Hey Y’all!
Today, I’m sharing the best banana pudding recipe you will ever find. This is not your mama’s banana pudding, this banana pudding is full of Southern Love. I have always been a fan of banana pudding, it’s by far one of my favorite desserts to make. There are so many reasons to love this yummy treat; it’s quick, easy, and absolutely delicious. Being southern I grew up eating banana pudding, it’s a truly classic and traditional southern dessert. Since this is a southern lifestyle blog, I had to share this amazing recipe with y’all.
There are many variations to this recipe, for example some may use different cookies such as Chessmen cookies instead of Vanilla wafers. Some may also choose to use pineapples instead of bananas. They incorporate the pineapples because they don’t like bananas. Or they hate that the bananas turn brown so quickly.
I’m also going to share a little trick to keep your bananas from turning and ruining your beautiful banana pudding. Banana Pudding is a layered dessert, which is another reason to love it. If you enjoy layered desserts be sure to check out my triple layer chocolate cake which can be found here. So let’s get started with this amazing treat, so that we can dig in, and enjoy our banana pudding.
Banana Pudding Ingredients
As always before we begin preparing any dish, we need to make sure that we have our ingredients ready.
-2 Boxes of Vanilla Wafers
-2 Boxes of Vanilla of Instant Pudding
-1 Container of Cool Whip
-4 Cups of Milk
3-4 Ripe Bananas
How to Keep the Bananas from Turning Brown
Often times when you begin to peel a banana, you may notice that after a few minutes it turns brown. Strangely, enough brown bananas may look unappealing but they’re filled with tons of antioxidants. However, they have no place in a mouthwatering banana pudding recipe.
Once you start to peel and slice your bananas you can dab a little lemon or lime juice on them. Any citrus fruit juice will work, you can even use a little pineapple or orange juice if you have some handy. This trick will prolong the browning of your bananas and keep your banana pudding fresh.
Only use a very small amount of the citric juice, because you don’t want to alter the taste of your dessert. This is just a little trick if you want your bananas to last longer. Banana pudding doesn’t last long in my house. So I don’t have to do this, but I just wanted to share this southern tip with you.
Banana Pudding Recipe
First, I combine my 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding and 4 cups of milk in a large bowl. Which means you will use 2 cups of milk per box of pudding. You can use a whisk or a hand mixer, whichever you prefer they’re both fairly easy. You will want to whisk/mix until all the lumps are gone.
Next, you add in 1 cup of whipped cream into your pudding mixture. You fold in the whipped cream, do not whip or stir because you want to keep your pudding light, fluffy, and airy.
Now, you’re going to set your pudding aside. I use my trifle bowl, which is typically is used for layered desserts. I start to layer my vanilla wafers at the bottom of the bowl as well as around. Then, I begin to peel and slice my bananas, laying them on top of the wafers.
After layering in the wafers and bananas, add a generous amount of pudding. You will continue this process of layering until you reach the top of the trifle bowl.
Completed Banana Pudding

Now that you’ve completed your banana pudding, you will need to refrigerate until chilled. Then, you can enjoy your quick, easy, and delicious Southern Banana Pudding.
I hope y’all enjoyed this post, and have a wonderful day!
Feel Free to let us know what you think in the comments section!
If you would like to see more amazing Southern Love recipes, be sure to click here.
Remember ya’ll not everyone in the South eats fried chicken, but if you fry it just right. We won’t turn it down!
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Banana Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 boxes of vanilla wafers
- 2 boxes of vanilla instant pudding
- 1 container of cool whip
- 4 cups of milk
- 3-4 ripe bananas
Instructions
- First, I combine my 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding and 4 cups of milk in a large bowl. Which means you will use 2 cups of milk per box of pudding
- You can use a whisk or a hand mixer, whichever you prefer they’re both fairly easy. You will want to whisk/mix until all the lumps are gone.
- Next, you add in 1 cup of whipped cream into your pudding mixture.
- You fold in the whipped cream, do not whip or stir because you want to keep your pudding light, fluffy, and airy.
- Now, you’re going to set your pudding aside. I use my trifle bowl, which is typically used for layered desserts.
- I start to layer my vanilla wafers at the bottom of the bowl as well as around.
- Then, I begin to peel and slice my bananas, laying them on top of the wafers.
- After layering in the wafers and bananas, add a generous amount of pudding. You will continue this process of layering until you reach the top of the trifle bowl.
- Now that you’ve completed your banana pudding, you will need to refrigerate until chilled.
Love banana pudding omg😍😍
Author
I know it’s one of my all-time favorite desserts! Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a great day! 😃😃
Sooooo trying it this weekend!
Author
I’m so happy to hear that! Please let us know how it turns it! Have a wonderful day! 😊😊
Banana bread pudding is my fiancé’s fave! I’ll have to make this for him!
Author
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m sure he’ll love this recipe and the best thing it’s so quick and easy to make! Have a wonderful day! 😃
I have never had banana pudding before. I am going to have to give your recipe a try soon!
Author
OMG! You have to try it, it’s sooo good and it’s so easy to make! Please let us know how it turns out, thank you for stopping by! Hope you have an amazing day! 😃
This sounds amazing unfortunately you can not get these ingredients over here, I have searched cool whip loads of times. I will have to try to find alternative ingredients
Author
Thank you so much! I hope you’re able to find alternatives, banana pudding is such a yummy treat! Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you have a great day! 😃
COuld you use heavy whipping cream with a little vanilla extract?
Author
Of course! The great thing about recipes you can change them up and your dish will still be delicious!
Love the way you outlined everything.. Sending this to my sis, she Will surely want to give this a try.
Author
Thank you so much! I wanted to make it as easy as possible to make. Thank you for stopping by and I hope your sister enjoys it! Have a great day! 😃
Great!!!!! This recipe really looks nice and tasty will really love to try it sometime.
Oh so now I learn how to stop a little bit of the browning. Thank you for sharing these tips.
Author
Yes and it really works! I’m glad this is a helpful tip for you! Thank you stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day! 😃
Banana pudding is SO good! I have so many childhood memories of eating it – I’ll have to give this recipe a try!
Author
I know I love Banana Pudding and it’s soooo quick and easy to make! Let us know how this recipe works out for you! Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day! 😃
This is one of my fav desserts nor to big on it being baked tho, so this recipe is awesome I can taste it now
Author
Hey James! This is one of my favorite desserts too! I never even knew people baked banana pudding! This recipe is so easy and delicious, let me know how it turns out if you decide to make! I hope you have an awesome day and thank you so much for stopping by!
This recipe is the best I have ever had! #Facts!
Forgive me if I missed this info but what size boxes/containers and what kind of milk?
Author
Hey Maygan! I used two standard boxes of Vanilla wafers and two standard boxes of instant vanilla pudding which are 5.1 ounces per box. I had to use two because I was using a large trifle dish. However, if you’re using a smaller dish you can just cut the recipe in half. For example, just use 1 box of vanilla wafers, 1 box of instant vanilla pudding, 2 cups of whole milk, per instructions on the pudding box. If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to ask! I hope this helps!
Hi, The recipe says a container of whipped cream but in the instructions it says mix in one cup. Which is correct? I’m excited to try it!
Mary
Author
Hey Mary, I just listed the container of whipped cream as a part of the ingredients. I typically use one cup of whipped cream, however it’s all about personal preference. Feel free to use a little more whipped cream if you desire! Please let us know how it turns out! 😊
Can I make this the night before?
Author
Of course! You can make the banana pudding and store it in the refrigerator. You just have to be mindful of the amount of bananas that you use, because they tend to turn.
Amazing!! Beyond easy an my family loves it!!!!!
Author
Thank you so much and we’re so happy to hear your family loves it!
Do u know recipe for a pinwheel with confectionary sugar and peanut butter?
Author
Hello Barbara! Unfortunately I don’t have a recipe for that, but I Googled it and I found these two! I hope this helps….Have a wonderful day! 😊
https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/old-fashioned-peanut-butter-pinwheels/
https://therecipecritic.com/peanut-butter-pinwheel-candy/
Just prepared this glorious dessert. It is in the fridge now. Absolutely can not wait to try it!! I made half of the recipe and it is perfect amount for 2 people for 2 nights. My wonderful pregnant wife has been craving this desert and I found this recipe. Excited to try it out!!
Author
Hey Don! I’m sooooo glad that you found our recipe as well, banana pudding is such an amazing dessert! I hope you and your wife enjoy it, and Congratulations on your little bundle of joy! 😊 Thank you for taking the time to comment about our recipe. We absolutely love to read comments like this, it truly warms our hearts! Hope you have an Awesome evening! 😃😃
I used this recipe to make my first ever Banana Pudding. It turned out Delicious! Today I made my 4th Banana Pudding using this recipe. No need to search for another Banana Pudding recipe, when you have found the Most Delicious and Easy one you could ever make. Thank you also for the information on how to keep the bananas from turning brown. ❤️👏👏
Author
Hi Tina! We’re sooooo happy to hear that your banana pudding turned out so well!!! It’s one of our favorite recipes! 😋 Thank you for taking the time to write such an amazing review! Banana pudding is by far one the of the best desserts it’s super easy, and the whipped cream really adds something to it! You’re so welcome for that info, we’re glad it was useful to you! Thank you again for taking the time to comment and we hope you have a wonderful evening! 😊♥️
Hey, there… I don’t see the suggested number of servings this recipe would yield. Would it serve 12 using the entire recipe?
Thank you… Happy Easter!
Author
Hey Berni! Yes, this recipe can definitely serve 12, but if you’re making this for true foodies I would make a little extra in a smaller pan. Because no one can eat just one serving of banana pudding lol!
Awww thank you so much Happy Easter to you as well! Hope you have a wonderful day! 😊
What size boxes of pudding are you using? Small or large?
Author
Hey Pamela, I’m using two small boxes!
This is my all time go to dessert recipe for all special holidays. I’ve made it at least 6 times and every one enjoys it so much! Thanks so much for a quick but delicious recipe. 🤗❤️🤗
Author
Hey Brandi! We’re soooo happy to hear that you and your loved ones enjoy this recipe! You’re so welcome and thank you so much for taking the time to let us know how well this recipe worked out for you! Merry Christmas!! 😊😊🎄
I’ve made this several times and husband loves it.
Author
Hello Vicki! I’m so glad to hear that, thank you so much for letting us know! I hope you’re having a wonderful day!
Happy Easter! 😄
This recipe was super easy and fast to make! I used extra creamy cool whip and instead of 2 boxes of vanilla pudding I used one box of vanilla and a box of banana. So delicious!
Author
Hey Ashlee! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and letting us know how everything worked for you! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! I hope you have an amazing day! 😄
I really like banana pudding, but was wondering if you could use heavy whipping cream instead of milk?
Author
Hey Theresa! Of course you can use whatever substitute you like! I hope you have a wonderful day! 😊
A summer delight. My go to for BBQ gatherings. Comes together quickly and effortlessly. Very delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. I make it often.
Author
Hey Carmen! Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to review this recipe! We’re so incredibly happy to hear how easy and delicious it is for you to prepare. Banana pudding is by far one of the best treats to beat the summer heat. I hope you have an amazing day and thank you again! 😊