Description
This classic banana pudding recipe combines creamy layers of vanilla instant pudding, sweetened condensed milk, and cream cheese with fresh bananas and crunchy Nilla wafers. Topped with whipped topping, this no-bake dessert is chilled to perfection and ideal for a crowd-pleasing 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 Base: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.
- Add Pudding Ingredients: Incorporate the sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and vanilla extract into the cream cheese. Mix until well combined and smooth.
- Fold in Whipped Topping: Gently stir in half of the thawed whipped topping to the pudding mixture to add lightness and creaminess.
- Assemble Layers: In a trifle dish, large bowl, or 9×13-inch baking dish, layer one-third of the Nilla wafers on the bottom, followed by a layer of sliced bananas, and then pour one-third of the pudding mixture over the bananas, ensuring coverage.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering wafers, bananas, and pudding two more times to build three layers total.
- 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 it to thicken and for the wafers to soften before serving.
Notes
- Use instant pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding, for proper thickening.
- Ensure you use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk, for sweetness and texture.
- Banana cream pudding flavor or banana extract can substitute vanilla pudding mix or vanilla extract for enhanced banana flavor.
- Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps in the mixture.
- Adjust the number of bananas (5-7) based on size and personal preference for fresh banana abundance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg