Our Easy Banana Pudding Recipe is made with basic kitchen ingredients. Bananas, vanilla wafers, milk, sweetened condensed milk and instant pudding mix combine with whipped topping for a creamy, indulgent dessert. Drizzle with caramel sauce and every spoonful will be heavenly!
Banana Pudding With Nilla Wafers
Looking for an easy sweet treat? A take on the famous Magnolia Bakery recipe, this easy banana pudding recipe will quickly become your most requested dessert.
Our recipe is somewhat of a copycat Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding.
However, the Magnolia banana pudding recipe, in their cookbook, combines sweetened condensed milk with water and instant pudding mix. I took this a step further and replaced the water with milk for more richness.
Heavy cream gets beaten into whipped cream and added to the pudding in the Magnolia recipe. I simplified things for you by eliminating that step and just folded in thawed frozen whipped topping. You’re welcome!
What goes better with a mouthwatering pudding than cookies? Vanilla wafers and banana slices are stacked between layers of our velvety pudding mixture adding textures and flavors.
The crowning glory on our recipe is a drizzle of caramel sauce. Because, really now, who doesn’t love caramel sauce?
Trust me when I tell you, everyone will love this creamy Banana Pudding With Nilla Wafers for dessert!
Personally, it was a struggle walking away from tasting spoonful upon spoonful as I created this recipe. Yes, it’s that good!
How to make homemade banana pudding
- In a bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk with milk together until blended. Add instant pudding mix stirring until combined.
- Refrigerate for about one hour or until mixture begins to set up.
- Using a spatula, fold in the whipped topping.
- Beginning with cookies layer cookies then 3 banana slices and 1/3 cup pudding. Repeat using three cookies per layer.
- Place remaining cookies and banana slices on top and drizzle with caramel sauce.
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Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- Substitute your favorite plant-based milk for the milk
- Add caramel sauce between the layers too!
- Add fudge sauce for a banana chocolate flavor combination
- Drizzle with a salted caramel sauce for a gourmet touch!
- This recipe can be made in a trifle dish or a 13 x 9-inch casserole dish
Banana Pudding FAQ’s
What is banana pudding?
Banana pudding, a Southern American dessert, consists of layers of vanilla pudding or custard, cookies and fresh banana slices. It is often topped with whipped cream.
How long is banana pudding good for?
Fresh banana pudding can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator. However, the banana slices may begin to turn darker in color and the cookies will continue to soften over time. It really does taste good as the flavors and textures combine over time!
Does banana pudding need to be refrigerated?
Yes, banana pudding should be covered and refrigerated. Banana pudding actually tastes best when served chilled. Here is an article with tips on How To Store Banana Pudding that you may want to check out.

ingredients you will need to make a banana pudding recipe
Ingredients you will need to make this recipe
- sweetened condensed milk
- milk
- instant vanilla pudding mix
- frozen whipped topping
- vanilla wafer cookies
- bananas
- caramel sauce
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- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cup milk
- 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 box vanilla wafer cookies
- 4 large bananas , sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 3 Tbs. caramel sauce
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Combine sweetened condensed milk with milk together until smooth. Stir in instant pudding mix until blended.
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Refrigerate until mixture begins to set up, about 1 hour.
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Fold in whipped topping.
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Layer ingredients beginning with cookies, 3 banana slices and 1/3 cup pudding and repeat. I used 3 cookies per layer.
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Top with remaining cookies and banana slices and drizzle with caramel sauce.
Yield: 6 cups pudding
Makes 9 individual servings
This recipe is featured on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
This sounds so tasty!!
Thanks Danielle! I hope you enjoy it!