The ultimate prep ahead, no-bake summer dessert!
This Quick and Easy Banana Pudding just might be the perfect summer dessert! The no-bake treat requires just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep for a cool and refreshing make ahead option. Who wants to slave away in the kitchen when you could be enjoying the warm summer weather?
Summer has absolutely arrived in Central Virginia! The signs? The 80-90+ degree heat, the smell of the honeysuckle growing outside my kitchen window, the boys enjoying their blueberry muffins for breakfast on the front porch, and the fact that the farmers are all out making hay. Casey has been in heaven watching the tractors non-stop.
Another sign that summer has arrived? All three of my boys are busy mowing the grass and spending a lot of time on their own little tractors.
In addition to mowing the grass, we have spent just about every afternoon at the swimming pool since it opened over Memorial Day weekend. The other day, the boys met their buddy Weston for a wet play date and picnic.
While the kids splashed around in the water, Weston’s grandmother, Linda, and I chatted about a variety of topics, including her entertaining menu for the upcoming weekend.
Linda’s oldest son was coming back home for a visit, so she had prepared a ham, potato salad, deviled eggs, and banana pudding in anticipation of his arrival. Doesn’t that sound like an ideal make-ahead summer menu? Especially the Quick and Easy Banana Pudding!
I’ve been meaning to make this dessert for a long time, but Linda was the inspiration that I needed (that, and the ripe bananas sitting on my counter). Her easy-to-prepare recipe ultimately convinced me.
How do you make a banana pudding with vanilla wafers?
I’m not kidding when I say that this no-bake recipe is quick and easy! You’ll need:
- a box of vanilla wafers
- a container of frozen whipped topping (thawed)
- a small box of vanilla instant pudding (plus the milk called for on the box)
- ripe bananas!
Once your ingredients are ready, it’s just a matter of assembling the dessert and sticking it in the refrigerator.
This make ahead dessert is especially convenient because you can prepare it in advance and it just gets better with time! Allow at least one hour for the vanilla wafers to soften in the Banana Pudding, but the dish can sit in your refrigerator overnight, if necessary.
How do you keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding?
If you make the dessert just a few hours in advance, you don’t need to worry about the fruit turning brown. However, if you prefer to assemble the banana pudding the day before, I would suggest treating the banana slices with citrus juice (such as lemon juice or orange juice) to prevent the oxidation that causes the unappealing brown tint.
Be careful not to use too much citrus juice, though. You don’t want your banana pudding to taste like lemon pudding. Instead, just brush the juice lightly onto the fruit or spritz them with a spray bottle. In other words — use as little juice as possible.
Also, be sure to wait until the last minute to garnish the top of your banana pudding. I like to add banana slices or extra vanilla wafers on top, just before I bring it to the table.
More easy no-bake dessert recipes that you might enjoy:
Quick and Easy Banana Pudding
The ultimate prep ahead, no-bake summer dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla wafer cookies
- 1 small box vanilla instant pudding (plus milk for preparing pudding)
- 2 large ripe bananas, thinly slice (plus extra for garnish)
- 4 ounces frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Instructions
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Prepare pudding according to package instructions. Refrigerate and set aside.
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Place vanilla wafer cookies in a single layer on the bottom of a 11 x 7-inch baking dish. I used 24 cookies for each layer.
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Use a spatula to spread half of the prepared pudding (approximately 1 cup) over the cookies.
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Top pudding with a single layer of banana slices.
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Repeat layers, starting with cookies.
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Top final layer of banana slices with whipped topping. Refrigerate at least one hour, or until ready to serve. Just before serving, garnish with extra vanilla wafers and sliced banana, if desired.
Recipe Notes
For purposes of calculating nutrition information, I used sugar-free instant pudding mix and skim milk, as well as Lite Cool Whip. If you use other varieties of pudding and whipped topping, the nutrition facts will change.
This post was originally published in June, 2013. The photos were updated in June, 2018.
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I make it today love it. i always use banana pudding. Taste just the same. Thanks for the new recipe
Thanks, Priscilla! So glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
I love that you responded to almost every post! That’s so awesome. It shows your work and opinions of your audience seriously. Thank you for this great recipe! God bless.
Of course! Thank you!
Thank you Claire I will be making banana pudding today for the 4th of July and you’re right it is so hot out a perfect dessert for today thank you
Awesome! Enjoy, and happy 4th!
Can you make the banana pudding without the cool whip?
Sure! It would just be the Nilla wafers, bananas, and vanilla pudding, but that would still taste good. 🙂
What size Cool whip?
Hi, Margaret! I just use the standard size (not the giant double-sized tub). Hope that helps!
Thanks for the easy recipe my children are all smiles. I think I might be dad of the year!????
Awesome. Thank you!
I spent a lot of time to locate something like this
have you tried it with instant banana pudding
Hi, Martha Jo! I have not, but I’m sure it would be delicious!
Have you? I wanted to make and got banana cream and now see all the recipes call for vanilla…
I like it better with banana pudding.
Easy, quick, delicious !!!
Thanks, Darlene! So glad that you enjoyed it!
It’s good but not the same as the old fashion banana pudding
True — it’s not going to be the same as a homemade custard and meringue, but I always appreciate the shortcut! 🙂
I did graham crackers (crumbled for the base), layer of wafers, layer of bananas, layer of vanilla pudding. Then another layer of wafers, layer of bananas, layer of lemon pudding. Then layer of wafers, layer of bananas, layer of banana pudding & finally crumbled graham crackers to garnish. Try it, it’s delicious!!… Thx for the recipe by the way ????????
Sounds amazing, Zay! Thanks!
Thanks, all these other sites want 1,000 ingredients, like it’s just vanilla banana pudding! I like simple, it’s always the best taste, just like mom used to make.
Thank you! I totally agree! 🙂
Can you use meringue on the top and brown in the oven with the instant pudding?
Hi, Dawn! I don’t know — I haven’t tried it, but I would be worried that the pudding would just “melt” in the oven since there are no eggs to make it stay stable when heated. That’s just my guess — it might work fine, I just haven’t ever tested it. 🙂
I made this recipe with sugar free pudding, sugar free cool whip, and vanilla almond milk. Only the vanilla wafers had sugar Very tasty. Couldn’t tell the difference.
That’s great, Amelia! I’m so glad that it worked for you. Such an easy dessert, right?!
Thank you so much simple and easy making it tonight
Awesome! Enjoy, Brittany! Definitely one of our faves!
I just made this recipe and it was so good!! It was exactly what I was looking for with basic ingredients but that’s all you need for banana pudding. Thank you!
Thanks, Alex! 🙂
I made this recipe for my daughter because it boasted “Quick and Easy.” Not only was it quick and easy to make but it was delicious! We used mini Nilla wafers and added Whipped Cream to each serving as opposed to topping with Cool Whip. This also made it fun since my kids love Whipped Cream. We will definitely be eating this again!
Yay! Thanks for taking the time to let me know, Monica! So glad that it was a hit. 🙂
Hi Blair! Thanks for the recipe, I’m looking forward to making this tomorrow! I was just wondering if there’s a difference in mixing the pudding with water instead of milk? The box says water but I’ve heard some people use milk instead so I was just wondering if it would make a difference.
Hey, Kate! I’ve never tried it with water. The box of Jell-O pudding that I always use calls for milk. Are you using a different brand, maybe? As long as you’re following the instructions on your package, I suppose it would be fine. I just think the milk would make it creamier. Again, I’ve never tried a water version, though. Enjoy!!
Thanks for the quick response Blair! Sorry I meant to say it the other way around, that the box calls for milk instead of water but I heard some people use water. I assumed milk would be better since it’ll be creamier, just like you mentioned.
Oh, okay! Sorry if I misunderstood. 🙂 I haven’t ever tried it with the water, so I would stick to the milk as instructed on the box (unless you’re feeling brave). Hah!
How many ounces is the pudding box you used?
Hi, Claire! It’s the 4-serving size box (which is the smaller of the two sizes sold). The box is 3.4 ounces. If you’re using the sugar-free variety, however, the smaller box weighs less (but will also work). Hope that helps!
Thank you so so much for sharing this. I have been trying to find a easy to make banana pudding for a long, long time!
Yay! Enjoy, Laurie!