Classic Southern Banana Pudding Recipe
Classic Southern Banana Pudding is a creamy, luscious dessert featuring layers of sliced ripe bananas, crunchy Nilla wafer cookies, and a rich vanilla pudding mixture made with instant pudding, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped cream. This chilled treat is perfect for gatherings or a comforting homemade dessert, offering a delightful balance of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Pudding Mixture
- 1 (3 oz.) box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
- 3–4 cups VERY COLD filtered water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 (8 oz.) container whipped cream, store-bought or homemade (or Cool Whip)
Other Ingredients
- 4 organic bananas, sliced
- 1 (11 oz.) box Nilla wafer cookies (plus extra crushed for topping if desired)
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding mixture: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the very cold water (start with 3 cups and add up to 4 cups as needed), vanilla instant pudding mix, and sweetened condensed milk. Whisk on medium-high speed for about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens and resembles pudding. If using a hand mixer, consider using an extra box of pudding mix to achieve the right creamy consistency.
- Add flavorings: Stir in the vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and sea salt into the pudding mixture. Mix for another minute to fully incorporate these flavors.
- Fold in whipped cream: Gently fold the whipped cream or Cool Whip into the pudding mixture using a spatula until evenly blended and lightened in texture.
- Layer the dessert: In a trifle bowl or your preferred serving dish, layer Nilla wafer cookies, sliced bananas, and pudding mixture. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a pudding layer on top.
- Garnish and chill: Decorate the top with dollops of whipped cream and sprinkle crushed Nilla wafers for added texture and presentation. Refrigerate the banana pudding for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and cookies to soften.
- Serve and enjoy: Once chilled and set, serve the banana pudding chilled. Bon Appetit!
Notes
- Use very cold water for the pudding mix to ensure proper thickening.
- If you prefer a firmer pudding, add an extra box of vanilla instant pudding mix.
- For a lighter version, use homemade whipped cream in place of Cool Whip.
- Refrigeration time is important as it helps cookies soften and flavors meld together.
- This dessert can be made a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
Keywords: banana pudding, southern dessert, vanilla pudding, Nilla wafers, layered dessert, chilled dessert, classic banana pudding
Find it online: https://chefmilacook.com/classic-southern-banana-pudding-recipe/
