cupcake (1) 1

Quick & Easy Banana Pudding

Home / Quick & Easy Banana Pudding

Quick & Easy Banana Pudding

by | Jul 10, 2025 | 0 comments

0.0
0.0 out of 5 stars (based on 0 reviews)
Excellent0%
Very good0%
Average0%
Poor0%
Terrible0%
This decadent banana pudding takes the classic Southern favorite to the next level with silky layers of vanilla custard, ripe bananas, and crisp chessmen cookies, topped with a luscious, homemade salted caramel sauce for the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Prep Time25 min

Bake Time0 min

Wait Time2 hours

Yields8 servings

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

Banana Pudding

  • 2 packages (3.4 oz) banana (or vanilla) instant pudding
  • 4 cups whole or 2% milk, cold
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 -1 cup powdered sugar (depending on sweetness preference!)
  • 2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 packages chessman cookies (vanilla wafers also work)
  • 6 bananas, sliced
  • salted caramel sauce

 

What to do

1. To begin, place milk and instant pudding in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes (hand whisk also works, you just have to work a little harder). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in the fridge (the pudding will thicken as it sits).

2. Place cream cheese and powdered sugar in a stand mixer with fitted attachment (hand mixer also works). On medium speed, beat the mixture until creamy and smooth (you may have to scrape down the bowl as you beat). Slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream and increase the speed to medium high. Beat until medium stiff peaks form. Then add the vanilla, mix until combined.

3. Assemble your pudding. Note: As seen in the video below, I used a vase like glass dish but any vessel will work (I have one linked here)! Start with a layer of chessman cookies. Then top with pudding, whipped cream, bananas, salted caramel and then crushed chessman. Repeat this process until you run out of pudding and whipped cream! Pro tip: if you are using a glass container, arranging bananas against the glass makes for a very pretty presentation (see note below for more details on layering and keeping bananas fresh!)

FAQ’s

Banana pudding stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. For freshness, ensure that the top of the banana pudding container is sealed tight. Bananas may start to brown, but the pudding will still be tasty.

Absolutely! I actually think banana pudding tastes even better after sitting for a day or two. You can absolutely make this recipe and let it hang out in the fridge for a day or two before serving. Tip: Try adding sliced bananas to the top of the pudding just before serving.

Yes! In this recipe, I show a layered trifle-like pudding (because I think it looks pretty and I like the flavor of each layer on its own). This is a personal preference though, you can absolutely fold the whipped cream into the pudding– that is a more traditional approach.

Helpful tips

Here are some important Pro tips by Maude

  • To keep bananas from browning, try brushing them with a little lemon juice and water. You can also mix 1 tbsp of water and honey (or sugar) and brush the bananas. This method helps keep the air from hitting the bananas, which means, slowing browning process
  • I have found that the longer the banana pudding sits, the better it gets. I highly advise keeping the banana pudding in the fridge for at least 2 hours after assembly.
  • Make sure to bring cream cheese to room temp before mixing into the powdered sugar. This ensures a smooth even and silky whipped cream.

More Recipes!

Here are some similar recipes you might enjoy!


Banana Pudding Sugar Cookies


No Churn Blackberry Ice Cream


Strawberry Cheesecake Bars


Mini Cherry Pie Cheesecakes

If you try this recipe, I would love your feedback! Please leave a star rating, a comment below or on the reel in Instagram! Also please share what you made and tag @eatmaudes !! Thank you so much for stopping by and making yumminess with me!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Related Post