Banana Pudding Dessert is a decadent dessert with layers of cream cheese, banana slices, vanilla pudding with whipped cream, and an optional peanut butter topping, all on top of a vanilla wafer crust. If you love creamy banana desserts, be sure to try my Ultimate Banana Pudding!
Banana Pudding Dessert
This Banana Pudding Dessert is the ultimate creamy banana treat that is layered with flavors, including an optional drizzle of melted peanut butter to top it all off! In addition to the homemade vanilla pudding in this recipe, you could also make homemade vanilla wafers and whipped cream if you are feeling motivated!
Banana Pudding Dessert Recipe
There are four important parts (layers) to this recipe–the homemade vanilla pudding, vanilla wafer cookie crust, cream cheese layer, and the toppings.
Pudding Ingredients (full recipe below)
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Kosher salt
- Eggs
- Egg yolk
- Whole milk
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
Crust Ingredients
- Vanilla wafers–Make homemade vanilla wafers for this recipe! (A graham cracker crust would also be delicious in this recipe.)
- Butter
Cream Cheese Layer Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Whipped cream–Make your own homemade whipped cream, or cool whip works just as well.
Toppings
- Bananas
- Whipped cream (or cool whip)
- Vanilla wafers
- Peanut butter–Creamy works best, but you can also leave this out if you are not a fan of peanut butter.
How to Make Vanilla Pudding
It’s best to start with the homemade pudding first. This will need to chill for about half an hour after it’s made. While the pudding is chilling, you can work on making the other important parts to this recipe.
(Full recipe in a recipe card below) It’s really easy to make your own vanilla pudding. Pudding is a great dessert to have on hand, and most people like the smooth, creamy sweet (and sometimes even savory) treat. Plus, if you make a little extra, it’s nice to have as a snack or loaded with your favorite chocolate candy or treat.
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
- Add the eggs and egg yolk and whisk to combine.
- Then, whisk in the milk for about 30 seconds.
- Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. This mixture should thicken in 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat before you add the butter. Add the butter one cube at a time.
- Finally, whisk in the vanilla extract. Cover the pudding with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. (The pudding will not be completely set, but it will set in the final chilling process.) This is the perfect time to start the other recipes.
How to Make the Crust
While the pudding is chilling, prepare the crust. Did you know you can make your own homemade vanilla wafers? I have a homemade vanilla wafer recipe you might want to try for this recipe, or just to have some cookies on hand!
To make the vanilla wafer crust, add the cookies to a food processor and process until you have a fine crumb. You could also use a rolling pin to roll over the cookies that are in sealed plastic baggies to get them into fine crumbs. A hammer also works, but just gentle taps!
In a medium bowl, combine the crushed wafers and melted butter until the mixture is combined. Press the crust in the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan (no need to grease the pan). Chill the crust while you prepare the cream cheese layer.
Cream Cheese Layer
To make the cream cheese layer, simply combine the room temperature cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and one cup of the whipped topping. If you forgot to take out the cream cheese to get it to room temperature (which usually takes about 30 minutes), unwrap the cream cheese and place it in a microwave-safe container, heating it up in 15-second increments until the edges are softened.
How to Assemble Banana Pudding Dessert
Once all the parts to this dessert have been made, it’s time to get it assembled and chilled so everyone can enjoy it!
- Pour the cream cheese mixture into the chilled wafer crust.
- Top with a layer of sliced bananas.
- Pour the cooled pudding over the bananas.
- Cover in plastic wrap and set it in the refrigerator for another 1-2 hours. (Yes, it will be hard to wait, but SO worth it!)
- When you are ready to serve, top the dessert with more whipped cream, crushed vanilla wafers, and drizzled melted peanut butter. You could always skip the peanut butter, but it was the perfect complement to the banana dessert!
Store the dessert, covered and chilled, for a couple of days.
Looking for More Banana Treats?
Ingredients
Pudding Layer
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 cups (490g) whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cookie Crust
- 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafers, finely crushed
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Cream Cheese Layer
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (125g) confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup (60g) whipped cream (cool whip)
Banana Layer
- 2 large bananas, sliced and layered between cream cheese and pudding layer
Toppings
- 2 cups (120g) whipped topping, (or cool whip)
- 1/4 cup vanilla wafers, crushed
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter, melted (optional)
Instructions
Vanilla Pudding Layer
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In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
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Add the eggs and egg yolk and whisk to combine.
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Add the milk and whisk until well combined (about 30 seconds).
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Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until thickened (approximately 5-10 minutes).
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Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, one cube at a time.
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Whisk in the vanilla extract.
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Cover with plastic wrap and chill until completely cool (about 30 minutes).
Cookie Crust
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While the pudding is chilling, make the crust. In a medium bowl, combine crushed vanilla wafers and melted butter. Stir together until well blended, making sure to coat each crumb.
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Pour crust into a 9×9 inch pan and press firmly to the base and slightly up the sides of the pan. Set in the refrigerator to chill.
Cream Cheese Layer
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In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup of the whipped topping.
Assembly (once cooled)
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Carefully pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared crust. Spread evenly over crust.
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Top with sliced bananas.
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Pour the cooled pudding over the bananas. Set in the refrigerator (covered with plastic wrap) for another 1-2 hours.
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When you are ready to serve, top with remaining cool whip, crushed cookies, and peanut butter glaze.