Description
A classic Southern-style Banana Pudding featuring layers of creamy vanilla pudding, ripe banana slices, and crunchy vanilla wafer cookies. This no-bake dessert is rich, smooth, and chilled to perfection, making it an easy and crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pudding Mixture
- 1 (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped Cream
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Main Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 box vanilla wafer cookies (about 11 oz)
Instructions
- Prepare Pudding Mix: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until smooth. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken properly.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk and Vanilla: Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and pure vanilla extract into the thickened pudding mix until fully combined and smooth.
- Whip Cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar using a hand or stand mixer until stiff peaks form, ensuring a light and airy texture.
- Fold Whipped Cream into Pudding: Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture, combining carefully to maintain the fluffiness without deflating the cream.
- Assemble Layers: In a large trifle dish or serving bowl, layer vanilla wafers, banana slices, and pudding mixture. Repeat these layers until the dish is filled, finishing with a pudding layer on top.
- Garnish and Chill: Crush a few vanilla wafers and sprinkle over the top as a garnish. Cover and chill the banana pudding in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and the dessert to set.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm bananas to prevent browning and maintain texture.
- For a lighter alternative, substitute whipped topping for the homemade whipped cream.
- Best enjoyed within 2 days to preserve optimal texture and freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
