Description
Joanna Gaines’ banana pudding weaves Southern comfort with creamy elegance, blending vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, and silky custard into a nostalgic dessert. Sweet layers meld together, creating a classic treat that beckons you to savor each spoonful of pure, homestyle indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 14 small bananas, sliced or to taste
- 1 (16 ounce / 453 grams) package vanilla wafers
- 1 (12 ounce / 340 grams) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Dairy and Pudding Ingredients:
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) cold milk
- 1 (14 ounce / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (5 ounce / 142 grams) package instant vanilla pudding mix
Flavoring:
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Create a silky pudding foundation by vigorously whisking cold milk (236 milliliters or 8 fluid ounces) with instant vanilla pudding mix for precisely 2 minutes until the mixture transforms into a thick, creamy consistency. Incorporate sweetened condensed milk, stirring until completely smooth and uniform.
- Enhance the pudding’s aromatic profile by gently blending pure vanilla extract, then delicately folding in thawed whipped topping to produce an airy, luxurious texture.
- Construct elegant dessert layers inside a transparent glass serving vessel, strategically arranging crisp vanilla wafer cookies as the initial foundation, followed by delicate banana slices, and generously coating with the prepared pudding mixture.
- Methodically repeat layering techniques, ensuring each stratum is evenly distributed and visually appealing, ultimately crowning the dessert with a final pudding layer for a polished presentation.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and the structure to solidify completely.
- Immediately prior to serving, sprinkle crushed vanilla wafer fragments across the surface, providing a delightful textural contrast and visual appeal.
Notes
- Grab perfectly ripe bananas with soft brown spots, ensuring they’re firm enough to slice and won’t turn mushy in the pudding’s creamy layers.
- Chill the dessert thoroughly, allowing flavors to meld and layers to set into a decadent, smooth masterpiece that tastes even more delicious after resting.
- Create consistent layers by carefully spreading pudding and banana slices evenly, guaranteeing a delightful balance of textures in every single spoonful.
- Crush extra wafers just before serving to preserve their satisfying crunch, adding a delightful contrast to the silky pudding underneath.
- Prepare this dessert in advance for maximum flavor development, knowing the taste will intensify overnight while keeping the topping crisp and fresh.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg