Description
Southern comfort meets sweet nostalgia in this classic Banana Pudding that whispers tales of family gatherings and creamy indulgence. Layers of vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, and silky custard create a dessert so irresistible you’ll want seconds before finishing your first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4–5 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 (11 oz) box vanilla wafers
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping, thawed
Flavor and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Craft the pudding foundation by whisking the pudding mix with cold milk for precisely 2 minutes until the mixture transforms into a thick, creamy consistency.
- Incorporate sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract into the pudding base, then tenderly fold in whipped topping until the mixture becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Select a trifle or rectangular baking dish and establish the first stratum by arranging vanilla wafers across the bottom, creating a crisp foundation.
- Carefully position fresh banana slices atop the wafer layer, ensuring even distribution for consistent flavor in each serving.
- Generously spread a substantial layer of the prepared pudding mixture over the banana and wafer base, completely covering the previous ingredients.
- Repeat the layering sequence: alternate wafers, banana slices, and pudding mixture, building vertical strata until all ingredients are utilized.
- Crown the dessert with a final luxurious layer of pudding mixture, ensuring a smooth and enticing surface.
- Securely encase the dish with plastic wrap and allow the pudding to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight, enabling flavors to harmonize and wafers to soften delicately.
Notes
- Prevent Browning Toss freshly sliced bananas with a bit of lemon juice to stop oxidation and keep them looking bright and appetizing.
- Texture Hack Let vanilla wafers sit in the pudding mixture for a few hours to create a dreamy, cake-like consistency that melts in your mouth.
- Dairy-Free Alternative Swap dairy milk and whipped topping with coconut milk and coconut whipped cream for a plant-based version that’s equally creamy and delicious.
- Make-Ahead Magic This dessert actually tastes better when prepared a day in advance, allowing flavors to develop and layers to meld perfectly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg