Description
Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding is a classic, creamy, and indulgent dessert that layers vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, and a smooth homemade pudding topped with whipped cream. Loved by all, this easy no-bake recipe delivers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Pudding Base
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups ice-cold water
- 1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix (Jell-O brand recommended)
Whipped Cream
- 3 cups heavy cream
Assembly
- 1 (11 oz) box vanilla wafers (Nabisco Nilla Wafers recommended)
- 5 ripe bananas, sliced
Instructions
- Make the Pudding: In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and ice-cold water until smooth. Add the instant vanilla pudding mix and whisk vigorously for 2 minutes until the pudding thickens. Set aside to firm up while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate cold bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form, which should take about 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to overbeat.
- Combine the Pudding and Whipped Cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until fully combined and smooth to create a light and creamy texture.
- Assemble the Banana Pudding: In a 9×13-inch dish or a similarly sized trifle dish, start with a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom. Then add a layer of sliced bananas over the wafers, followed by spooning about a third of the pudding mixture evenly over the bananas and wafers.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering wafers, bananas, and pudding mixture two more times, finishing with a final layer of pudding on top.
- Chill: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld and the pudding to firm up to a perfect creamy consistency.
- Serve: Before serving, garnish the top with extra vanilla wafers or lightly crushed wafers for added texture and appeal. Serve chilled and enjoy the classic Southern dessert.
Notes
- For best results, use ripe bananas but not overly mushy to maintain texture in the pudding.
- Chilling the pudding for at least 4 hours is crucial for proper setting and flavor blending.
- The pudding mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but assembly is best done right before chilling for freshness.
- You can substitute heavy cream with whipping cream, but heavy cream yields the best texture.
- This dessert is best served chilled and should be consumed within 3 days for optimal freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southern American
