Easy Banana Pudding Recipe

This easy banana pudding recipe couldn’t be simpler! All but one ingredient is optional, and you can make this in 2 minutes or less. It’s a dessert the whole family will love.

I think people often get so wrapped up in wanting something sweet and dessert-like that they tend to forget just how wonderful AND dessert-like fruit can be. This quick and easy dessert recipe is perfect for an after-school snack, and it’s just like having actual pudding!

However, this is not a classic recipe for banana pudding. There are no nilla wafers, no sweetened condensed milk, no instant vanilla pudding mix, no cool whip, no whipped cream or whipping topping of any kind, no cream cheese or banana cream, and definitely no instant pudding mix. You won’t even need a whisk.

For this recipe, I added the optional ingredients in case you want something truly sweet. But the truth is, just the bananas will do the trick nicely. I like to add the nuts to mine, but when I make this, I make it with just the bananas and nuts. No sweeteners are required.

Now, I promise I’m not going to start posting dessert recipes right and left. I know many of you took my survey at the end of last year, and I heard you loud and clear. “Stick to main meals!”. But I still think we all need a little something sweet to enjoy now and again, and this recipe fits the bill nicely without busting your eating plan. Plus, you can always do it with just one banana. It cuts the data below in half, and many of us eat a banana with nuts as a snack anyway. But somehow, the blending makes it seem a little more sinful.

Can Bananas Be Too Ripe For Banana Pudding?

Yes! Particularly in a recipe like this one. A few brown spots are fine, but don’t use very brown bananas. Save those for banana bread or one of these 9 ideas for using up ripe bananas.

What To Put On Bananas To Keep From Browning In Banana Pudding?

A recipe like this one should be prepared right before serving. So if browning is a concern, just make sure you eat it immediately.

But if you must make it more ahead of time, then slice your bananas and toss them with a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice before blending them. Yes, and you’ll be able to taste the lemon, which is why you will most likely want to add the optional honey if you go this route.

Lastly, try not to refrigerate it immediately. If you have just an hour or two before you need to serve it, keep it out of the fridge so the cooler temperature doesn’t speed up the browning process.

Serving Banana Pudding

If you want to serve this to guests or just make it fancy for yourself, you can serve this in a trifle bowl or trifle dish. You can layer banana slices and any of the toppings listed below in the dish to make it pretty.

You can also serve this in a casserole dish with one or more toppings.

You can even use this banana pudding as a topping or filling for other baked desserts. Just add the pudding mixture between cake layers or spread it over the top of something.

Toppings For Banana Pudding

• Nuts – Any type you like, but walnuts and pecans are truly great here.
• Cookie crumbs – Have a healthier cookie handy? Crumble it and sprinkle it over the top of your pudding just before serving it. These would take the place of vanilla wafer cookies.
• Berries – Fresh berries will work well here. Strawberries would be particularly good. Just chop them small and sprinkle them on.
• Ground cinnamon – Just a light sprinkle.
• Crushed crackers – This is a savory topping, but it’s tasty.
• Chocolate chips – Try to find tiny ones for better texture.
• Meringue – You would need to bake this topping separately on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and then transfer it to the top of your trifle once it’s fully cooked. It’s a little extra work but tasty. Use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add sweetener if you wish. Make sure you chill it after baking before you add it to your homemade banana pudding.
• Whipped cream – If you really want a whipped topping, try making your own at home with honey for a sweetener.

About The Ingredients

Bananas – The greener they are, the more they will take on other flavors of your toppings, and the less sweet the pudding will be without sweetener. The more ripe they are, the stronger the banana flavor will be and the less sweetener you will need. Never use totally brown bananas for this recipe. A few spots are okay.

Honey – This is optional. Add to taste according to what your pudding needs. This will depend on the sweetness and ripeness of your bananas.

Pure vanilla extract – This is optional as well. It adds a nice flavor, but you don’t have to add it at all.

Walnuts – This is optional for topping. You can also use pecans, cashews, or any nuts you prefer.

How To Make Easy Banana Pudding

Put the bananas in a medium mixing bowl.

Blend the bananas until they become like pudding. I find using a stick blender to be easiest, but you can pulse this in a regular blender or food processor as well.

Mix in any optional additions and serve with optional toppings.

Storage

If you have leftovers, you’ll want to double-pack this. Put them in a container, then place plastic wrap across the surface of the pudding. Cover it completely. Then, add the container lid.

Freezing

Freezing is not recommended for this recipe.

More Fruit Recipes

• Roasted Maple Papaya

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Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted on 3/28/14.