This No Bake Banana Pudding Pie in a graham cracker crust is an easy no bake dessert perfect for summer, holidays and family gatherings. An easy recipe with simple ingredients that everyone loves!
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If you like easy recipes with bananas, you are going to love this easy banana pudding pie recipe. It's like classic banana pudding in pie form. The graham cracker crust replaces the vanilla wafers cookies.
No bake desserts are perfect for warmer months or anytime you need an easy dessert. Even during the holiday season, I love having at least one no bake pie or no bake dessert on the table!
Like my chocolate pudding pie, eggnog pie, orange creamsicle pie and strawberry Jello pie, this easy banana cream pie is super simple to make with my step by step instructions.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy dessert. You should be able to find everything you need in grocery stores.
- Instant vanilla pudding -- 5.1 oz box
- Milk -- whole or 2 percent for best results
- Cool Whip -- thawed
- Bananas -- ripe, but not overripe
- Graham cracker pie crust -- 9 inch
Pro tip -- Brushing the banana slices with a few drops of lemon juice will prevent fresh bananas from browning. It's not necessary though, since the pudding will cover the bananas.
How to Make No Bake Banana Pudding Pie
First, pour the milk into a large mixing bowl. Then, add the instant pudding mix, and whisk for about 2 minutes or until the pudding starts to thicken.
You can refrigerate the pudding mix while you slice the bananas. It will get thicker as it sits.
Next, fold in half of the whipped topping into the vanilla pudding until it's light and fluffy.
Then, place some of the banana slices on the bottom of the pie crust in a single layer. Spoon half of the pudding mixture over the banana layer.
Smooth the pudding evenly over the bananas.
Place the remaining banana slices over the pudding layer. Then, spread the remaining pudding mixture over the bananas.
Finally, spread the rest of the Cool Whip over the pudding. We left a little bit of the vanilla pudding peeking out on the sides.
You can completely cover the pudding with the whipped topping if you want.
Chilling Time
Place the pie into the refrigerator. It needs to set for about 3 to 4 hours or overnight if you have time.
Right before serving, I like to add a few extra banana slices on the top of the pie.
How to Store
Store homemade banana cream pie in the refrigerator, where it'll last for 2 days before the bananas start to go bad. You can store it in an airtight container or lightly covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
I would not recommend freezing leftover pie.
Recipe Variations
There are a couple ways to customize this easy banana cream pie recipe to your liking.
I like this pudding pie as a super simple recipe, but you can use your own homemade pie crust if you want.
For a chocolate version of this banana pie, use a chocolate pie crust or instant chocolate pudding mix.
Instead of mixing only half of the Cool Whip into the pudding, mix the whole container in. This will give a lighter, airier texture. Top with whipped cream, or a homemade whipped cream made from heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla.
For extra sweet banana flavor in this no bake pie recipe, use banana cream pudding mix instead of instant vanilla pudding.
Top your banana cream pie however you want. Crushed vanilla wafer cookies, crushed graham crackers, chocolate shavings, toasted coconut shavings, and fresh banana slices are all great options!
Tips for Success
Be sure to use ripe yellow bananas. Overripe or brown bananas will be too mushy for this recipe.
Use instant pudding mix, not pudding that cooks on the stove.
Also, be sure to use the amount of milk called for in the recipe card, not the amount on the box of vanilla pudding.
Recipe
No Bake Banana Pudding Pie
Ingredients
- 5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding 6 ½ cup servings
- 1 ¾ cups milk
- 8 oz Cool Whip thawed
- 2 medium bananas thinly sliced
- 1 graham cracker pie crust 9 inch
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl
- Stir in the instant vanilla pudding, and whisk until it starts to thicken
- Stir half of the Cool Whip into the pudding until it's pale yellow
- Line the bottom of the pie crust with a layer of bananas
- Top with half of the pudding mixture
- Place remaining banana slices over pudding mixture
- Top with remaining pudding
- Top with remaining Cool Whip and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this banana pudding pie no bake recipe as much as we do. Check out my easy dessert recipes archive for even more dessert inspiration.
Pudding pies are some of my favorite desserts for the summer -- the hardest part of making them is choosing which flavor you want! I hope you enjoy this no bake banana cream pie recipe as much as we do!
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Jean says
Best pie ever! It was so hard to not eat the whole thing in one night LOL
Wendy says
If I don’t have cool whip can I use marscapone?
Dee says
I haven't tried using mascarpone, but it should work.
Juliane says
This is so far my favorite!!
Eliana says
This dessert was so delicious and easy! Need to make this again!
Catalina says
I have a lot of bananas these days and making this pie is an awesome idea. My family loved it!
Sandra says
Such a perfect easy and delicious summer dessert! My kids loved it!