Comfort Food | Desserts
ByMelissa Riker Updated
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An update on the classic Banana Pudding recipe, this Easy 20 Minute Banana Pudding with cream cheese and cool whip is no-bake and whips together quickly. Once you try it you’ll never go back to the original!
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I’ve been making a lot of recipes lately from my childhood. My grandma was a master of all those 1960s fun desserts: jello salads, Watergate Salad, and of course, Banana Pudding.
When I was a kid I remember eagerly helping her lay out those Nilla Wafers and bananas, then waiting for her to pour the pudding over the top so I couldadd more layers. I recently made an updated version of that classic old school Banana Pudding Recipe and this one is no-bake and absolutely amazing. I dare say it tops my childhood version!
Second, my Grandma never used the homemade pudding that you cook, she was a straight Jello Instant Pudding kind of lady and I wanted to make this version a little more interesting without adding too much extra fuss.
So, I borrowed a bit from my very favorite Dirt Cake Recipe and adapted the custard from that dessert to make this quick and easy layered banana pudding in a trifle dish. It was a hit, y’all! I hope you enjoy!
Like bananas? Check out our Banana Pudding Smoothie, Chocolate Chip Banana Bars, and our very best tried and true Banana Bread.
Ingredients
- butter
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- banana pudding mix
- milk
- cool whip
- bananas
- Nilla Wafers
Step by step
This recipe is quick and easy, taking just 20 minutes to prep plus chill time in the fridge.
Like my Dirt Cake, this Easy Banana Pudding starts by creaming together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. In a separate bowl you then combine milk, pudding mix, and Cool Whip whipped topping.
The two mixtures are blended together and then it’s time to layer!
Cover the bottom of a trifle dish with Nilla Wafers, top with pudding mix, then sliced bananas. Repeat for three layers and let chill for 1 hour before serving.
I like to reserve a few sliced bananas and crushed vanilla wafer to decorate the top.
Tips for best results
- This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. For best results make the same day to avoid browning of the bananas.
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to mix.
- You can also make this in a 9 by 13″ baking dish for easier serving, although you won’t have as many layers.
- I do not recommend using homemade whipped cream for this recipe, Cool Whip is best.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Note that bananas will brown the longer they are stored which does not affect taste.
What do you think of the updated recipe? I’d love your feedback if you try it. You might also like these other classic dessert recipes:
- Watergate Salad
- Old Fashioned Apple Pie
- Dirt Cake
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Easy Banana Pudding Recipe
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Melissa Riker
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
An update on the classic Banana Pudding recipe, this Easy 20 Minute Banana Pudding with cream cheese is no bake and whips together quickly. Once you try it you’ll never go back to the original!
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 box Jello INSTANT French Vanilla pudding
- 1 box Jello INSTANT Banana Creme pudding
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 1 box Nilla Wafers (plus crumbs for garnish if desired)
- 4 ripe bananas, sliced thinly
Instructions
- Cream together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a mixer until blended, do not overmix.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together pudding mixes, Cool Whip, and milk.
- Add whipped cream mixture to cream cheese mixture and mix on low until thoroughly blended.
- In the bottom of a trifle dish add a layer of cookies.
- Top with 1″ of pudding mixture.
- Add bananas, followed by cookies then pudding. Repeat for three layers.
- Top with a decorative layer of banana slices and crushed Nilla Wafers if desired.
- For best taste, chill at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. For best results make the same day to avoid browning of the bananas.
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to mix.
- You can also make this in a 9 by 13″ baking dish for easier serving, although you won’t have as many layers.
- I do not recommend using homemade whipped cream for this recipe, Cool Whip is best.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Note that bananas will brown the longer they are stored which does not affect taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: none
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 384
- Sugar: 29.6 g
- Sodium: 325.3 mg
- Fat: 19.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 49.9 g
- Protein: 5.3 g
- Cholesterol: 48.6 mg
