Creamy Banana Pudding with Wafers Recipe
A classic Southern dessert, Banana Pudding is a comforting layering of creamy vanilla pudding, ripe bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers. This no-cook, refrigerated treat is easy to assemble and perfect for gatherings or a simple sweet snack.
- 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
Ingredients
- 3–4 ripe bananas, sliced
- 2 cups vanilla pudding (prepared from instant mix or homemade)
- 1 package vanilla wafers (about 11–12 oz)
Instructions
- Slice Bananas: Peel and slice the bananas into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch thick, to ensure they layer smoothly.
- Prepare Pudding: If using instant pudding mix, prepare according to package instructions until thickened. If homemade, whip until creamy.
- Layer Ingredients: In a serving dish or trifle bowl, start with a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom. Add a layer of sliced bananas over the wafers, then spread a layer of vanilla pudding on top.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering wafers, bananas, and pudding until all ingredients are used, finishing with a pudding layer on top.
- Chill: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and wafers to soften.
- Serve: Serve chilled, optionally garnished with extra wafers or whipped cream for added texture.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm bananas to avoid mushiness.
- For extra richness, use homemade vanilla pudding with whole milk and egg yolks.
- Substitute vanilla wafers with shortbread or graham crackers for a unique twist.
- To prevent banana browning, toss slices briefly with lemon juice before layering.
- This dessert is best consumed within 2 days of assembling.
Keywords: banana pudding, vanilla pudding dessert, layered pudding, classic Southern dessert, easy no-cook dessert
