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    Home » Dessert » Banana Pudding

    Banana Pudding

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    Banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet. With layers of creamy vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies, this no bake treat will remind you of the banana pudding your grandmother used to make.

    Plus, this layered dessert is ready in just minutes if using store-bought pudding or pudding mix, or plan ahead and make it with indulgent homemade vanilla pudding. Serve this banana pudding as individually parfaits for easy serving, or assemble it in a larger dish to feed a crowd.

    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. | aheadofthyme.com

    Why You’ll Love Banana Pudding Parfaits

    • It's vanilla pudding taken to the next level. Now, I’m someone who loves vanilla pudding (or any kind of pudding) on its own. But even I can’t deny that a well-balanced dessert is even better! Fresh bananas and crunchy vanilla wafers balance out the homemade pudding by adding flavors and textures that complement each other so well.
    • Pudding parfaits look amazing. If you need an Instagram-worthy dessert, look no further. These banana pudding parfaits look as beautiful as they taste — especially when crafted in a clear glass containers so that you can see all the different layers before you dig in with a spoon to enjoy.
    • You can serve it to a crowd. Banana pudding parfaits are great when you want to serve individual desserts to your guests, but you can totally assemble it in a single larger bowl for self-serving at a potluck or Memorial Day party.
    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. | aheadofthyme.com

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    To make this delicious Banana Pudding, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

    • vanilla pudding - you can use store-bought vanilla pudding or use pudding mix to make 2 cups of pudding. We made homemade pudding with the following ingredients:
      • granulated sugar
      • cornstarch
      • salt
      • egg yolks
      • whole milk
      • butter
      • vanilla extract
    • bananas
    • vanilla wafers - use mini wafer cookies such as Nilla wafers, or substitute with shortbread cookies.
    • whipped cream - optional, for topping.

    You will also need measuring cups and spoons, saucepan (if making the vanilla pudding from scratch), and mini dessert cups.

    Ingredients in banana pudding. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Banana Pudding

    Prepare the vanilla pudding.

    If you are using store-bought pudding then you don't need to prepare the pudding and you can make these banana pudding parfaits in minutes. If you are making vanilla pudding using a box mix, follow the instructions on the box.

    To make homemade vanilla pudding:

    1. Combine ingredients and cook. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks until well blended. Whisk in the milk and heat over medium heat, stirring often, about 5-8 minutes. Once the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking until thickened, whisking often, about 1-2 minutes more. Note that pudding will be pourable but will continue to thicken more as it cools. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
    • Vanilla pudding ingredients mixed together in a saucepan before heating. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Vanilla pudding ingredients mixed together in a saucepan and cooked until thick. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Cooked vanilla pudding in a saucepan. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Remove lumps. If you notice any lumps, pass the pudding through a fine-mesh sieve over a large heatproof bowl to remove any lumps. Skip this if you don’t notice any lumps.
    2. Chill. Prepare a large bowl with some water and ice to make an ice bath. Place the saucepan directly into the ice bath, stirring occasionally, until the pudding reaches room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until the pudding has chilled through completely, at least 4 hours (up to 2 days).
    • A bowl of warm homemade vanilla pudding next to a water bath for chilling. | aheadofthyme.com
    • A bowl of homemade vanilla pudding. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Assemble Banana Pudding Parfaits

    1. Pudding. Add a large dollop of pudding into the bottom of each parfait cup.
    2. Cookies. Top with a layer of wafer cookie pieces
    3. Banana. Add a layer of sliced bananas.
    4. Repeat. Repeat these layers until you reach close to the top, ending with a final layer of pudding.
    5. Toppings. Finish each pudding with whipped cream and some crushed or crumbled wafer cookies.
    • Layer of vanilla pudding in banana pudding parfait. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Layer of vanilla wafter cookies in banana pudding parfait. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Layer of bananas in banana pudding parfait. | aheadofthyme.com

    Pudding Parfait Variations

    This banana pudding parfait recipe is amazing — and it’s versatile. You can customize this pudding parfaits with any combination of fruit and cookie you like! Consider trying:

    • strawberries and oreos
    • peaches and pie crust crumbles
    • cherries and chocolate chip cookies

    Storing Instructions

    • How to store: Store banana pudding in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap, or inside an airtight container. You can even assemble them directly in a Tupperware container. Although the pudding will keep for up to one week, the bananas shorten their life span to just 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the cookies will soften over time as well.
    • Make ahead tips: You can make the vanilla pudding ahead of time. Homemade vanilla pudding will keep for up to one week in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, just assemble the banana pudding parfaits when you are ready to serve.
    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. | aheadofthyme.com

    More Banana Dessert Recipes

    • Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins
    • Flourless Banana Brownies
    • Healthy Banana Bread
    • Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Majoon (Banana and Nut) Smoothie
    • Banana Bread Cookies

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

    Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.

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    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. | aheadofthyme.com

    Banana Pudding


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    • Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies.


    Ingredients

    For the vanilla pudding:

    Use 2 cups vanilla pudding or make homemade pudding with the following ingredients:

    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 large egg yolks, beaten
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1 and ½ tablespoons butter, unsalted
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ice cubes (for water bath)

    For assembling the banana pudding parfaits:

    • 2 large bananas, sliced
    • 2.5 ounces vanilla wafers (or shortbread cookies), loosely broken into ¼-inch pieces
    • whipped cream (optional, for topping)

    Instructions

    Make the vanilla pudding:

    If you are using store-bought pudding then you don't need to prepare the pudding and you can make these banana pudding parfaits in minutes. If you are making vanilla pudding using a box mix, follow the instructions on the box.

    To make homemade vanilla pudding:

    1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks until well blended. Whisk in the milk and heat over medium heat, stirring often, about 5-8 minutes.
    2. Once the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking until thickened, whisking often, about 1-2 minutes more. Note that pudding will be pourable but will continue to thicken more as it cools.
    3. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
    4. If you notice any lumps, pass the pudding through a fine-mesh sieve over a large heatproof bowl to remove any lumps. Skip this if you don’t notice any lumps.
    5. Prepare a large bowl with some water and ice to make an ice bath. Place the saucepan directly into the ice bath, stirring occasionally, until the pudding reaches room temperature, about 30 minutes.
    6. Cover and refrigerate until the pudding has chilled through completely, at least 4 hours (up to 2 days).

    Assemble the banana pudding:

    1. Add a large dollop of pudding into the bottom of each parfait cup.
    2. Top with a layer of wafer cookie pieces and a layer of sliced bananas.
    3. Repeat these layers until you reach close to the top, ending with a final layer of pudding.
    4. Finish each pudding with whipped cream and some crushed or crumbled wafer cookies.

    Notes

    How to store: Store banana pudding in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap, or inside an airtight container. You can even assemble them directly in a Tupperware container. Although the pudding will keep for up to one week, the bananas shorten their life span to just 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the cookies will soften over time as well.

    Make ahead tips: You can make the vanilla pudding ahead of time. Homemade vanilla pudding will keep for up to one week in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, just assemble the banana pudding parfaits when you are ready to serve.

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Chill Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. | aheadofthyme.com
    Banana Pudding
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