It’s no secret that I LOVE me some Paula Deen. There hasn’t been much of hers I’ve tried that I haven’t liked, so it’s really no surprise that I fell head over heels for her version of banana pudding. I found this recipe about 5 years ago and I’ve been makin’ it ever since. This is the ONLY way I can eat it now!!! Spoiled!!! If you haven’t tried this version yet, you MUST!!!! This is definitely the BEST!!! Not at all like momma used to make it!!!
NOT YO’ MAMA’S BANANA PUDDING
4 bananas, sliced
3 cups milk
1 box Nilla Wafers
2 small boxes instant FRENCH vanilla pudding
1 {8 oz.} pkg. cream cheese
1 {14oz.} can sweetened condensed milk
1 {12 oz.} container Cool Whip
**You can find the original recipe HERE. The recipe above is tweaked just a bit and I LOVE it! BUT…you might wanna give Paula’s original a try, too :)**
So, lemme guess…I had you at cream cheese, right?! HA! Seriously get ready to salivate because this is GOOD.
Line the bottom of a 9x13 with Nilla Wafers. {The original recipe called for Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies. It tasted really good with the Chessmen cookies, I just prefer the Nilla Wafers :)}
Slice your bananas and layer evenly on top of the wafers. The original recipe called for 6-8 bananas and when I first made it, I think I used about that much. I personally don’t like A TON of bananas in my banana pudding {I know, weird}. I think four is the magic number…not too many, not too few. Just PERFECT :)
Combine the milk and pudding mix and blend using a handheld mixer. I’ve found that using the two small boxes & the 3 cups of milk makes an awesome consistency for the pudding. It sets just PERFECTLY!
In a separate bowl, mix together cream cheese & condensed milk until smooth. Gradually fold in whipped cream.
Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mix & stir until well blended.
Pour the mix evenly over the bananas. OMG…SO YUMMY!!!
But wait!!..
Layer the remaining Nilla Wafers on top of the mix to top it all off!!!
Looks heavenly, right?! That would be an understatement!!! I made this the weekend my family came to visit and it was a HIT! We practically licked the pan clean! This is the perfect dessert to bring to your next summer bash. It’ll be the hit of the party…I promise!!
31 comments:
gonna add this to my list of things to try...sounds like it will be delish!
Oh, I am definitely making this this summer!
Sounds like the perfect recipe for Fourth of July in Michigan!!
Can't wait to see you guys! XO
I'm going to the store tomorrow to get all the stuff to make this. My husband's favorite dessert is banana pudding so I can't wait to make this!!! Thanks for sharing!!
can you please tell me what type of biscuit a nilla biscuit is (i live in australia and would like to find an alternative). This looks so yummy but need to know if the biscuit is sweet or flavoured etc. thanks heaps, Suzanne.
Need a printable link to your version of this recipe!!!
Thank you! ;)
I just made this tonight and will be taking it with us tomorrow for Thanksgiving. I ended up using 6 bananas but I can already tell it's going to be amazing! So glad I found this recipe.
I found your recipe on Pinterest this summer. I'm so glad I pinned it! I took it to a family gathering today and everyone loved it! Thank you :o)
I made this for Thanksgiving brunch and it was delicious!! Thanks for posting!
I was afraid the sweetened condensed milk would make it too sweet so I used 8 oz cream cheese and softened in microwave for 30 sec. and put into blender with 1 cup milk to smooth....added 3 more cups milk and whisked in 3- 3.5 oz dry instant vanilla pudding mix. Added 8-12 oz cool whip and layered it with wafers and bananas. HEAVEN!!
I can't wait to try this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for this recipe! I can't wait to take it to my family Christmas party tomorrow!
how much do you mean when you say "small" boxes of french vanilla pudding?
@Kati...the 3 oz. boxes :)
I made this last night... without the bananas because... I don't like bananas, lol! It was AWESOME! I provided optional bananas for those who wanted to slice them over the dessert. It was a hit! Thanks!
Has anyone made this the night before? I was wondering how the bananas would hold up. Also, how long does it need to "set?"
My recipe calls for the sweetened condensed milk. And you start by whipping the cream cheese & pudding together, add sweetened condensed milk, then whole milk & finally fold the cool whip in.
I use a deeper bowl (those take & go cheap ones work perfect) and layer more vanilla wafers in because I like the texture of the softened wafers & not crunchy cookies in my pudding. I've made it with as few as 2-3 bananas at thanksgiving when ripe bananas are at a premium.
As long as the bananas are layered in the pudding, they hold up pretty well. If you try to put them on top, they brown pretty quick.
If I want to get fancy, I get a can of whipped cream & make fancy designs on top, but only if it's going to be eaten soon...the whipped cream 'melts' pretty quick.
My mom says it's too sweet, I love it. It's almost got a mousse consistency after you fold the cool whip in.
Suzanne in Australia, did anyone ever answer your question? Nilla Wafers are sweet, crispy, and vanilla flavoured. They are very popular in or with banana pudding in the southeastern United States. (They soften a bit in the pudding, of course.) They are quite plain on their own, but that makes them versatile in recipes. My (southern) grandmother used to use them in the crusts of her beloved lemon meringue pies.
I used bananas and strawberries together - it was wonderful!
I have crumbled cinnamon graham crackers on the top of mine instead of the vanilla wafers, an for those that don't like bananas add a box of banana flavored instant pudding along with the vanilla instant pudding, an I always try to do 2 layer's just to break up the pudding.
The additional strawberries mentioned in the comments is an unusual twist. I'll have to try that one. My unique personal touch on this recipe is to add some crushed pineapple to the mix. It gives it a different flavor and a little different texture. Try it! If you are a pineapple fan, you'll love it.
I made it this way for years...a little old lady from a church group taught me how and its a hit everytime I make it! I also use very few bananas.
I made it this way for years...a little old lady from a church group taught me how and its a hit everytime I make it! I also use very few bananas.
SO delicious!! I've been craving banana pudding for weeks now and this is the first recipe I've truly fallen in love with. Thanks so much for sharing!
If I make this a day in advance, will the wafers be soggy? Is it best to refridgerate or freeze??
PS-I have been dreaming of banana pudding ever since I found this recipe!
I love using chessman cookies for this. You stick it in the fridge if you don't eat it all right away (that's pretty much only if you're by yourself) the cookies get soft after refrigeration but that's actually a good thing. It's better to have soft cookies with the creamy texture and I think the original recipe might even call for refrigeration. The bananas get a little brown after awhile but are still yummy!
I just made this for Easter dinner tomorrow....couldn't resist licking the bowl...yummy!!!
Just made this for Easter tomorrow also.. realized last minute that someone had borrowed my mixer & never returned it :/ Needless to say, my arm is worn out! I whisked the cream cheese & condensed milk until I just couldn't whisk anymore. Lol! I hope it taste okay with the tiny bits of cream cheese but overall it was fairly smooth. Next time I do believe I will use more Nilla wafers though. It looks divine but does sort of seem like a pudding overkill.. I like some substance to my "nanner puddin'" :)
Just made this and it looks amazing. I used the 4 bananas because like you, I don't like too many. I think mine bananas were too small though because it looks like I don't have enough. But, that's okay. I can't wait for everyone in my family to try this!
So either my 9x13 pans are really shallow or I did something wrong (and I really don't think I did anything wrong!). I ended up with so much filling I currently have TWO full 9x13 pans of banana pudding in my fridge! I have to go get another box of Nilla wafters to top them with because I ran out after lining the bottom of two pans. Did anyone else have this problem?
This is a wonderful recipe that has become my "go-to" dessert! I make mine with Pecan Sandies instead of Nilla Wafers, and it's amazing. Also, I layer mine in a large bowl or trifle dish. I've also considered using the pudding as a dip for fruits are slivers of the cookies.
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