This banana pudding recipe is so next-level! Layer upon layer of vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, and whipped cream. Off-the-charts good!

Banana pudding in an oval serving dish with crushed vanilla wafer cookies on top.

We made it to another Friday, woo-hoo!

And I’m here to arm you with something delicious to take with you into the weekend: banana pudding!

Now that things are warming up, I’m really ready to lean into no-bake dessert recipes. Not only is it nice not to have to turn on the oven on an already warm day, but nothing’s more refreshing than an ice-cold sweet treat. A dish of chocolate mousse, or a little panna cotta or no-bake cheesecake can really be the perfect ending to a warm night.

This banana pudding is a total classic, bumped up to the next level. It’s made from scratch, and I know I don’t have to convince you how much better things taste when they’re made from scratch! Wholesome ingredients like fresh eggs, milk, cream, and real vanilla give this dessert the most incredibly authentic flavor that no box mix could ever top!

And it’s honestly very simple to make. While there are a few hours of chilling time involved, that’s completely hands-off and you can get the whole thing made in less than an hour of active time.

So if you’re craving a cool, creamy, and tropical treat, look no further!

Banana pudding served from a white ceramic dish, with a text overlay above reading "Banana Pudding."

WHAT IS BANANA PUDDING?

The idea of banana pudding originated in the South, but it’s become so popular over the generations, you can find it all over the world now! It’s a true classic, traditional, and so beloved. You’d be hard-pressed to find a memorial day picnic or backyard barbecue where there’s not a pan of this set aside for dessert!

Everyone loves that perfect combination of vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, vanilla wafers, and whipped cream, layered parfait-style and chilled until all the flavors meld together and the cookies become soft and cakey.

I’d characterize this dessert as a trifle or icebox cake. You could also call it a parfait, as I did above. It falls into any of those categories, where custard is layered with fruit, whipped cream, and cookies or cake. Truly a winning combination of flavors and textures!

HOW TO MAKE BANANA PUDDING FROM SCRATCH

This recipe has 4 simple components:

  • Vanilla Pudding
  • Vanilla Wafers
  • Whipped Cream
  • Bananas

If you want to be a total superstar, you can make your own vanilla wafers. I’ve got a great recipe for those here: Homemade Vanilla Wafers.

But for what you see in these pics and video, I used store-bought vanilla wafers, and whipped cream is pretty basic, so mostly I’m going to focus on the pudding component.

I have a homemade vanilla pudding recipe here, but for the best banana pudding, I wanted to incorporate some eggs for added richness and that signature buttery yellow color. So I’ve created a sort of hybrid between that vanilla pudding and this pastry cream recipe.

It was perfection! I can’t recommend it highly enough. The flavor is truly off-the-charts, rich and creamy, with heaps and heaps of sweet, fragrant real vanilla. You’ll fall in love, pinky promise!

Start by whisking sugar, cornstarch, and salt together, just to get them combined.

Whisking sugar, cornstarch, and salt together.

Next, whisk in the eggs. You’ll have a stiff mixture that should be well blended, but you will notice the grittiness of the sugar. Don’t worry, it will melt and smooth out in the next few steps!

Whisking eggs into cornstarch mixture.

In a small pot, heat milk, cream, and the pod and seeds from a whole vanilla bean.

Heating milk, cream, and vanilla together until steaming.

If you’ve never split and scraped out a vanilla bean before, you can watch how that’s done in the video on this no-churn ice cream post.

Vanilla beans are pretty easy to get. They’re usually sold in the regular grocery store, right in the baking aisle near the spices and extracts. Or you can do like me and just order them online. Here’s the source I use: Vanilla Products USA Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla Beans.

Tempering eggs with hot milk.

Allow this liquid to get hot and steamy, then pour a little bit over the egg/sugar mixture and whisk it in. This will gently heat the eggs so that they don’t scramble. Whisk in the hot liquid in a few additions, until the side of the bowl feels very warm to the touch.

Then pour it all back into the pot and set it over low heat to cook some more.

When the custard comes to a slow bubble, you should notice that it thickens up quite a lot. It will become even thicker as it cools back down!

Passing homemade pudding through a sieve to remove any lumps.

Immediately pour it through a fine-mesh sieve and into a heat-safe bowl, to get out any lumps.

Pressing plastic wrap directly onto the surface of homemade pudding.

Whisk in the vanilla extract and butter, press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding (to prevent a skin from forming) and pop it into the fridge to chill.

HOW IS BANANA PUDDING LAYERED?

You can really do this however you like, there’s no wrong way!

But of course I have an opinion on the matter, lol! So here’s how I like it to go and then I will explain why:

  1. Vanilla Wafers
  2. Pudding
  3. Bananas
  4. Whipped Cream
  5. Vanilla Wafers
  6. Pudding
  7. Bananas
  8. Whipped Cream
  9. Crushed-up Cookie Garnish

And now here’s why:

First of all, I like the cookies on the bottom because then they remain a little more firm, at least initially. If they had something wet underneath and on top, they’d get very soft. Of course, this is what happens in the second layer of cookies and it’s fantastic! But for the bottom layer, it’s nice if they still have a bit of bite to them.

Second, I want the sliced bananas to be completely surrounded and sort of “air tight,” to prevent browning/discoloration. Once a banana is peeled and exposed to air, it’s going to turn color. It’s just a matter of time. But the less exposure to air, the longer that will take. And I feel like tucking it in between the pudding and the whipped cream, which will both sort of puddle around and in between all the nooks and crannies, surrounding the bananas and preventing air exposure, that will buy you some more time.

And last of all, you want to end with whipped cream because it’s just so prettyyyyyy! I mean, just look at those poufy billows! Like a soft cloud on a summer day!

Overhead image of how to make banana pudding with layers of vanilla wafers, homemade vanilla pudding, sliced banana, and whipped cream.

TROUBLESHOOTING: WHY IS MINE RUNNY?

Please know that when you’re making the pudding it is going to look a lot runnier in the pot than it will after it’s completely chilled. If it’s made properly, it will probably be twice as firm coming out of the fridge as it was going in.

Just be sure you cook it until it comes to a slow simmer. This will ensure that the cornstarch achieves its full thickening power. You can see what this looks like when you watch the video embedded in the recipe card below.

You also want to allow the final layered dessert a nice long nap in the fridge. This enables the cookies and whipped cream to meld, so that the cookies absorb some moisture from the whipped cream and custard and become soft and almost cake-like. Conversely, some of the starch from the cookies will get into the whipped cream so the whipped cream firms up as well.

ALLERGEN-FREE SUBSTITUTIONS

If you either:

  1. Make your own vanilla wafers using a gluten-free flour blend, or
  2. Use store-bought gluten free vanilla wafers,

Then you will have a 100% gluten-free dessert on your hands.

If you want to make a dairy-free banana pudding recipe, feel free to use any kind of plant-based milk, cream, and butter. My personal favorite would be coconut milk and whipped coconut cream.

As for the eggs, I really don’t know of an egg substitute that will work well in a custard like this. (If you do, please drop me a note in the comments section!) Instead, I’d recommend using the vanilla pudding recipe I referenced above, which is naturally egg-free. It won’t have the same sunny color or quite the same flavor, but it’ll still be darn good!

HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?

Keep this dessert chilled in the fridge and you should get at least 4 days out of it, especially if you toss the banana slices in lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Around the 4-day mark, you will probably start to see some browning. It doesn’t really affect the taste at all, and it won’t make you sick or anything, but it just doesn’t look quite as appetizing.

Sadly, you can’t really freeze banana pudding without it separating, so if you’re looking to make this more than 4 days ahead of time, I’d suggest making all the components and keeping them separate until time allows you to assemble and chill.

Best banana pudding recipe, served in small glass bowls.

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Banana pudding in an oval serving dish with crushed vanilla wafer cookies on top.
5 stars (1 rating)

Banana Pudding

Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Chill Time:: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 40 minutes
This banana pudding recipe is so next-level! Layer upon layer of vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, and whipped cream. Off-the-charts good!
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Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (44.36 g) cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.23 g) kosher salt
  • 2 (88 g) eggs, (large)
  • 1 (18 g) egg yolk, (from a large egg)
  • 2 cups (488 g) milk, (whatever kind you keep on hand)
  • 1/2 cup (119 g) heavy whipping cream
  • 1 (5 g) vanilla bean,, split & scraped of seeds
  • 2 tablespoons (29.57 g) vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon (14.79 g) unsalted butter
  • 11 ounces (311.85 g) vanilla wafers, (1 box)
  • 5 (590 g) bananas, (medium), sliced
  • 2 tablespoons (29.57 g) lemon juice
  • 2 1/2 cups (595 g) heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Place the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Whisk in the eggs until the mixture is combined.
  • Place the milk, cream, vanilla pod, and vanilla seeds in a small pot and place over low heat until steamy and just beginning to simmer.
  • Temper the egg mixture by whisking in a little of the hot liquid in, until it becomes very warm.
  • Transfer the mixture back to the pot and continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it becomes thick and comes to a slow bubble.
  • Immediately pour the pudding through a fine mesh strainer and into a heat-safe bowl, using the back of a ladle to push the mixture through the sieve.
  • Whisk in the vanilla extract and butter, then press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding (this prevents a skin from forming), and chill for 4 hours.
  • Line the bottom of a 1.5-quart serving dish with about half the vanilla wafers, then spread half the pudding in an even layer on top.
  • Peel & slice the bananas and toss them in the lemon juice, then arrange about half the slices over the pudding.
  • Whip the cream and powdered sugar together until medium peaks form, then spread about half the whipped cream over the sliced bananas.
  • Repeat, layering vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, and whipped cream.
  • Crush a handful of vanilla wafers into crumbs, and sprinkle them on top of the whipped cream, for garnish.
  • Chill the banana pudding until the cookies have gone soft (about 4 hours).
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 501kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 132mg, Sodium: 205mg, Potassium: 314mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 1063IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert, Snack
Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.

Author

  • Allie

    Allie is the creator and owner of Baking a Moment. She has been developing, photographing, videographing, and writing and sharing recipes here since 2012.

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