My Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding is an irresistible dessert that’s perfect for any get together. This creamy pudding with sweet banana slices and a little crunch from the cookies makes this treat a 20 minute family favorite.
My family love banana pudding so I have created some amazing recipes such as my no bake banana pudding cheesecake and my banana pudding brownie recipe.
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Why this Easy Banana Pudding Recipe is a Keeper
This is the best banana pudding I’ve ever had. I love this recipe because it’s so sweet and creamy; You will add nilla wafer banana pudding to your stash of easy dessert recipes.
- Easy Ingredients: Make this easy banana pudding with 9 common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Family Favorite: Everyone in the family loves eating Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding making it a go-to treat.
- Adaptable: With a few simple swaps, you can make this low-sugar.
- Delicious Flavor: The banana cream pudding tastes amazing and is a hit every time with a box of nilla wafers.
- Special Occasion Worthy: The Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding is impressive enough to serve at a gathering or holiday.
How Do I Keep the Bananas from Browning?
Fresh bananas are the best way to go, but they can brown quicker than you’d like. A little lemon juice spritzed on ripe banana slices can help them to not turn brown.
Pro Tip for the Best Banana Pudding
Place wafers around the edges of your dish for a pretty presentation, and don’t be afraid to layer them generously throughout the pudding.
Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions for the Southern Banana Pudding Dessert
This easy recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own. Make the pudding with different ingredients to try different flavors.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Instant Pudding: Instant pudding is easiest to work with to make the creamy vanilla pudding mix.
- Different Flavors: Feel free to add banana pudding instead of vanilla pudding mix. Replace butter cookies with nilla wafers or graham crackers!
- Adult Pudding: Adult only gathering? Try this recipe with a little bourbon, rum or Banana Liqueur. Yum!
- Dietary Consideration: Make a low calorie version with sugar free pudding, low fat sour cream and sugar free caramel syrup.
How to Make Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding
This Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding recipe comes together in 4 quick and easy steps. This famous banana pudding recipe is so good, it will quickly become one of your favorites.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Mix the Pudding: In a large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, half and half, sour cream and salt.
- Crush the Cookies: Save 6 cookies for garnish and crush the remaining cookies.
- Assemble the Banana Pudding: Place some the cookie pieces in the bottom of 6 serving dishes. Do layers of pudding on top of the crushed cookies, then the caramel and bananas; Repeat.
- Add Toppings: Top each serving with cool whip. Garnish with reserved cookies and banana slices.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Banana Pudding
If you make southern banana pudding recipe ahead of time can really help to save you time and kitchen space if you’re hosting a party.
- Make Ahead: This old fashioned banana pudding recipe is best made ahead of time. The pudding needs time to set, so the flavors can meld beautifully as it chills.
How to Store Banana Pudding and Freeze the Dessert
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, homemade banana pudding dessert does not freeze well.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers with Toffee Cheesecake Bites.
Best Banana Pudding Recipe FAQs
Sure. Since you don’t need to gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture, you can use any whipped cream right on top.
If stored correctly, this southern dessert can last for up to 4 days.
Yes. The recipe calls for butter cookies, but you can really use whatever cookie you like that will go well with the banana flavor.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe for the Best Banana Pudding
- Trifle Dish: This is a great recipe for a crowd. So you can make it in a trifle bowl and serve a larger version.
- Chocolate Chips: I love to top this dessert with a few chocolate chips or shaved chocolate for extra flavor.
- Cold Milk: Use ice-cold whole milk for the homemade pudding mixture. It helps the pudding set faster and gives it a better texture.
- Don’t Skimp on the Chilling Time: The pudding needs time to set completely. Let banana pudding in the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better. This allows the flavors to meld and the wafers to soften.
- Whipped Cream: To make your own homemade whipped cream, use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form in a large mixing bowl. Add vanilla extract for flavor.
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Vanilla Wafer Banana Pudding
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Ingredients
- 14 ounces Sweetened condensed milk, 1 can
- 5.1 ounces Instant vanilla pudding, 1 box
- 2 cups Half-and-half
- 1 cup Sour cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12-16 ounces butter cookies, divided
- 1 cup Prepared caramel sauce
- 3 large Bananas, sliced
- 1 ½ cups Frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, pudding mix, half and half, sour cream and salt; Set aside.
- Reserve 6 cookies for garnish and place the remaining cookies in a zipper bag. Crush the cookies into large, bite-sized pieces.
- Place 2 tablespoons of the cookie pieces in the bottom of 6 serving dishes.
- Layer ⅛ cup of pudding mixture in each serving dish.
- Drizzle each with 2 teaspoons of caramel sauce.
- Layer banana slices on top of caramel.
- Repeat the layers – cookie crumbs, pudding, caramel and bananas.
- Top each serving with ¼ cup of whipped topping.
- Garnish with reserved cookies and banana slices.
Christina’s Notes
- Trifle Dish: This is a great recipe for a crowd. So you can make it in a trifle bowl and serve a larger version.
- Chocolate Chips: I love to top this dessert with a few chocolate chips or shaved chocolate for extra flavor.
- Cold Milk: Use ice-cold whole milk for the homemade pudding mixture. It helps the pudding set faster and gives it a better texture.
- Don’t Skimp on the Chilling Time: The pudding needs time to set completely. Let banana pudding in the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better. This allows the flavors to meld and the wafers to soften.
- Whipped Cream: To make your own homemade whipped cream, use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form in a large mixing bowl. Add vanilla extract for flavor.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make banana pudding recipe! It’s really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
This looks like a great Sunday supper dessert
This is a fabulous quick-fix recipe! I’m not a fan of vanilla wafers, but I love your butter cookie version. Divine!