Description
This creamy and delicious Banana Pudding recipe layers a smooth mixture of cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding, and whipped topping with slices of fresh banana and crunchy Nilla wafers. It is a classic Southern dessert that is easy to assemble and perfect for serving a crowd. Refrigerate it for a few hours for the flavors to meld and the wafers to soften, resulting in an irresistibly rich and comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pudding Mixture
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 5 ounce package INSTANT vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups milk (2% or higher)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 ounce tub whipped topping (COOL WHIP), thawed (divided use)
Layers
- 11 ounce box Nilla wafers (divided use)
- 5-7 bananas, peeled and sliced (divided use)
Instructions
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk and Pudding Mix: Add the sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and vanilla extract to the cream cheese. Mix thoroughly until well combined and smooth.
- Incorporate Whipped Topping: Gently fold in half of the thawed whipped topping into the pudding mixture until evenly blended.
- Layer Nilla Wafers: Place one-third of the Nilla wafers in a single layer at the bottom of a trifle dish, large bowl, or 9×13-inch baking dish to form the first layer.
- Add Banana Slices: Arrange a layer of sliced bananas over the Nilla wafers evenly.
- Pour Pudding Mixture: Spoon one-third of the pudding mixture over the bananas, spreading to cover all pieces.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering two more times following the order: Nilla wafers, bananas, and pudding mixture to create three complete layers.
- Top with Whipped Topping: Spread the remaining whipped topping evenly over the top layer of pudding.
- Chill: Cover the assembled pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one to two hours to allow the pudding to thicken and the wafers to soften perfectly before serving.
Notes
- Ensure you use INSTANT pudding mix, not Cook and Serve, as the latter will not set properly.
- Always use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk, for the correct sweetness and texture.
- You can substitute Banana Cream pudding flavor for vanilla pudding or use banana extract instead of vanilla extract for enhanced banana flavor.
- Be sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps and achieve a smooth mixture.
- Adjust the number of bananas (5-7) based on their size and your preference for banana quantity in the pudding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
