make, has decadently sweet banana flavor, and is pretty to look at.

Not Yo Mamas Banana Pudding FAQs

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.

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.

I can’t find Chessmen cookies, can I substitute them for another type of cookie?

Part of the charm of this dessert is the designs on the cookie. If you are able to find another similar vanilla wafer with fun designs, you could use those. If all else fails, you can use Nilla wafers in place of the Chessmen cookies.

What can you put in bananas to keep them from turning brown in banana pudding?

Lemon juice is a common method used to slow down the browning process of bananas. The acidity in lemon juice helps slow browning. Before adding the sliced bananas to the pudding, toss them gently in a small amount of lemon juice to coat them evenly.

Why is my homemade banana pudding runny?

Overly ripe bananas will have a higher water content and may cause your pudding to be runny. Choose bananas that are just the right ripeness for the best results.

Can you eat banana pudding left out overnight?

It is generally not recommended to leave banana pudding out at room temperature overnight. Since the pudding contains perishable ingredients, including milk, it is not safe to consume if the dessert has not been stored in the fridge.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Chessman Banana Pudding

5 from 35 votes

Creamy, decadent, and irresistible, this homemade classic chessman banana pudding is a delicious, rich dessert you'll love!

Prep Time 30

Total Time 4 30

Servings

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Ingredients

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
12 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
5 ounces instant French vanilla Pudding
8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Instructions

Using a 9 x 13 pan layer the bottom of the pan with one bag of cookies (use any broken ones for the bottom).
Layer the sliced bananas over the top of the cookies.
In a large bowl combine the milk and pudding mix using an electric mixer, about 5 minutes until it starts to get thick.
In another large bowl combine the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk with the mixer until smooth.
Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended or you could use the mixer you were already using!
Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas.
Place the remaining cookies on top of this mixture.
Carefully cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours until ready to serve. Can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight.

Notes

If there are any broken cookies in your bag, use them on the bottom. Save all of the prettiest cookies for the top of your pudding.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise, you may end up with lumps in your mixture.
Make sure you don’t skip the chilling step. It’s important to give your dessert time to let all the flavors mingle and soften the cookies slightly.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Chessmen Banana Pudding

Why you’ll love Chessmen Banana Pudding