Best Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is a creamy Southern dessert made with layers of pudding, bananas, and wafers that is sweet, nostalgic, and always irresistible.
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Servings 12
Ingredients
- 8 oz whipped cream cheese or regular cream cheese, softened
- 6 ripe bananas sliced
- 2 (11oz) boxes of Nilla Wafers
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 box of (3.4 oz) vanilla Jell-O pudding mix
- 1 box of (3.4 oz) banana cream Jell-O pudding mix
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz Cool Whip
Instructions
- Make the Creamy Base- In a large mixing bowl, beat the whipped cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk together until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. This is your foundation—rich, sweet, and creamy.
- Mix in the Pudding–Add both pudding mixes (vanilla and banana cream), vanilla extract, and milk. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, blend until everything is fully combined. You should have a thick, luscious pudding base.
- Fold in the Cool Whip– Gently fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Assemble the Layers– In a large dish, start with a layer of Nilla wafers. Spread half of the pudding mixture over the cookies. Add a layer of sliced bananas, followed by more Nilla wafers. Then top with the remaining pudding mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula.
- Top and Chill– Finish with a final layer of Nilla wafers on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 5 hours. (Overnight is even better—the longer it chills, the better the flavors blend together.)
- Serve and Enjoy– Scoop into bowls, add an extra banana slice or wafer on top if you’d like, and enjoy the creamy, dreamy goodness!
Video
@cookingwithdestiny_ Banana pudding 🍌 just in time for the holidays 🎁🩷 (full recipe on my YouTube)
♬ original sound - Destiny Symone