21 of the Best Instant Pudding Desserts

Are you looking for a delicious dessert that won’t take hours of your time? These 21 easy instant pudding desserts will end your dinner with a delightful treat.

Pudding is a hit with kids, but these desserts made with pudding show that decadent, sophisticated, and absolutely delicious dishes can start with instant pudding. Why labor with a fussy, complicated dish when these easy recipes can help you make layered pudding desserts that you and your guests will love?

Whether you are looking for jello pudding recipes, tasty pies, delectable eclairs, or instant pudding desserts (no-bake), take a look at this list of the best, easy ideas for pudding desserts!

Sometimes you need something a little different, and you can find it in these 35 Easy Fun Desserts to Impress Guests. So whether it is pudding desserts or something a little bit more elaborate, the ending to your meal will be a success!

1. Sex in a Pan

While the name of this dish might raise some eyebrows at the dinner table, your guests will rave about this six-layer treat.

The crunchy, sweet pecan crust at the bottom adds a delicious layer of texture. More exciting than everyday vanilla pudding desserts, Sex in a Pan combines luscious whipped cream cheese with silky pudding and crisp pecans.

This deceptively simple recipe can be modified to feature any flavors that call to you. The original calls for chocolate and vanilla pudding, but try it with banana or butterscotch. Or, add a layer of fruit to create more texture and brightness. The possibilities are endless in this decadent delight.

2. Peanut Butter Pudding Dessert

The classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate gets the lasagna treatment in this layered pudding dessert that is sure to please.

A heavenly cashew crumb crust is the only baked element, while everything else can be chilled or even frozen for a summer treat.

Substitute with your favorite nut butter or add dark chocolate for a more complex flavor. This dessert can be adapted to suit your tastes and bring everyone back for seconds.

3. Piggy Pie Dessert

Another tasty treat with a fun name, Piggy Pie is sure to impress your guests.

Chill well before serving if you want clearly defined layers, or dish up gooey slices right away. Either way, you are in for a delicious dessert. Experiment with different flavors of pudding and toppings in this versatile recipe.

A caramel flavored pudding would be great with a chocolate sauce topping or try banana flavored pudding. Add a layer of fruit pie filling to take this dessert to the next level.

4. Chocolate Delight

Pecan shortbread crust gives this layered pudding dessert a cookie-like surprise at the base.

The salty, flaky crust is an excellent contrast to the rich layers of pudding, cream cheese, and chocolate. Just reading about it will have you dreaming of Chocolate Delight!

Imagine a layer of salted caramel for more complexity and richness, or amp up the chocolate factor by adding cocoa powder to the cream cheese mixture. This is a flexible recipe that will please any crowd.

5. Easy No-Bake Eclair Cake

When it comes to instant pudding desserts, no-bake recipes are the ultimate in convenience and satisfaction.

Why turn on your oven when creamy pudding and crunchy graham crackers can come together into a sophisticated, delicious dessert all on their own?

This recipe uses vanilla pudding and chocolate frosting to recreate the classic flavors of an éclair. Coffee, caramel, banana, or hazelnut flavor will transform the vanilla pudding. Or, create a summery treat with strawberry frosting over a tart and sweet pudding-like lemon or lime.

This recipe is so simple that you can make it, again and again, to try out as many flavor combinations as you like.

6. The Best Banana Pudding

Perfect for that summer picnic when it’s simply too hot, or a Thanksgiving dessert that won’t take up space in your busy oven, banana pudding lets you enjoy the textures and flavors of banana cream pie with a fraction of the work.

The wafers soften as they chill with the pudding so that each serving offers a combination of cool vanilla, creamy banana, and soft cookie.

This recipe offers a variation on the classic jello pudding recipes for banana pudding with the addition of cream cheese and condensed milk for extra richness.  Did you know some people consider banana pudding to be one of the  Texas desserts?

For a healthy version, you can limit the ingredients to bananas, pudding, and wafers. 

7. Pistachio Lush Dessert

The vibrant color and delectable flavors of this dish are sure to make pistachio pudding desserts a part of your recipe rotation.

This layered dessert starts with a crisp graham cracker crust to complement the cheesecake layer. The pistachio pudding is next for a pop of color and flavor.

Chill well to make sure you and your guests get the visual of those clean layers and the bright green pistachio pudding!

You can freeze this to enjoy some ice cream nostalgia, as well. Incorporate pistachio nuts for texture and flavor. Try them mixed into the cream cheese layer or sprinkled on top before serving.

8. Watergate Fluff Salad

Fluff salads are a retro delight that will treat your eyes as well as your tastebuds. Like Ambrosia Salad, this combination of pudding, fruit, and whipped cream will make an impression at any gathering.

The lightness of this fluffy treat means you can share the sweetness without weighing down your potluck plates.

This recipe calls for pistachio pudding, pineapples, and pecans, but you can mix it up with any flavor, fruit, or nut you please! Just be sure to include the mini-marshmallows so your dish is fun and fluffy.

9. No Bake Oreo Vanilla Pudding Cake

Fewer than 10 ingredients bring together this celebration of cookies and cream flavors.

Honestly, you’ll wonder why you ever spent your time and energy baking from scratch once you try this no-bake recipe.

Vanilla pudding and cream cheese on top of an Oreo cookie crust is a perfect combination, but any sandwich cookie can work here.

Try peanut butter sandwich cookies with chocolate pudding, or mint Milano cookies with a dark chocolate layer. Maybe one of the many varieties of Oreo cookies can guide your flavor profile.

This nearly effortless dessert will satisfy your cravings and please your whole table.

10. Kahlua Pudding Pie

As wonderful as easy instant pudding desserts are, sometimes you want to create something from scratch.

This Kahlua Pudding Pie requires a little baking, but it’s the handmade pudding that will satisfy your creative urge.

Espresso, cocoa powder, and bittersweet chocolate are livened up with a healthy pour of Kahlua.

The crunchy, buttery graham cracker crust and airy Kahlua whipped cream come together to create a boozy, adult s’more. Perfect for a cool summer evening or a fireside winter treat!

11. Easy Bailey’s Chocolate Dessert

For another creamy, boozy treat, this Bailey’s pudding dessert delivers. With as few as 5 ingredients, this no-bake, adaptable recipe is also gluten-free!

While Kahlua pudding is handmade to create layers of flavor, this recipe offers a shortcut to Irish cream pudding by blending Bailey’s into vanilla pudding. And if you prefer your pudding desserts in a cup, this recipe will make 10 individual cups for the ultimate grown-up treat.

12. The Best Banana Pudding Ever

There are as many recipes for classic banana pudding as there are grandmothers to pass them down, so it’s no surprise to see more than one claiming to be the best.

This recipe is perfect for a large crowd and the straightforward directions will bring together this no-bake pudding in just a few minutes.

You can sprinkle your sliced bananas with a small amount of lemon juice to keep the fruit from browning and releasing liquid in the pudding. Feel free to be strategic in your layering, or not. Sometimes a simple recipe just works!

13. Banana Split Pudding Cups

Fun to make and fun to eat, these pudding cups offer the delicious flavors of a banana split without the melty, sticky mess of ice cream.

If you’re looking for a treat to make with your kids, there is plenty of easy prep work for small hands to safely complete. Or, prepare the ingredients and let everyone make their own pudding sundae!

This recipe includes fresh bananas and strawberries and canned pineapple chunks, but you can use any fruits or toppings that you would like in a banana split. Be sure to use clear cups for a treat that’s nice to look at and nice to eat!

14. Cookies ‘n Cream Parfait

How can something so simple look so fancy?! These parfaits only require 3 ingredients but the smoothly spread layers and cookie topping will make your guests feel like they are dining out.

To get super clean layers, use plastic freezer bags to pipe your mixtures into the cups. You can use sugar-free pudding and whipped topping, as this recipe describes, or the regular varieties. Either way, get ready for a delicious and beautiful dessert that couldn’t be easier!

15. Easter Dirt Cake

This adorable dessert is perfect for an Easter celebration and it will only need about 15 minutes of your time!

Once the cookie crumbs are layered under the pudding mixture, you can let the dessert rest and chill in the fridge. Then all that’s left is decorating with Oreo cookie crumb “dirt,” marshmallow bunnies, chocolate eggs, and any other treats to make your garden scene.

Easter candy works great for these decorations, but this dirt cake would be welcome at many celebrations. Use Halloween candies and decorations to create a graveyard or a pumpkin patch, flower-shaped treats to make a spring garden, or gummy worms for a silly, wiggly surprise.

You can even create a Christmas version by finishing the cake with whipped topping “snow.”

16. The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford

Chocolate lush with layers of creamy pudding, rich cream cheese, and fluffy whipped topping, this dish will stand out for more than just the memorable name.

The pecan or walnut crust in this recipe will provide a firm, buttery base for the silky layers. This crust can be substituted for a different overall flavor.

Try crushed Ritz crackers for a saltier contrast to the sweetness, or graham crackers if you want a s’mores dessert.

17. Oreo Delight with Chocolate Pudding

Oreo cookies are proof that chocolate cookies and cream filling are the perfect pairings.

This layered pudding features the sweet cream and crunchy chocolate of an Oreo cookie with the added lushness of chocolate pudding. The crunchy cookie topping adds texture and variety.

For a twist, add an extra layer of cookie crumbs inside. They will soften a little as the dish cools and create an ice cream cake feel for your dessert.

This no-bake recipe is so simple that adding an extra layer or varying the flavors is easy!

18. Strawberry Shortcake Lush

Strawberry season is never complete without a strawberry shortcake dessert.

This lush dessert reimagines strawberry shortcake without losing the big strawberry flavor and the iconic soft cream layers.

This version uses sugar cookie crumbs to form a crust that can stand up to the cream cheese, pudding, and whipped topping.

Try a biscuit crust for a softer texture and a contrast to the sweetness of the layers. Serve well-chilled slices with a topping of chopped fresh strawberries sprinkled with sugar to enjoy the tastes of summer.

19. The Easiest Mousse You Will Ever Make

You only need two ingredients to make this rich, decadent mousse! Instant pudding and heavy cream mixed, chilled, then mixed again form a light, fluffy, indulgent pudding that you can use as cake frosting, fruit dip, pie filling, or simply savor it by the spoonful.

A box of pudding mousse will stay good in the fridge for up to 2 weeks if you can keep from eating it all before then.

Try it frozen for a sweet treat on a hot afternoon. You can experiment with different liquids to add in more flavors.

Replace some of the heavy creams with Bailey’s or Kahlua for a creamy spiked mousse, or mix crumbled cookies or brownies into a cold scoop for a homemade concrete.

20. Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding Dessert

Take the classic no-bake cheesecake to the next level with this lemon pudding dessert.

The bright, tart flavor of the lemon pudding and lemon zest accents the creaminess of the pudding and keeps this slab cheesecake feeling light.

The graham cracker crust provides a rich, buttery base. Lemon pudding and cream cheese blend together for the cheesecake layer. Try lime pudding and fresh lime zest for a key lime pie version that will transport you to the islands with one bite.

21. Easy Cream Puff Dessert

If you’ve watched the Great British Baking Show, the idea of choux pastry might intimidate you. But making the cream puff pastry shell for this dessert is as simple as boiling water.

The hot water crust will puff up in the oven and create a crisp base for whatever cream filling you choose.

You can stick with classic French vanilla or try another instant pudding variety. Coconut cream or banana flavor would be delicious with the choux crust! Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving for an indulgent treat.