Jamielyn Nye
Updated
- View Recipe
- ratings
13
- 22 comments
The BEST banana pudding filled with layers of pudding, wafers, fresh bananas and homemade whipped cream. An easy, no-bake dessert that’s perfect for a last minute party or get together.
Love no bake desserts? Don’t miss my delicious banana cream pie, chocolate lasagna and banana split dessert.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
- Why We Love Banana Pudding
- Layers
- Serving Options
- Make Ahead + Storing
- More Easy No-Bake Desserts
- Banana Pudding Recipe Printable Recipe
Why We Love Banana Pudding
- Easy: It’s so easy to whip up and tastes super creamy and luscious. I am obsessed!
- Magnolia Bakery copycat: Adapted from the Magnolia banana pudding in their cookbook, so you know how delicious it is.
- Crowd pleaser: This recipe is easy to double and feed a crowd.
Layers
- Vanilla wafers. The dish starts with a layer of vanilla wafers. Line your baking dish with about 1/2 box of vanilla wafers, or until the bottom of the dish is covered.
- Bananas. Next comes the sliced bananas. Add them evenly on top of the wafer cookies.
- Pudding. The bananas are then topped with half of the creamy pudding layer. It’s a mixture of softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding, milk and whipped cream. Once you add the pudding, you’ll repeat the 3 layers again.
- Whipped topping. The dessert is finished off with the remaining whipped cream and is topped with more vanilla wafers and banana slices.
Serving Options
You can make this banana pudding in a baking dish, trifle dish or individual cups. I love serving it in these mini trifle dishes below…aren’t they so cute?!
- Baking dish: Use a 9×13″ baking dish and add 2 layers of each.
- Large trifle dish: This is great to use for parties. Simply layer the ingredients until you’ve reached the top of the bowl.
- Mini trifles or individual cups: This is my favorite way to serve banana pudding! You can use mini trifle dishes or even small glass cups. It makes the perfect individual-sized dessert.
TIP: Add crushed vanilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas on top, just before serving to dress up this dessert. You could even caramelize the bananas for a richer flavor.
Make Ahead + Storing
This dish tastes best served within 1 day of making. The bananas will brown the longer that it sits, so I prefer to make it in the morning and serve later that evening. This gives the cookies enough time to soften in the refrigerator.
Love classic dessert recipes? Try this layered pistachio dessert, bread pudding with caramel sauce, banana bread or banana cream pie!
More Easy No-Bake Desserts
- Lemon Coconut Cream Dessert Lasagna
- Pineapple Fluff Dessert
- Classic Banana Split
- Snicker Salad
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Banana Pudding Recipe
5 from 13 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
The BEST banana pudding filled with layers of pudding, whipped cream, bananas and vanilla wafers. An easy, no-bake dessert that's perfect for a last minute party or get together.
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Chill time: 1 hour hr
Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Servings: 18
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block cream cheese , softened
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 3.4 ounce box Instant Vanilla Pudding
- 1 cup whole milk
- 11 ounce box of Vanilla Wafers , or shortbread cookies
- 4-5 ripe bananas
- 3-4 cups homemade whipped cream , or thawed cool whip
Instructions
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Next add in the sweetened condensed milk, dry pudding and milk. Mix well. Then refrigerate until it has firmed up, about 15 minutes.
Mix half of the whipped cream into the pudding mixture. Mix until well combined.
Place half of the vanilla wafers into the bottom of a 9×13" dish, trifle dish, or individual cups. Arrange sliced bananas over the wafers. Spread with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat. Then spoon the remaining whipped cream on top. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
Before serving add crushed vanilla wafers and slices of bananas.
Notes
This dish is best served within 1 day.
Here is my favorite whipped cream recipe: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/simple-homemade-whipped-cream/
Slightly adapted from The Magnolia Cookbook
Nutrition
Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 257mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Desserts, Fruit Desserts, No-Bake
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
More Desserts You’ll Love
- Bread Pudding
- Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
- Easy Ambrosia Salad
- Peach Cobbler Recipe
Add a comment
22 comments
- Dawn C.
I made this, but I used a different variation. Instead of using vanilla wafers, I used white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies. Give it a try! I promise you’ll be glad you did🤩 Talk about licking a dish clean😋
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Mmmm that sounds SO delicious, Dawn! I’m going to have to try that soon :)
- Reply
- Kris
This is one of my favorite recipes for banana pudding I make it and I’ve made it quite often and I’m getting ready to print it off and make it again
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad to hear you love it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review. :)
- Reply
- Matt Taylor
You can never go wrong with Banana pudding! It is so easy to make and super delicious, and so quick to make too!
- Reply
- Kara
The cream cheese makes these extra yummy. I served them in mini mason jars and they were a bit hit!
- Reply
- Rachael Yerkes
this is one of my favorite treats! so delicious!
- Reply
- Katie
I made this recipe and it turned out extremely watery. Was I supposed to cook it at all?
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you. Did you use Instant Vanilla Pudding?
- Reply
- BB
I’ve never seen cream cheese used. I can’t wait to try, this could be a game changer for me ! THANK YOU
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
Hope you enjoy! :)
- Reply
- Cathy
HowDo you keep the bananas from turning brown.?
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
Hi Cathy! I add the vanilla wafers and bananas right before serving. The bananas in the filling should be fine, but will definitely be best the day of.
- Reply
- Tara
Oh my goodness, my mom used to make something similar when I was little, and I’d forgotten all about it. Love it!
- Reply
- Julie Blanner
I love this recipe, and so do my girls! It’s super easy to make and delicious too!
- Reply
- Valentina
There’s nothing better than homemade banana pudding. My kids absolutely loved this.
- Reply
- Jamielyn
I’m so happy to hear your kids love it!
- Reply
- Sommer
This recipe is a keeper!
- Reply
- Suzy
Can’t get enough of this dessert!
- Reply
- Michelle
YUM! This looks delicious!!!
- Reply
- Paige
This pudding looks incredible!
- Reply
- Nihaad
Oh my gosh this looks so yum!! Such a great recipe!! Think I will give it a try – thanx!
- Reply
