Cozy Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe: Sweet Southern Comfort

Sweet memories of childhood summers flood my mind when I think about this creamy banana pudding recipe that Mom used to make.

Layers of soft vanilla wafers and ripe bananas create a nostalgic dessert that feels like a warm hug.

Southern kitchens know how to craft comfort in a dish, blending simple ingredients with love.

Silky pudding nestles between cookies, creating a texture that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Minimal effort yields maximum flavor in this classic treat that brings people together.

Rich custard and fragrant bananas dance in perfect harmony, promising a delightful experience.

Banana Pudding Everyone Loves For Its Creamy Layers

Speedy Southern Comfort: Whip up this classic dessert in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings or sudden sweet cravings.

Layer Like a Pro: No complicated baking required – simply stack ingredients in a dish, creating beautiful, delicious layers that look professionally crafted.

Kid-Friendly Crowd-Pleaser: Combining creamy textures with sweet bananas and crunchy cookies, this dessert appeals to both children and adults, ensuring everyone at the table gets excited.

Flexible Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this pudding in advance and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld and making party prep stress-free while delivering maximum deliciousness.

Banana Pudding Ingredient Breakdown

• Vanilla Wafers: Crisp cookies that provide a delightful crunch and base for the dessert, choose a brand with a buttery flavor.
• Bananas: Fresh, ripe fruit that adds natural sweetness and creamy texture, select yellow bananas with minimal brown spots.

• Instant Pudding Mix: Instant vanilla pudding that creates a smooth, creamy base, opt for a high-quality brand for best flavor.
• Milk: Provides liquid and richness to the pudding mix, whole milk works best for a creamier texture.
• Cream Cheese: Adds tangy richness and helps create a smooth, dense mixture, use full-fat cream cheese at room temperature.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Brings sweetness and helps bind the ingredients, choose a high-quality brand for best results.
• Whipped Topping or Whipped Cream: Adds lightness and fluffy texture to the dessert, can use homemade or store-bought whipped cream.

• Refrigeration: Essential for setting the pudding and melding flavors, allows the dessert to become firm and delicious.

Making Classic Southern Banana Pudding

Step 1: Create the Wafer Base

Grab a spacious 9×13 inch dish and generously spread a layer of crispy vanilla wafers across the bottom, creating a delightful foundation for your pudding adventure.

Step 2: Add Banana Slices

Carefully slice ripe bananas into smooth, even pieces and create a luscious layer directly on top of the wafer base.

Step 3: Whip Up Pudding Magic

• Milk
• Instant pudding mix

Blend with a hand mixer until the mixture transforms into a silky, smooth texture that promises pure deliciousness.

Step 4: Prepare Creamy Cheese Blend

• Cream cheese
• Sweetened condensed milk

Whip with a hand mixer until perfectly smooth and dreamy.

Step 5: Fold in Fluffy Topping

Gently incorporate thawed whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture, using a rubber spatula to maintain its light, airy consistency.

Step 6: Merge Pudding Perfection

Carefully fold the prepared pudding mixture into the cream cheese blend, creating a harmonious, creamy masterpiece.

Step 7: Layer and Cover

Pour the entire mixture over the banana and wafer base, ensuring complete coverage.

Top with the remaining vanilla wafers for a crunchy finish.

Step 8: Chill and Anticipate

Slide your creation into the refrigerator and let it rest for at least one hour, allowing the flavors to mingle and develop a rich, irresistible character.

Serve chilled and watch everyone swoon over your banana pudding magic!

Classic Banana Pudding Serving Tips That Work

• Cut bananas at a precise 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness to ensure even layering and perfect texture in every bite.
• Toss banana slices with a touch of lemon juice to keep them fresh and prevent quick discoloration.
• Use a hand mixer for both pudding and cream cheese mixtures to eliminate lumps and create a silky, creamy consistency.
• Arrange vanilla wafers and bananas evenly for a balanced distribution of flavors and textures throughout the dessert.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to meld and pudding to set properly, enhancing the overall taste and texture.

Reheat Banana Pudding Properly

• Store leftover banana pudding in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent absorbing other flavors from the refrigerator.
• Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep the pudding moist and prevent it from developing a skin.
• Keep the banana pudding in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ensuring the best taste and texture.
• Avoid microwaving, as this can make the wafers soggy and change the pudding's creamy consistency. Serve chilled directly from the refrigerator for the best experience.

What Goes with Banana Pudding

• Pair Sweet Southern Comfort: Creamy banana pudding calls for complementary flavors that enhance its rich, comforting profile.
• Southern Sweet Tea Delight: Brew a classic cold sweet tea to cut through the pudding's sweetness, providing a refreshing contrast that balances the dessert's creamy texture.
• Bourbon Vanilla Accent: Drizzle a light bourbon-vanilla sauce over the pudding to elevate the dessert's depth, adding a sophisticated southern touch that highlights the banana and vanilla wafer notes.
• Coffee Cream Companion: Serve a smooth, medium-roast coffee alongside the pudding, letting its subtle bitterness complement the dessert's sugary richness and cleanse the palate between bites.

Banana Pudding Layered Dessert Ideas

• Gluten-Free Banana Pudding: Replace vanilla wafers with gluten-free graham crackers or almond flour cookies for a celiac-friendly version.
• Dairy-Free Deconstructed Banana Pudding: Swap cream cheese with coconut cream, use almond milk for pudding, and coconut whipped topping for a vegan alternative.
• Low-Sugar Banana Pudding: Use sugar-free instant pudding mix, replace sweetened condensed milk with sugar-free condensed milk, and add stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
• Tropical Banana Pudding: Incorporate diced mango or pineapple between banana layers, and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top for an island-inspired dessert.

FAQs

• Can I use fresh whipped cream instead of whipped topping?

Yes, you can substitute homemade whipped cream for whipped topping. Just ensure it’s whipped to stiff peaks for the best texture and stability in the pudding.

• What type of vanilla wafers work best for this recipe?

Classic Nilla Wafers are the traditional choice, but any brand of vanilla wafer cookies will work well. Choose crisp, vanilla-flavored cookies that can soften slightly in the pudding.

• How ripe should the bananas be for this dessert?

Use ripe bananas with yellow peels and a few brown spots. They should be soft but not mushy, which provides the best flavor and texture for the pudding.

• Can I make this banana pudding ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare this dessert up to 24 hours in advance. Just keep it covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve, which allows the flavors to meld together nicely.

Banana Pudding Recipe

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4.5 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet Southern charm meets nostalgic dessert in this classic banana pudding, blending creamy custard, ripe bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers into a delightful Southern comfort. Layers of pure indulgence promise to transport you straight to grandma’s kitchen with one delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 to 6 bananas, sliced
• 11 ounces (311 grams) vanilla wafers
• 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1 (14 ounces/397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12 ounces/340 grams) container frozen whipped topping, thawed (or equal amount sweetened whipped cream)

Flavor and Thickening Ingredients:

• 1 (5 ounces/142 grams) box instant French vanilla pudding

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Instructions

1. Prepare the base layer by creating a uniform foundation of vanilla wafers across the bottom of a 9×13 inch dish, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Slice bananas into consistent quarter-inch rounds and distribute evenly over the wafer layer, creating a smooth fruity surface.
3. Whip pudding mixture using a hand mixer, blending milk and instant pudding until achieving a silky, uniform consistency with no lumps.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, transform cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk into a luxurious, velvety blend using electric mixer.
5. Gently incorporate whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture, using a rubber spatula to maintain a light, airy texture.
6. Merge the pudding and cream cheese mixtures, folding carefully to create a harmonious, creamy fusion.
7. Pour the combined mixture over the banana and wafer foundation, ensuring complete and even coverage.
8. Garnish the top with remaining vanilla wafers, arranging them in an attractive, overlapping pattern.
9. Chill the dessert in the refrigerator for at least one hour, allowing flavors to meld and texture to set perfectly.
10. Serve cold, revealing layers of creamy richness and sweet banana essence.

Notes

• Slice bananas just before assembling to prevent browning and maintain fresh appearance.
• Use ripe but firm bananas for best texture and sweetness in the dessert.
• Crush some vanilla wafers and sprinkle on top for extra crunch and decorative finish.
• Prepare pudding layers in advance and refrigerate up to 24 hours for deeper flavor melding.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 305
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 44 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg