This easy banana pudding recipe is everything I love about the Southern classic: sweet, creamy and totally irresistible! It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing dessert that disappears fast, so you might want to grab a spoon before it’s gone.

Easy Banana Pudding

I love a good no bake dessert, especially when it’s as easy and delicious as this banana pudding! It’s one of my go-to recipes that I make on repeat for spring and summer get-togethers and it always disappears fast!

It’s super easy to make too! Creamy vanilla pudding and Cool Whip are layered with crunchy vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices, giving you sweet banana flavor in every bite. You can never go wrong bringing this dessert to potlucks and parties…because seriously, who doesn’t love banana pudding!

Banana Pudding Ingredients

• Banana Cream pudding mix
• Cold milk
• Bananas, sliced
• Cool Whip
• Nilla Wafers

How to Make The Best Banana Pudding Recipe

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix. Beat or whisk until well combined.

Step 2: Set aside about 5 of the cookies for the top of the pudding. Place a layer of Nilla wafers across the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan or casserole dish.

Step 3: Add a layer of bananas slices on top of the cookies.

Step 4: Combine half of the Cool Whip with the pudding mixture. Mix well.

Step 5: Pour half of the pudding mixture over the cookies and bananas. Smooth out as evenly as you can.

Step 6: Make another layer of Nilla wafer cookies. Then add another layer of bananas.

Step 7: Spread a final layer of pudding over the cookie and banana layer.

Step 8: Top the pudding with the remaining half of the Cool Whip, then crush the rest of the Nilla wafers and sprinkle them over the top. Serve and enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

• Use ripe bananas. They don’t need to be as ripe as the ones you’d use for banana bread, but ripe enough that you get plenty of banana flavor without any brown spots.
• If I’m making this for a dinner party or small gathering, I’ll sometimes layer the ingredients in a trifle dish, or use individual serving cups and serve it like parfait (this works best if you crumble the cookie layers).
• Feel free to substitute shortbread or butter cookies for the Nilla wafers. Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies also work for this recipe.
• Don’t have Cool Whip? Use heavy cream to make your own whipped cream instead.

More Fun Summer Desserts

If you liked my homemade pudding recipe, you may want to try these out too!

• Banana Pudding Poke Cake
• Banana Split Cake
• Banana Split Fluff Salad
• Lemon Cheesecake Parfait
• Strawberry Pie
• Blueberry Hand Pies
• Fruit Salad With Cool Whip