Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding might just be the most popular pudding ever! What makes this banana pudding recipe world famous? It’s the combo of amazingly light and creamy pudding with layers of fresh bananas and crunchy vanilla wafers. Together these delicious ingredients create an irresistible dessert that everybody loves!
Reasons You’ll Love This
Forget the pudding cups, this easy recipe takes your pudding to the next level!
Thanks to the homemade whipped cream in this recipe, it has a light and creamy texture that is downright dreamy.
While we all love banana bread, this is another delicious way to put those bananas to good use.
The addition of vanilla wafters creates an outstanding flavor combo that everyone will love.
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
If you are looking for an easy-to-make, no-bake dessert, then look no further. Last year the famous Magnolia Bakery shared the recipe, online and in their cookbook, for their wildly popular banana pudding. Ever since trying it, we simply cannot get enough of this light and fluffy, flavorful pudding.
We love banana recipes, and this is no exception. From Banana Bread Pudding to Easy Chocolate Banana Cake, Banana Bread Muffins to Banana Pancakes, bring on the bananas!
Not only is this Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe delicious, you can easily make the pudding portion in advance. Whip up the pudding one day, then assemble and add the cookies and bananas just prior to serving the following day.
Another great thing about this easy banana pudding with nilla wafers is that it can be served in one large serving dish, or in individual cups or bowls. No matter how you prepare or serve it, be prepared for this tasty dessert to be devoured!
How To Make Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Let’s discuss how to make this Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe, as well as the ingredients that are needed. Please take note that below you will find discussion, expert tips, and answers to frequently asked questions about this recipe to help you recreate it in your kitchen. If you *just* want the recipe itself, scroll down. The full printable recipe itself, with exact measurements and instructions, is found at the bottom of this page.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Sweetened condensed milk – Make sure you get sweetened condensed milk, and not evaporated milk, which is the other common type of canned milk.
- Water – It should be ice cold. I recommend using whatever water you use for drinking. If you aren’t a fan of your tap water in a cup, then know that it can also impact the taste of your recipes.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix – Make sure you have the instant, no-bake variety of pudding, not the heat and serve. While this recipe is based on a traditional pudding mix, in theory it should work with a sugar free variety. That said, I have not tested it. The pudding mix is used dry, do NOT follow the instructions on the box, follow the instructions found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Heavy cream – Some brands will call it heavy cream, others refer to it as whipping cream or heavy whipping cream.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is always teh best way to go.
- Vanilla wafers – Nilla Wafers are a favorite, but any brand of vanilla style wafers will work.
- Bananas – While ripe bananas are perfect for banana bread, it’s not the route to go with this banana pudding recipe. If anything, you want them on the green side for this.
Step By Step Instructions
To make this recipe, start by combining the sweetened condensed milk and ice cold water. Next, add the dried pudding mix and mix with a mixer until smooth. At this point the pudding mixture needs to be covered and placed in the refrigerator for at least three hours. It can be left in the fridge overnight.
After the banana pudding has had time to chill and set, it’s time to make the whipped cream. Whip cream is made by beating the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Then vanilla extract is added and folded in gently.
Next, the chilled banana pudding is folded into the whipped cream, to create an unbelievably creamy and fluffy pudding. Once these have been combined, an additional five tablespoons of dry vanilla pudding mix are added to the mixture to finish.
Now that the Magnolia Banana Pudding is made, it’s time to assemble it with the bananas and cookies.
It’s recommended that you cut the bananas just prior to serving. Bananas can brown very quickly, and while that won’t change the taste, it isn’t always the most ideal from a visual presentation standpoint.
After assembling, chill for at least 4 hours to allow the vanilla wafers to soften up. Garnish with Nilla wafers crumbs and sliced bananas as you are serving.
Tips and Advice
Make in advance – You may want to make the pudding part of the recipe the night before assembling this dessert because it does take time to set up.
Go Bananas – If your bananas are too ripe, they will brown very quickly, better to use some that are just barely ripe, still green on the stem. Brown will still taste fine, but not look as nice. I saved half a banana and a few nilla wafers for garnish on the top for serving.
Storage – You may keep this pudding in the fridge for 3-4 days. It does not freeze well because the bananas will turn brown and mushy. The vanilla wafers will get softer the longer this is kept in the refrigerator.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time? You can make up the pudding, and then mix it with the whipped cream. This will keep well in the fridge. But it is best not to assemble the dessert with the bananas more than a day ahead of time. Over time the bananas will start to turn brown.
Can I make this pudding in individual servings? Yes! You could just divide the pudding evenly between your small bowls, do a layer of Nilla wafers, a layer of bananas, repeat this if the bowls are tall enough. Finish with a layer of pudding.
I don’t have a clear glass trifle bowl – what else could I use? Any large bowl will work. I like a glass bowl just because it looks so pretty.
I don’t have an electric mixer – what do you recommend? You could either use a standing mixer or whisk by hand, really well.
More Banana Recipes
Still have more bananas on hand? I’ve got you covered with these delicious recipes!
- Betty Crocker Banana Bread
- Banana Bread With Sour Cream
- Butterscotch Banana Muffins
- Chocolate Banana Muffins
- No Bake Banana Cream Pie Bars
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
More Recipes You’ll Love!
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 cups ice cold water
- 2 3.4oz boxes of vanilla instant pudding make sure it's instant and not cook and serve
- 3 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 11oz box Nilla Wafers set some aside to garnish if desired
- 5 barely ripe bananas set some aside to garnish if desired
Instructions
- Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and the ice-cold water. Using a hand held electric mixer, gradually pour and blend in one box of the dry pudding mix with sweetened condensed milk and the ice-cold water mixture until it is smooth. Cover the pudding mixture and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours. (it may be left overnight)
- In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. This will take around 3 minutes because it’s such a large amount of heavy cream. The cream will begin to thicken and get frothy, just keep beating on a high speed until set up and stiff. Blend in the vanilla extract.
- Next, fold pudding into the whipped cream. Once everything is combined, add 5 tablespoons of dry vanilla pudding (from the second package)and beat until you get a fluffier consistency.
- Assemble the dessert in a clear glass trifle bowl. Layer ⅓ of the pudding, ⅓ of nilla the wafers, and ⅓of the bananas. Repeat this again, then finish with a heaping layer of pudding. Make sure all of the bananas are completely covered or they may turn brown more quickly.
- After assembling, chill for at least 4 hours to allow the vanilla wafers to soften up. Garnish with nilla wafers crumbs and sliced bananas as you are serving.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
SHARYN says
can I use this banana pudding recipe also as a filling for a banana cream pie??
Christi Johnstone says
I think you can. It’s pretty fluffy though, so it will be a more airy pie. The end result is a pudding that’s got a somewhat whipped cream like texture.
Jake says
I love southern style banana pudding, and this is one of my favorite takes on it. I have been told that I’m not allowed to go to family get togethers without this pudding. My 9 year old nephew told his friend that it was award winning pudding. 🤣