Best Banana Pudding Recipe
This creamy, dreamy classic dessert is always a hit! Letting it chill in the refrigerator for a few hours allows the banana flavor to deepen and the cookies to become soft and cakey. Heavy cream makes it rich and smooth. Perfect for days when you don't want to turn on the oven but still want a showstopper!
Equipment
- Stand Mixer, Hand Mixer, or Whisk
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Tbs vanilla extract
- 1 5.1 oz box instant vanilla pudding
- 8 oz heavy cream
- 1 Tbs powdered sugar
- 2 medium bananas
- 10 vanilla wafer cookies (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
Step #1 - Make Vanilla Pudding Mixture
- To a bowl add milk, condensed milk, and vanilla extract and mix until completely combined, about 2 minutes (A whisk or a handheld mixer is best for this job, a stand mixer can sometimes miss a little of the bottom of the bowl).
- Pour the pudding packet into the milk mixture and mix together quickly until combined. Pudding will set fast so be prepared to mix as soon as you pour in the packet.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap with the wrap touching the pudding, put into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until pudding is set.
Step #2 - Make Whipped Cream
- Once pudding has set start on the whipped cream. If using a handheld mixer or whisk add heavy cream and powdered sugar to a medium to large bowl. If using stand mixer add to mixer bowl. Make sure cream is very cold.
- Using a handheld mixer, whisk, or stand mixer with whisk attachment, whip cream until stiff peaks form making sure not to overmix or the cream will separate.
Step #3 - Assemble Pudding
- Once pudding has set stir in whipped cream using a 'folding in' motion until combined.
- Break vanilla wafers into pieces (half to quarter pieces) saving some whole ones for the top of the pudding
- Slice bananas into bite size pieces or slices (size is up to you).
- Add bananas and wafer pieces to pudding mixture, stir to combine.
- Put mixture in a serving dish or individual dishes and garnish with more vanilla wafers. Tip: If you are going to garnish with bananas on top make sure to add them right before serving as they will darken when they are exposed to air.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!