The Best Banana Pudding Recipe

Looking for a quick, easy, no-bake dessert that all your family will enjoy? Try this banana pudding recipe, and I guarantee it will come out perfect.

The first layer in this recipe for banana pudding is made with vanilla wafers, followed by freshly sliced bananas and a creamy third and a final layer made with cream cheese, condensed milk, and whipped topping.

Banana pudding with condensed milk sounds good? It’s delicious! Best of the banana pudding recipes out there.

How To Make Banana Pudding?

1. Bottom Layer:

• Place one box of cookies in the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish to cover the bottom evenly.
• Slice 5 medium-sized bananas. Toss them with the orange and lemon juices, and place them on top of the cookies so that they cover the whole bottom as well.

2. Creamy Topping:

• In a medium-sized bowl, using a handheld mixer, combine the milk and vanilla pudding until it thickens.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the cream cheese and the condensed milk until smooth. Carefully fold in the thawed whipped topping until well combined.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the pudding mixture and mix them gently until well combined, but do not overmix.

3. Assembling The Dessert:

• Pour the creamy topping on top of the bananas and spread evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until well chilled and set.
• Decorate with crushed and whole cookies, sliced bananas, and shaved chocolate (optional).

How To Keep Bananas From Browning:

The acid in the orange and lemon juices acts like an antioxidant, preventing the bananas from turning brown.

If you don’t plan to serve the pudding immediately, don’t forget to add the citrus juices to the banana slices because even the ones in the middle will eventually turn brown. Don’t add the sliced banana on top until ready to serve.

Can Banana Pudding Be Frozen?

Yes, it can, but keep in mind the texture will not be the same once it thaws. The pudding will be a bit runny because as the water freezes, it forms into crystals that separate a bit from the rest of the pudding when it thaws.

Bananas will also become a bit mushy and brown. So it can be frozen, but it will be a bit different when thawed.

How To Store Banana Pudding?

The best way to store banana pudding is to place it in an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 4 days. The bananas will brown a bit, but the pudding will be in good shape for that amount of time.

The Best Banana Pudding Recipe

Yield: SERVINGS: 12

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

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Ingredients

• 2 boxes vanilla wafer cookies
• 6 bananas, sliced
• 2 tablespoons of orange juice
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1- 5 oz box vanilla pudding
• 1- 8oz package cream cheese
• 1- 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1- 12oz container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• Chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the vanilla pudding with 2 cups of milk. Beat with an electric mixer until it thickens.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth. Gently fold in the whipped topping until combined. Mix this into the vanilla pudding mix until well combined and smooth, but not overmix.
3. Line the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with one box of cookies.
4. Slice 5 of the 6 bananas, toss the slices with the orange and lemon juice and place them over the cookies.
5. Pour the pudding/cream cheese mixture on top of the bananas and spread evenly.
6. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for about 4 hours until set. Decorate with crushed cookies, the remaining banana (sliced), and shaved chocolate (optional).