Our Heritage KitchenDessert
Award Winning Banana Pudding
A cold, layered banana pudding built with vanilla pudding, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, vanilla wafers, and plenty of sliced bananas. It is simple, sweet, and made for a big family table.
- Contributing family
- VerWey
- Origin
- Tampa, Florida, United States
Method
Gather and chill the ingredients
Instructions
Set out the pudding mix, milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, whipped topping, wafers, and bananas. Keep the milk and whipped topping cold until you are ready to mix.
Tips and technique
Cold dairy helps the instant pudding thicken fast. Slice the bananas last so they do not brown while you are mixing.
Whisk the pudding base
Instructions
Add cold milk and vanilla pudding mix to a large bowl. Whisk for about 2 minutes, then add the sweetened condensed milk and keep whisking until the base is smooth.
Tips and technique
Scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. If using a mixer, stay on low so the pudding does not splash or turn foamy.
Fold in vanilla and whipped topping
Instructions
Stir in the vanilla extract, then gently fold the thawed whipped topping into the pudding base until the mixture is light and even.
Tips and technique
Folding keeps the filling airy. Use broad strokes from the bottom of the bowl instead of stirring hard.
Layer wafers, bananas, and pudding
Instructions
Cover the bottom of the serving bowl with vanilla wafers. Add a layer of banana slices, then spread pudding over the top. Repeat the layers until the bowl is full and the ingredients are used.
Tips and technique
Keep the layers even so every scoop gets cookies, bananas, and pudding. A glass bowl shows the layers best, but a casserole dish works well for parties.
Chill and finish with crushed wafers
Instructions
Cover the pudding and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Add crushed vanilla wafers on top right before serving so the topping stays crisp.
Tips and technique
This can be made up to 24 hours ahead. Wait to add the final crushed wafers until serving time for the best texture.