…and judging by how quickly this dessert disappeared, some like it cold, too. I’m talking about good, old-fashioned banana pudding, of course. Me? I like it cold… okay, and hot, too! My grandmother used to make a homemade one that was served warm and oh, how I wish I had the recipe for it. But, since I don’t and it’s summer, this cold and creamy one will do just fine. It’s really easy to make and let me tell you, pretty darn good. Here you go:
* I just used Cool Whip and let it thaw slightly before I started to fold. It may work even better if you let it thaw in the fridge before using.
Cold & Creamy Banana Pudding
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Recipe from Great American Favorite Brand Name Cookbook, 1993.
And here are some warm homemade versions. I’ll have to try one of these someday and see if it compares to my grandmother’s.
Sorry but this was absolutely terrible !! Way too sweet I don’t think the condensed milk should have been in this . The pudding with whip cream is good enough
Loved your recipe for banana pudding and printed it out. Why do you have so much extra stuff to print?? I wasted a lot of ink and paper to print out the recipe!!
For a great old time recipe, just use the one on the
box of “Nilla” Wafers. It is the best !
That is the one my grandmother used.
I tried this recipe and I should have just stuck to the way my mom makes it nilla wafers, vanilla pudding and bananas. Very disappointed in this recipe.
This right here, sounds like heaven just about now.
That does look good but I don’t like cool whip.
That looks gooooooooooooooooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s even better if you use heavy whipping cream like the recipe calls for. SOO amazing!
Looks really yummy!
Curious about the cream cheese. How much do you guys use?
I like it hot. :)
yellow # 5 & 6……look it up. Make it HOMEMADE and save yourself the dangerous chemicals
oh my god im starving to eat this dessert and all the kinds of sweats you have in here the y all drive me maaad!!! xD waters running of my mouth and my eyes are shining!! xD
I don’t understand using instant pudding for anythng. I can taste the preservatives in them and it ruins it for me. Same with cool whip…chemical city. If you are going to go to the trouble to make this classic dessert, you will never go wrong making your own custard and whipped cream. Course you may end up like me and set the tupperware container on the stove eye that I had just cooked the custard with, poured the custard in the tupperware as the container melted from the retained heat. All of the custard drained from the bowl into the stove eye. I haven’t made it again!
I really love your site, tho!
I am allegoric to whipped cream or topping so is there a substitute instead for it? Thanks
Loved this recipe!
I really love a sugar coma, and so I tried this with a few more additives. That meant adding Whipped Cream Cheese to the pudding and Whipped Cream Mixture, and grilled the bananas to make them caramelized. Served up on a bed of nilla wafers and topped with more nilla wafers, I was in a sugar coma for a LONG TIME.
Hi there! Just made this recipe this weekend for mother’s day after being inspired by your new chocolate peanut butter banana pudding recipe. Everyone loved it, and so did I! Thank you for all your amazing recipes and inspirations. Love your website, always stays in my top sites.
I also put cream cheese in mine…it is always gone…
OMG…… I’m still in awe, Just from the pic. alone! All I can say is Thank you, and YUMMY!
hi, im valentina and i live in Chile, i have a little problem about the recipe… we do not have that instant pudding package, so what can i do about it?
please answer me, i really want to make it :)!!!
I use milk instead of water and add a little vanilla. I always use cool whip, but I will have to try the whip cream and.maybe the cream cheese.
OLD – FASHION BANANA PUDDING
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
Pinch salt
2 c. milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp. butter
i found this recipe hope help you!!!!
Old fashioned bannana pudines
1tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 doz. whole vanilla wafers (plus crumble some for topping)
5-6 bananas, sliced
In heavy saucepan combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually stir in milk, maintaining a smooth texture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Pour half the hot mixture slowly into beaten eggs; return all to saucepan. Cook over slow heat, stirring constantly. Add butter and vanilla. Cool. Then layer with wafers and bananas. Sprinkle crumbs over top and refrigerate.
i think that i will tell my mom about these because on sundays me my mom and my sister have to make dinner and desert so i think that this will be our desert :-]
You did bananas good! Looks so inviting!
I’ve used this recipe for several years from Great American Favorite Brand Name Cookbook, 1993. It is my husband’s favorite. It’s very rich and creamy. I use the French Vanilla flavored pudding and it’s best if it sits overnight (good luck) to let the banana flavor come through. I’ve thought about making a pie version with the filling minus the wafers but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
pretty sure poppi would love this dessert! ???
This is the recipe I use for banana pudding. I think it is the best recipe I have ever used. I have made it many, many times and everyone likes it. It is now requested for pitch-ins. I live your site!!!!!
My Dad adds a touch of coconut milk to the pudding, DIVINE!!!
WOW! I’ve been following your blog for just over a year and everything that I’ve tried has been amazing!!!!!! I have impressed friends and teachers with various cakeballs. Congo bars are a staple and now THIS.
THANK YOU for perfecting wonderful desserts and sharing them so beautifully.
wow this looks amazing! i’ll have to give it a try!
Hi! I live in Jakarta and I can’t find instant pudding and pie filling. Imported items are hard to come-by… what can I use as substitute? Thank you!
so the Nilla brand recipe is totally good. There are some flaws in the recipe and you have to make a few tweaks to help it thicken a bit BUT it is good. I serve it warm with fresh homemade whipped cream.
This is SO delicious!!!! I made it for craft night with the girls and enjoyed it so much that I had the leftovers for breakfast the next day:) Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Every Christmas, I make atleast five different cakes for the gala dinner. But last year I was pregnant and tired… so I made just 3 cakes and just threw this pudding together. To my surprise, annoyance (that I spent so much time on the other desserts) and then delight, this was the fastest selling dessert on the table. Forget about leftovers, few people didn’t even get to taste it!
Yummm! Thanks for the receipe. I’ve tried banana flavored mix and thought it was pretty good. I loooooove bananas so I can’t get enough of the banana taste.
Alton Brown did a banana pudding recipe… Looked SO GOOD! Even had a recipe for homemade nilla wafers… yum.
This is definitely a family favorite for me! My mom showed me some extras to add on and it’s always a hit. After I put the cool whip on, I add crushed pineapples (drained), sliced strawberries, and walnuts. It makes it look very pretty and adds texture.
Bakerella…girl, i don’t know what I could eat my weight in if not Banana Pudding! Do you know Blue Bell ice cream makes a drop dead Banana Pudding flavor complete with vanilla wafers…YUM! You Have to come to my home and bake with me!
Part of the reason your recipe looks so delicious is the beautiful photography. Bravo! It’s midnight where I live and I’m tempted to run out and buy the ingredients.
I have a recipe for banana pudding using Nutter Butters instead of vanilla wafers. Oh, my. This southern girl sure does love pb and naners. I haven’t made it yet. I’m a little scared to….
I just made this recipe today. OMG, I think I am in a sugar coma. It is so good! This so trumps my plain jane banana pudding recipe.
what about using actual banana flavored pudding mix instead of the vanilla? if we all like banana’s as much as i’ve read that would just be the topper to it all!
Thanks! Love your stuff!
i am crazy about the whippe cream it looks soooo good
omg that look,s so good i love it 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000lot and i am set
To all the Aussies, Brits and Euros out there…this is what i found in re to pudding.
“It’s not an ingredient that you’ll see called for too often in American cookbooks, but you’re sure to see custard powder mentioned in cookbooks published in the UK or Australia, or even in the pages of foodie magazines imported from either country. It is actually a powdered mix used to make custard, and it is very similar to the type of mix used to make instant pudding in the US. Just combine it with milk, cook to thicken, and you have custard (or pudding)!
Hi Bakerella,
You are amazing! I only discovered your site a month ago and now im hooked! I’ve made your cupcake pops and they were absolutely amazing. I want to make this banana pudding, but i live in the UK and don’t recognise a few of your ingredients. What is pudding mix? I mean is it milk based? What flavour is it? We have something called Angel Delight in the UK , is that the same thing?
Please help!!
Thanks
Amna
wow that looks amazing
About the “whipped cream, whipped” thing, it probably meant, whipping cream, whipped, because whipping cream is a liquid before hand, but you pour it into a bowl, and use a whisk or electric mixer to whip it up and make it like whipped cream!
The other day I wanted banana pudding but had no nilla wafers. I used graham crackers instead (sprinkled some chopped walnuts in too), and OMG, it was so good!
My mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid, but we made it with strawberries and mini chocolate chips in place of the bananas! It was always so delicious! We let it sit overnight in the fridge to let the wafers get all soft (or in a hurry now I use the cakesters!) Its one of those dishes I have to make for a party or BBQ or I’ll sit in the fridge with a spoon! Yum! :)
I have to tell you, my Dad (originally from Louisiana)has a special ingredient he adds to his Banana Pudding & people LOVE it… Canned coconut milk! Try it sometime!!! =)
Oh my little baby cousin would love this. Perhaps i could make it for her birthday.
What deliciousness – here’s what i used
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/JELLO/products/pudding/instant-pudding-and-pie-filling/
Hi there Bakerella
I’m an Aussie baker and we just don’t have the same variety of packaged ingredients here as you do in the USA, hence my big question – what IS pudding and pie mix? I’m hoping if I get a clue as to the ingredients I might be able to find something similar on our shelves… I’m wonderinf if it might be similar to a custart powder, the picture looks close…
I wish I could eat some banana pudding right now, it looks delicious!!
That looks so good! I always add sour cream to mine. This one is always a crowd pleaser!
You can use heavy whipping cream (whipped) instead of the cool whip.
hi. i can remeber banana pudding from when i was little, i live in the united kingdom now. i am looking for away to make it becuase in britain they do not have coolwhip and the other american ingrediants, does anybody know a good recipe i could use? would be much appricated.
Thanks Donna Sue
Yummy! My coworker makes something similar – hers calls for 2 cups milk, 1 8oz container sour cream, 1 big box vanilla pudding, 1 container cool whip, and 1 can condensed milk with the nilla wafers and bananas. It’s the best banana pudding I’ve ever had – I’m sure yours tastes similar. :) I love, love, love your blog! :)
Good luck!
i love it!!!!!love love love! i live in DR and i thought that they didn’t bring the Jell-o brand but i went to different supermarkets and i found it!Yei! i was so happy i think the whole supermarket noticed (giggles).
I’m gonna try doing it with a lemon flavored pudding! Yum!
It has bananas, so don’t worry about it.
This is so not on my diet – But Oh Well… This is worth cheating for.
SugarLoveHoney – hope you love it.
Kevin – Thanks Kevin
Tarah – catch your breath because more sweetness is coming.
Mia – no, have a bite.
Have mercy..
Oh… oh my god! You’ve taken my breath away once again!!
That looks so good!
I’m making this for dessert tonight!!! YUM ;)
Stevie
Madelyn @ Southern Weddings – Just keep it cold and it will be yummy.
Deshona – enjoy
http://www.adorn-jewelry.blogspot.com – that does sound good.
THis is divine! I used milk instead of water, however, and I also used real cream. SO GOOD!
that looks so good…have it on my list of things to cook this week. Double Yum!!!
This looks so incredibly good! I love banana pudding! I am definitely going to have to test out the recipe. I think this would make a perfect midnight snack at a reception!
You’re welcome Cindy!
I am most certainly going to try this for sure! My Watkins banana pudding mix is going to be fantastic in this! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous – Hi in Hong Kong! Glad you like the site!
Leslie – me too!
Princess – sure you may try!
Allison – try away!
misspro312 – that sounds like a great twist!
vicki – thanks… I just learned that works, too
jeri – thank you. I found the individual dishes as Kroger
Tina – glad you liked it.
val – I guess I like mine sweet.
Haley – thanks for the invite.
We would like to feature this recipe on our blog. Please email haleyglasco@gmail.com if interested. Thanks :)
Haley
http://blog.keyingredient.com/
makes me sad…..I used to ADORE banana pudding until they changed the vanilla wafer recipe and made them sweeter. Now I don’t make it anymore….neither do either of my sisters………..but seeing that REALLY makes me want some…….
http://www.hisdreammyreality.blogspot.com
I made this yesterday to have for today. Oh my Goodness!!! That is yummy…..mmmm….good
Thanks so much for sharing
That looks delicious! I love the look of the trifle dish too. Such a lovely blog.
You are missing the cream cheese!!
Ok you make your banana pudding exactly like me but you are missing the package of cream cheese. Add the cream cheese, condensed milk together. Oh. My. Goodness. My grandma used to make the best cold banana pudding but my recipe surpassed hers with the cream cheese, condensed milk, and whipped cream. Your dessert looks heavenly!!!
The best part is you can make it fat free with fat free cream cheese and whipped cream.
Banana pudding is a HUGE dessert in my family during the holidays…it’s such a great treat! I’ve just stumbled upon your blog, and all of your baking ideas are wonderful! I love to bake (as you can see from my blog,haha), so I can’t wait to try your ideas!
WOW, I didn’t know that just this morning I tasted a sweet treat from a TV star!
The more I scroll down the hungrier I get. May I try some of your recipes?
BTW, I just finished a workshop part of which was taught by Mike.
This is one of my all time favorites!! Looks divine!
oooommmmmmggggg!!! hee i’m from hong kong~~~ i just find out yr website n i started screaming reading all your posts!!! they are sooooooooooo cute!! i luv all the cupcakes pops!! n i wish i can make some one day!!!!
they are reli great~~
yr cupcakes are popping around the world hoho!! :)
Laurie Anne – I’m definitely going to have to try it that way.
jamie b – yeah, that pic makes me want some more.
Kara – that sounds yummy, too!
gingela5 – it’s one of my mom’s faves, too.
Toni – I think you’ll like it better than mashed bananas.
lfamily5 – hope you had fun, and thanks.
Jaina – it was.
Gill – That British Woman – if your list is like mine, i’ll have to bake twice a day to make everything on it.
Mevrouw Cupcake – thank you
Amy – good luck.
giz – great minds…
aimee – Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!
pam – hope they’re good ones.
Bobbie – I bet it will be great.
Lindsey – No, just the cookbook I found the recipe in is a brand name foods cookbook and that’s the one it recommended. So I thought I would pass it along.
Chell – Have fun!
Bobbie – Great job and great fun!
Dot – thank you!
Christine – I think I’m going to make another one today, too!
anja3582 – yeah, I figured that out afterwards, but, trust me the whipped cream way is really tasty.
Julia – Enjoy!
Melissa Lewis – Off The Wall 0 I’m just going to have to try some of those Nilla Cakesters.
Crabb Family – thank you!
kaymaria – evil good is right!
Steph H. – I know, it’s always good.
Sarah – thanks
Shelly G & Hope P – Hope it comes out great.
Urmston Family – you’re welcome.
Leslie – mine too!
BMoreSweet – Why, thanks!!
Cakespy – I hope I can try some there one day!
Nina’s Kitchen (Nina Timm) – hope you love it.
http://www.adorn-jewelry.blogspot.com – thanks for the info.
PS. I’m having a giveaway on my blog if anyone is interested!
Oh, I LOVE banana pudding! Lucille’s barbecue restaurant has a delicious one. I will have to try this recipe!
My son said this morning: “Mpm, please make us something sweet….and more sweet!
I think this will qualify.
One of my favorite desserts. At the Magnolia Bakery in NYC, I will often walk right by the cupcakes and right to the banana nilla wafer pudding there!! This one looks like a keeper of a recipe.
You take the absolute BEST photos of food EVER!
OOOh yum! one of my favorites!
Your blog is great and I can’t wait to try some of your yummy creations. Thanks for sharing.
~Jill
I haven’t had that recipe in years… My girlfriend use to make it all the time… We live across the United States from each other… I wish she was here to share it… I am going to make some for the kids:)
My Dad makes this every year for the holidays, only we use whipped cream instead of Cool Whip. I love, love, love it!!!!
i love the way you photograph food! the banana pudding is one of my favorites cold or hot.
steph
That’s a great looking recipe – I also like Paula Dean’s version http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_21275,00.html
but instead of Chessmen, I like to use ginger snaps. Evil good.
Those look so yummy! I just found your site and everything looks absolutely delicious! And fun!
OH. My. GOODNESS!!!!!!!! A girl from the south is drooling over here!
And Nilla Cakesters added to this… oh yeah!!!
I heart you…bananas are absolutely divine…but banana pudding with nilla wafers…to die for! Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful treat. Now I have to go make some!
FYI—they meant “whipping cream, whipped” (not “whippED cream, whippped since as you can see, that doesn’t make much sense!) as in you buy heavy cream and then whip it yourself. Looks great!
I am inspired! I think I’ll make it today!
Wow! I just found your blog and i’m so inspired now…! love all your stuff.
I made the cake and it was delicious!! soo good… go here for my entry
http://comber-family.blogspot.com/2008/07/cake.html
and above mention we have no such brand as Bordens I used regular “thickened cream” it is called in australia and whipped it with the beaters.. mine came out thicker than bakerellas picture.. but it tasted so good!!
Wow wow wow!! I found your blog through someone elses and am soooo excited to go home and try all these AWESOME things out!! :)
Any reason for the insistence on Borden whipping cream?
no nilla wafers here or cool whip – I have just baked some buttercake mini muffins to use instead… and hopefully you are right on the cram – we have lots of cream in Australia but it is the whip yourself variety… i am making this into a Sand bucket looking cake for my daughters 2nd birthday
You sure know how to bring back memories.
That looks so YUMMY!! I am definately going to make that! I am including my husband’s grandmother’s warm banana pudding recipe. It is probably pretty close to any grandma’s! :) Enjoy!
Aimee
Grandma’s Banana Pudding
3/4 Cup of Sugar 2 Cups Milk
1/4 Cup of Flour 1 tsp. Vanilla
Dash of Salt 2 Tbsp. Margarine or butter
3 eggs, separated 3 Bananas and Vanilla Wafers
Measure sugar, flour and salt and pour into small mixing bowl. In heavy sauce pan heat
l 2/3 cup of the milk to boiling over medium heat while mixing dry ingredients with egg yolks
and remaining l/3 cup of cold milk. Pour this into hot milk and stir until it thickens. Take off
the burner and add Vanilla and margarine. Let this mixture cool before adding to the bananas.
Layer Vanilla wafers in bottom of baking dish (app. 6×8″ to 8×8″). Cover this layer with sliced bananas and a layer of pudding. Repeat layers with pudding on top. Cover with meringue and bake l0 to l5 minutes at 350 degrees or until meringue is brown. I usually set oven for l0 minutes and check to see if it is brown.
Meringue
3 egg whites
2 heaping Tbsps. Sugar
Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved and meringue is stiff.
Spread over the pudding, sealing to the edge of the baking dish.
Note: If pudding is thicker than you like it, you can use a little less flour. Also you can use less margarine if you like.
Love the pudding – we both have exactly the same post up in different configurations.
Oh my! I love banana pudding. I’m definitely making this one.
This is so drool worthy!
that looks so good, another one to add to my list.
Gill
Mmmm, that looks great!
we’ve been on vacation…i always love the stuff you do! Love the patriotic pops too!
When I was a kid, my mom used to make me “banana pudding” that was simply mashed bananas. Nowadays, summertime and barbecue always put me in the mood for the real version. I’ll have to give yours a try for my family reunion this weekend.
(Forgive me if this is a double post. Blogger is giving me issues.)
Yum…this is my dad’s favorite! I’ll have to make it for him sometime!
This is a staple around my place. One of my favorite summer desserts of all time. I love it with fresh cut strawberries layered in!
great picture! im drooling hehe I love banana pudding just as much as I love chocolate :)
I have made a recipe similar to this one recently. I used real heavy cream and whipped it. I recently purchased whipping cream to whip up for the same reason. I think the pudding is richer and better with whipped cream. I have tried cool whip as well. The recipe I tried is from a restaurant on the west coast. It is the best I have ever had I think.
arundati – it was gooooood.
Dana – it does bring back happy memories.
*mindi* – that’s too bad. Don’t be tempted. we want you to keep breathing.
The Flirty Girl – Go get some!
spearle – thanks and the lemon trick is great, huh.
I use a canon rebel xti.
Beth Paulson – I’m sure.
Liz – who knew these things are so hard to find overseas. At least you have pics to whet your appetite.
Anonymous – ohhhhh, that makes sense. The actual recipe calls for 2 cups Borden or meadow gold whipping cream, whipped. So I could never find that and used cool whip. Maybe I’ve been doing it wrong all these years. But it’s still good. I’ll have to look at your suggestion and try it.
Thanks.
morgana – me too.
The Roper’s – Yay! I’m glad you did.
Lauriebelle – good luck.
Robyn – thanks and I will.
Iron Chef Shellie – thanks!
Grace – It is good. Everyone should try at least once.
HoneyB – Bet they would.
Your photos are always awesome! I bet my DIL would love this pudding! (me too!)
i can’t believe that there are people who’ve never tasted banana pudding. i feel so much sorrow for them, because when it’s done right (like yours), there are very few things more tasty. beautiful work!
omg that looks to die for!!
Just love all your lovely desserts! yummy!
Hugs,
Robyn
P.S. Stop by my blog and say hello!
OMG…I owe you big time! As a Yankee trying to stumble my way through life in the South, I will score big time with this recipe! THANKS!!!
I LOVE everything you do! And guess what? I finally broke down and made some cupcake bites! I have been dying to make some! They were so fun to make! Check it out: http://jasonandamyroper.blogspot.com/
You are such an inspiration! THANKS, BAKERELLA!
Oh, my… If I were Marilyn it sould be very difficult for me to choose between eating this treat or get into those beautiful and tight skirts.
But I’m not Marilyn and… Nobody is perfect! so… Give me a big big big cup of this dessert, PLEASE.
Bakerella: FYI…I am sure you knew this, because you truly are an amazing baker, but “whipped cream, whipped” is just another way of saying “heavy whipping cream, whipped”. So you’d whip it up with your mixer and add vanilla and powder sugar (I add the powder sugar to sweeten it up a bit–don’t like my whipped cream plain). Basically, you are just making whipped cream from scratch…
OMG, I love banana pudding. But alas… can’t get any of the ingredients here in Germany. I so miss American convenience foods. Can you believe I can’t even get Nilla Wafers here? Sob.
But anyway, your pudding looks super yummy.
My mom says my Grandma makes hers hot, she just uses the pudding that you cook instead of instant, and serves it up fast. Probably not the same thing. But still yummy!
When I make banana pudding I just make a sort of vanilla pudding pie filling (with flour, cornstarch, three eggs, whole milk, and high-quality vanilla and butter). Amazing, but lemon juice is a good add-in, I suppose, to keep the bananas yummy-looking. Your pictures are amazing and I check the blog every day for new ones… What kind of camera do you use? P.S.You are too too sweet to answer every blog comment personally!
Oh Yummy! I think I’ll feel about 8 years old when I eat this. Two of my fav things from childhood: banana pudding and Nilla wafers! I haven’t eaten Nilla wafers in years.
this is my mom’s go-to dessert for the holidays. it used to be my most favorite too, and then i became allergic to bananas. weird, eh?
anyways, i saw these pictures on flickr and i just had to say how tempting you make this look. i am trying to decide if it would be worth the difficulty breathing and pains for a few bites of yummy banana pudding. :) your pictures make it very hard to be sensible.
oh. my. banana pudding is definitely one of my favorite “feel like a kid again” desserts, and this recipe just sounds waaaay to good to pass up! :)
OMG!! decadent, simple and no doubt absolutely divine…..the pictures are fabulous, but i am guessing the pudding was better than it looks in the pics!!
angela – I like the way you think!
YUM! I have been thinking about banana pudding from my childhood, too! Hey, I wonder how you could incorporate a Nilla Cakester into that ~ that would be DEVINE!
Angela