Homemade Banana Pudding is always served at restaurants for a reason! This is a crowd-pleaser layered with bananas, vanilla wafer cookies and whipped cream and is the ultimate dessert. Keep reading and I'll show you how to make banana pudding with vanilla wafers!
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Why This Recipe Works
Yes, this is the old-fashioned vanilla wafter banana pudding from your childhood!
There is one dessert category that my family goes absolutely crazy over -- no bake pudding creations. There's something about those fluffy layers of whipped cream, cookie crust and creamy pudding that make these the perfect dessert for the whole family.
I have a few favorites, including this easy banana pudding recipe. They are No-Bake Oreo Icebox Cake and Chocolate Delight. I love the Oreo no bake dessert because it's mostly pudding with layers of whipped topping, peanut butter cheesecake and a crunchy Oreo crust. My husbands all-time favorite is Chocolate Delight. He likes the three layers of rich pudding and whipped topping, served on a delicious pecan crust.
The best part about this is that you can make it totally from scratch, or use handy store-bought helpers. Use cool whip instead of making your own with heavy whipping cream, or buy instant vanilla pudding mix instead of making homemade vanilla pudding. And let's be honest, this might be vanilla wafer banana pudding, but I'm not making homemade wafers. It's all about balance!
Ingredients for No Bake Banana Pudding Dessert
Vanilla pudding | I'm using homemade vanilla pudding, but my second choice would be two boxes of Cook'N'Serve vanilla pudding. Instant pudding mix would be my last resort, but it really is convenient and would totally work.
Vanilla wafers (also called Nilla Wafers)| These are the star of this nilla wafer banana pudding recipe!
Bananas | I use ripe bananas that have a pure yellow peel, not brownish or green tinted. The fresh bananas do best when sliced right before adding to the dessert. They will quickly turn into brown bananas anyway, so why start out that way! Just choose the best bananas you can find at the store and you'll be fine!
Heavy whipping cream | See my tip below if you want to make homemade whipped cream, or buy a container of cool whip.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers
1. Make the vanilla pudding and let it cool until it is warm but not hot.
2. In a 9X13 pan, arrange so that there is a layer of wafers in the bottom. Reserve about 6 wafers for the last layer.
3. Slice the bananas into circles and layer them on top of the wafers.
4. This is optional, but I make a large amount of whipped topping because I like to add a thin layer over the bananas.
5. Next pour the pudding on top.
6. The final layer is the remaining whipped topping. Add the remaining wafers and banana slices to the top to dress it up a bit.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours before serving.
Tip: This delicious dessert can be made ahead of time, but I think it's best served within the first day of layering the pudding and wafers. Don't get me wrong, the leftovers are really good too, but the wafers do begin to break down after the first day or so.
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. For more delicious recipes from scratch and homesteading tips, follow me on instagram @NinnescahHomestead
Recipe
HOW TO MAKE BANANA PUDDING WITH VANILLA WAFERS
Equipment
- 9X13 baking dish or a round
Ingredients
- 6 cups vanilla pudding instant, cook'n'serve or homemade
- 1 box vanilla wafers
- 1 quart whipped cream
- 3 bananas
Instructions
- Make the vanilla pudding and let it cool until it is warm but not hot.
- In a 9X13 pan, arrange so that there is a layer of wafers in the bottom. Reserve about 6 wafers for the last layer.
- Slice the bananas into circles and layer them on top of the wafers.
- This is optional, but I make a large amount of whipped topping because I like to add a thin layer over the bananas. Next, pour the pudding on top.
- The final layer is the remaining whipped topping. Add the remaining wafers and banana slices to the top to dress it up a bit.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream
Pour a quart of heavy cream, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and a tablespoon of vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Whisk at medium speed until the cream is frothy and begins to thicken, then increase to medium-high speed and beat until you start to see trails left by the beaters.
This will make a large batch of whipped cream, and you may not need all of it.
Variations for this Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe
- Add a cream cheese layer: Mix together 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar and one cup chilled whipped topping in a stand mixer. Whisk on low speed for the first minute, then turn it up to medium/high and beat for three minutes more or until light and fluffy with no chunks remaining. Spread it over the vanilla wafers. Then continue making the recipe as normal.
- Make it a pie! Use two pie pans and make the layers in the pie pan. If you are doing this variation, I would make the vanilla wafers into an actual pie crust instead of layering them whole. Crush enough vanilla wafers to get three cups of crumbs. Add 4 tablespoons of sugar and a stick and a half (12 tablespoons) of melted butter. Mix well and then press half of the mixture into each pie pan.Then adding layers like in the original recipe.
- Banana boost: Use instant creamy banana pudding instead of the vanilla pudding to boost the banana flavor.
How to Store Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers
Put any leftovers in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Keep it in the fridge and eat it within a 2-3 days. This classic dessert doesn't hold up well to freezing.
Serving Suggestion
This old fashioned banana pudding can be served and stored in pint or jelly mason jars. Simply put vanilla wafers and bananas on the bottom and layers of creamy vanilla pudding on top. I still like to top it with whipped cream.
If you make this dessert, please leave a star rating and tell me what you think in the comments!
-Meg
More Pudding Desserts
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Carrie
I made this using your vanilla pudding recipe for our family pitch night a couple of weeks ago. The whole family loved it! Safe to say it was gone very quickly!
Kim Satter
This is the recipe I have been looking for. It is the way my grandmother made it.
Thank you!