Easy Banana Pudding

5 from 1 vote

This easy banana pudding recipe is a classic dessert, and is a great make-ahead dessert recipe and looks beautiful on the table.

Prep Time15

Chill4

Total Time4 15

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 382kcal

Combine pudding mix and milk in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer with the whisk attachment or hand whisk the ingredients together for 2 minutes until the pudding begins to thicken. Allow the pudding to set for 5 minutes.
3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix, 2 cups cold 2% milk
Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract to the pudding and gently fold it in until combined. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until the mixture is light and fluffy.
¼ cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 8 ounce frozen whipped topping
In a separate serving dish or trifle bowl, start layering the dessert. Begin with a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom. Add a layer of sliced bananas over the wafers. Pour a portion of the pudding mixture over the bananas, spreading it evenly.
11 ounces vanilla wafers, 4 - 5 ripe bananas
Repeat the layers until you've used all the ingredients, finishing with a layer of the pudding mixture on top.
Optionally, garnish the top with additional banana slices or crushed vanilla wafers for decoration.
Cover and refrigerate the banana pudding for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the dessert to set.
Serve chilled, and enjoy your easy classic banana pudding!

Use ripe bananas for the best flavor. They should have a yellow peel with a few brown spots, indicating optimal sweetness and a smooth texture.
To prevent sliced bananas from browning, toss them in lemon juice before layering. This adds a subtle citrus flavor and helps maintain the bananas' color.
For the best taste and texture, serve the banana pudding chilled. The cold temperature enhances the creaminess and refreshing quality of the dessert.