Ingredients
Scale
- 11 oz. Box of vanilla wafers
- 5.1 oz. Box of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 4–5 ripe bananas, sliced
- 8 oz. whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
- 3 cups cold milk
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup crushed vanilla wafers (optional)
- caramel sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Make your homemade whipped cream, if not using store-bought, and set aside.
- Whisk cream cheese with the mixer until fluffy, approximately 30-45 seconds.
- Add the vanilla pudding mix to the cream cheese and mix until combined.
- Slowly add the cold milk to the cream cheese pudding mixture and mix until fully combined. Let it set for 5 minutes.
- Fold in ⅔ of the whipped cream into the cream cheese/pudding mixture and stir until well combined.
- In the bottom of the baking pan, place a single layer of vanilla wafers. Then add a layer of sliced bananas over the wafers.
- Spread ½ of the pudding mixture over the bananas and repeat the layers.
- Top the last layer of pudding with the remaining whipped cream.
- Optional: add a layer of banana slices, crushed up vanilla wafers or drizzle of caramel sauce to the top of the dessert.
- Let the banana pudding chill in the fridge for up to an hour to make it nice and cold. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Be sure to use very ripe bananas. Bananas with some brown spots work well!
- If the bananas aren’t ripe enough, it could create a watery banana pudding.
- Make sure you let the pudding mixture set up for 5 minutes before adding the whipped cream.
- You can use homemade vanilla pudding instead of instant pudding. However, I find that the instant pudding mix is much easier and quicker to make. Plus, it yields a smoother consistency.
- If you don’t have cream cheese or are looking for a lighter option, you can use vanilla Greek yogurt in its place.
- Make this gluten free by using your favorite gluten-free cookies or wafers.
- This banana pudding recipe can be stored in the fridge for up to four days. However, I find that it’s best within the first two days.
- This no-bake banana pudding is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time. Simply prepare it as directed and store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American