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The Best Banana Pudding

This no-cook banana pudding recipe is easy to make and delicious layered with vanilla wafers and slices of banana. It's the best banana pudding you will ever find (or so I've been told by many)!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine british
Servings 20 people
Calories 6523.3 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Glass Serving Bowl (e.g., trifle bowl or 9x13-inch dish)
  • 1 Spatula (for folding and spreading)
  • 1 Chef's Knife and Cutting Board (for slicing bananas)

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 1 5-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 16-ounce package vanilla wafers
  • 12 small bananas sliced or more as needed

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Place milk and pudding mix in a large bowl; beat with a whisk for 2 minutes. Whisk in condensed milk until smooth. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Stir in vanilla, then fold in whipped topping. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Arrange a layer of wafers in the bottom of a glass serving bowl. Top with a layer of banana slices, then a layer of pudding mixture; repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • For best results, chill pudding in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Top with extra crushed wafers just before serving. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

1. Banana ripeness is key: choose firm, yellow bananas with minimal green. Overripe bananas will turn mushy too quickly, while underripe ones lack sweetness. 2. To prevent bananas from browning, you can lightly toss the slices in a small amount of lemon juice, but this can alter the flavor profile. For best results, slice bananas just before layering. 3. The chilling time is crucial for the pudding to set properly and for the wafers to soften to a cake-like consistency. An overnight chill truly enhances the texture. 4. For an elevated touch, consider using homemade whipped cream instead of frozen topping. Fold it gently into the pudding mixture for a lighter, richer flavor.