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    Meals » Recipes » Desserts

    Easy No Bake Banana Pudding

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 30, 2022 by Dee

    This No Bake Banana Pudding recipe with Cool Whip and Nilla Wafer cookies is an easy no bake dessert made with simple ingredients. The perfect dessert for holidays, special occasions, family gatherings and potluck dinners! via @meamel

    This No Bake Banana Pudding recipe with Cool Whip and Nilla Wafer cookies is an easy no bake dessert made with simple ingredients. The perfect dessert for holidays, special occasions, family gatherings and potluck dinners!

    Jump to Recipe -
    no bake banana pudding with banana slices, cool whip and nilla wafer cookies in glass jar
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make No Bake Banana Pudding
    • Chilling Time
    • How to Store
    • Variations
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    This easy banana pudding recipe is an easy version of the classic Southern recipe. If you are from the South, you know what it is. If not, banana pudding has a layer of vanilla wafer cookies, sliced bananas, vanilla pudding and whipped cream or whipped topping.

    My grandma loved to serve this delicious dessert for holidays or family gatherings because it's easy and feeds a crowd!

    Plus, the whole family loves this no bake banana pudding recipe. It has tons of banana flavor, and even the picky eaters gobble it up! Best of all, this is a budget friendly recipe!

    If you love no bake layered desserts, try my chocolate delight, dirt pie recipe or pineapple dream dessert.

    ripe bananas, instant vanilla pudding, nilla wafer cookies, cool whip and milk

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for grandma's best banana pudding recipe. What you don't already have at home should be easy to find online or in local grocery stores.

    • 5.1 oz box Jello vanilla instant pudding -- make sure it's instant pudding, any brand works.
    • Milk -- use 2 percent or whole milk for best results
    • Bananas -- yellow ripe bananas, not brown
    • Cool Whip -- thawed, or any whipped topping
    • Nilla Wafers cookies or any brand of vanilla wafers
    • Additional bananas -- for garnish if desired

    How to Make No Bake Banana Pudding

    First, add the milk to the instant pudding mix in a large bowl. Whisk together until the pudding thickens. Then, stir in half of the whipped topping.

    mix instant vanilla pudding with cool whip in mixing bowl

    Next, line a 9 x 13 baking dish or casserole dish with a layer of nilla wafer cookies. They won't completely cover the bottom of the baking dish, but that's fine.

    Then, add a layer of sliced bananas over the cookies. We add as many bananas as will fit in a single layer.

    Spoon about half of the pudding mixture over the banana slices. Smooth the pudding with a spatula.

    spread pudding mixture over banana slices in casserole dish

    Repeat the layers once more -- cookies, bananas and pudding. Then spread the remaining whipped topping over the pudding mixture.

    I like to leave a little bit of pudding showing around the edges. You can spread the whipped topping all the way up to the edges of the dish if you want.

    To serve, I like to place fresh banana slices on top of the pudding and sprinkle crushed vanilla wafers for extra crunch.

    no bake banana pudding with nilla wafers in pan

    Chilling Time

    Place the pudding into the refrigerator until ready to serve. Even though this is a no bake recipe, allow 1 to 2 hours of chilling time for best results.

    This gives the flavors time to blend and lets the cookies soften up. If you want, you can make this creamy pudding up to a day in advance. It's even better the next day!

    no bake banana pudding with cool whip on a spoon over casserole dish

    How to Store

    Store banana pudding covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    I would recommend finishing any leftovers in 2 to 3 days, before the bananas get bad.

    Variations

    There are a couple ways to customize this delicious creamy banana pudding to your liking.

    If you don't want a whole casserole dish's worth of banana pudding, try my banana pudding pie. It's the same tasty classic, just in a smaller pie form! You can also layer the pudding in a trifle bowl or serve in individual glasses or mason jars.

    I like to keep this a super simple recipe, but you can use homemade whipped cream. Just mix heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer.

    If you want, you don't have to mix the Cool Whip and pudding, and can leave them as separate layers.

    For extra banana flavor, in this layered banana pudding dessert use banana cream flavored instant pudding mix instead of instant vanilla pudding mix.

    Chessman butter cookies are an excellent alternate to Nilla Wafers. Use them as the bottom layer of the pudding, or to decorate the top of the pudding.

    Recipe

    no bake banana pudding with cool whip and nilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas

    No Bake Banana Pudding

    Published by Dee
    This No Bake Banana Pudding recipe with Cool Whip and Nilla Wafer cookies is an easy no bake dessert made with simple ingredients. The perfect dessert for holidays, special occasions, family gatherings and potluck dinners!
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Text Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Chilling Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 134 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 5.1 oz vanilla instant pudding
    • 3 cups cold milk
    • 3 large bananas thinly sliced, or 4 medium
    • 8 oz Cool Whip
    • 1 box Nilla Wafer cookies
    • additional bananas for garnish if desired

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the instant pudding and cold milk together in a large mixing bowl
    • Stir in half of the whipped topping until well blended
    • Place a layer of wafer cookies on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish
    • Place a layer of sliced bananas over the wafer cookies
    • Spoon half of the pudding mixture over the banana slices and spread evenly over bananas with a spatula
    • Repeat the layers -- cookies, bananas, and finish with a layer of pudding on top
    • Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the pudding layer and place in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight
    • Garnish with fresh banana slices and crushed cookies, if desired before serving

    Video

    Notes

    Pudding can be made up to a day in advance. Store in refrigerator.
    Make sure to get instant vanilla pudding and not the kind that needs cooked.
    Use any brand of vanilla wafer cookies or Chessman cookies.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 134kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 227mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 115IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Homemade pudding recipes are some of my favorite desserts, and between the sweet banana slices and crisp vanilla wafers, this easy homemade banana pudding might just be the best one yet!

    If you liked this nilla wafer banana pudding recipe no bake dessert much we do, be sure to leave a star rating or comment!

    For more banana recipes and no bake dessert recipes, visit my easy desserts recipes archive and my bread recipes archive.

    For more easy dessert recipes, easy recipe ideas, and family favorite sweet treat inspirations, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shirley says

      July 19, 2022 at 2:29 am

      I love it! This pudding was a hit with my whole family!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Catalina says

      July 17, 2022 at 7:54 am

      Love this easy recipe! I am sure this will be our new favorite summer dessert!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Sandra says

      July 16, 2022 at 11:26 am

      This no bake banana pudding is so easy to make and really delicious! I need to make it again for the weekend!5 stars

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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