Easy Banana Pudding Recipe

This quick and easy Banana Pudding just might be the perfect dessert! The no-bake treat requires only 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep for a cool, creamy, sweet treat that you can assemble in advance. With Nilla wafers, Jello instant pudding, ripe bananas, and Cool Whip, this semi homemade banana pudding recipe is ideal for those days when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen!

The quick, semi-homemade recipe originally comes from my friend Linda, who served it for a picnic when her grown son came back home to visit. She wanted a menu that she could prepare in advance (to avoid any last-minute kitchen stress while guests were around), so she offered country ham biscuits, potato salad, deviled eggs, and this no bake banana pudding for dessert. Sounds like the perfect menu for casual entertaining, right?!

Best of all, this semi homemade recipe takes advantage of plenty of shortcuts — from Jell-O instant pudding to Nabisco Nilla Wafer cookies and Cool Whip topping. You don’t have to make a custard from scratch or whip up your own meringue. Instead, the quick dessert comes together in about 15 minutes…and always disappears fast!

This is just a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need to prepare the easy homemade banana pudding. As always, specific measurements and complete instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

I’m not kidding when I say that this no-bake recipe is quick and easy! Unlike classic Southern banana pudding recipes, there’s no need to use an electric mixer to beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; no need to stress over made-from-scratch meringue; and no need to stir custard in a saucepan on the stovetop. Once your ingredients are ready, it’s just a matter of assembling the dessert and sticking it in the refrigerator!

Since you’re using Jell-O instant vanilla pudding mix and Cool Whip in this no-bake recipe (rather than a homemade custard and meringue), you’ll find that the dish holds up really well in the refrigerator and doesn’t get watery at all! The ingredients come together, the cookies soften, and the easy banana pudding just gets better with time.

1. 2 cups cold milk.
2. 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3. 2 (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding packages.
4. 1 14 oz sweetened condensed milk.
5. 2 cups heavy whipping cream.
6. 1 11 oz vanilla wafers.
7. 4 fresh bananas.
8. 3 Tbsp powdered sugar.

Quick and Easy Banana Pudding

This simple, shortcut, easy banana pudding recipe is the ultimate prep-ahead, no-bake dessert!

Prep: 15min

Total: 255min

Yield: 9

Serving Size: 1 /9 of the recipe

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 /9 of the recipe, calories 287 kcal, Carbohydrate 51 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 9 mg, Sodium 240 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 30 g, unSaturated Fat 4 g

Ingredients:

• 1 (11 ounce) box vanilla wafer cookies
• 1 (3.4 ounce) small (4-serving) box vanilla instant pudding mix (plus the 2 cups of milk called for on the package to prepare the pudding)
• 3 – 4 large ripe bananas, thinly sliced ((plus extra for garnish))
• 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed

Instruction:

1. Prepare the pudding according to the package instructions. Refrigerate and set aside.
2. Arrange vanilla wafer cookies in a single layer on the bottom of an 11 x 7-inch baking dish. I used 24 cookies for each layer.
3. Use a spatula to spread half of the prepared pudding (approximately 1 cup) over the cookies.
4. Top the pudding with a single layer of banana slices.
5. Repeat the layers, starting with cookies.
6. Top the final layer of banana slices with whipped topping. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight). Just before serving, garnish with extra vanilla wafers and sliced banana, if desired.

QUICK and EASY 15 minute Banana Pudding: No Bake!!

FAQ

How to make pudding simple?

1. In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. …
2. Gradually stir at least half of the hot mixture into egg yolks, then stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. …
3. Pour pudding into dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.

What is the recipe for Paula Deen’s banana pudding?

1. 1 (12-oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream.
2. 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk.
3. 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened.
4. 2 cups milk.
5. 1 (5-oz) box instant French vanilla pudding mix.
6. 6 to 8 bananas, sliced.
7. 2 bags chessmen cookies.

How to keep bananas from turning black when making banana pudding?