Easy Banana Pudding
This is one of my favorite banana puddings to take to potlucks because it tends to please everyone from the kids, adults, true southerners to Yorkers alike! Not to mention it’s so easy and quick to whip up a huge pan of this stuff. This is the recipe my grandmother uses a lot for family get-togethers. It’s just heavenly!
The addition of the sour cream really adds a special touch and helps tie in all the flavors. I like how it’s not overly sweet or too rich like some easy banana pudding recipes can be. Don’t let the instant pudding throw you off, it works. Trust me.
Don’t tell anybody, but I actually prefer this version of banana pudding over the old-fashioned, homemade version.
I made this dessert for a holiday party and a pilot was there and his exact words were “I’ve had banana pudding from all over the world but this stuff is first class!” I never seemed to forget that. What a compliment!
Watch me make this Easy BananaPudding from start to finish!
Get the Recipe: Easy Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 3-6 bananas
- 2 3.4 oz box instant Vanilla pudding
- 2 cups of milk
- 1 box of Nilla Wafers, You won't need the whole <g class="gr_ gr_96 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="96" data-gr-id="96">box,</g> unless you just really like nilla wafers
- 8 oz. container of Cool Whip
- 8 oz. container of sour cream
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine pudding and milk.
- Stir until creamy.
- Add in sour cream and 4 oz (half the container) of cool whip.
- Stir until combined.
- In a dish, add a layer of chopped bananas and nilla wafers
- Spread on a large spoonful of the pudding mixture
- Repeat the layering process again, ending with the pudding mixture.
- Spread on the remaining cool whip.
- Arrange wafers in a patter on top or crush them.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours.
- Serve cold.
Notes
TIPS
Refrigerate until cold (I usually do 1-3 hours before serving)
Don't use banana flavored pudding.
Make individual servings by layering in clear cups. So cute!
Feel free to layer and decorate how you please.
Wanna change up the cookie? Try Chessman cookies!
Wanna add something unique? Sliced strawberries add a special touch!
So THIS is how my local soul food places make it. Saved me time and money. Thanks!
Ive always made mine with banana flavored pudding and it’s always a hit and bowl is always clean afterwards. I always wonder why people say not to use it. I plan to try this recipe but I just wondered why people say not to use it.
My family loves this banana puddig. It is quick and so easy to make.
My wife of whom always harshly critiques my food went craZy over Your Banana Pudding recipe. Thank You so very much. This dish is now always in demand in my home.
RussMissick
Can I make this the night before I serve it or will the bananas turn yucky?
Use lemon juice on the bananas to keep them from browning.
I made the recipe exactly as is except i doubled it and used only 2 bananas and one whole box of nilla wafers. It is absolutely DELICIOUS. JUST perfect! I didn’t know what to expect with using sour cream but you can’t even taste it. I was tempted to do things like add vanilla or use heavy cream but don’t do it! It’s perfect as is! Thank you diva!
Thanks for your comment cause I was worried about the sour cream and how it would taste I’m going to try this recipe tonight
I made this for my sister’s birthday dessert but substituted cook & serve pudding for instant since that’s what I had on hand. It was out-of-this-world delicious!
Great I was wondering about the cook and serve because the stores were out of the instant.
As a banana pudding aficionada, I was a little concerned with doing a no-bake recipe, especially for Thanksgiving for the first time with a bunch of new guests coming over. I sincerely didn’t want to get clowned on a holiday. Especially because I have a reputation of throwing DOWN in the kitchen to uphold. I just said to myself, “If the banana pudding is effed up, people can always have my sweet potato casserole as a back-up dessert.”
But after reading all the reviews I was sold. Babaaaayyy that banana pudding was EVERYTHING. Everybody asked for some to take home! Using vanilla pudding instead of banana made the flavors more subtle and not artificial tasting. This recipe has now been printed and added to my permanent recipe book! Thank you!!!!!!! You gave me some wonderful new holiday memories!!!
I made this Fourth of July, and my family who claimed they didn’t like banana pudding couldn’t get enough! It was sooo light and fluffy. I will double my recipe next time so I can make a larger dish!
I was wary of adding the sour cream, but it turns out that this recipe is incredibly delicious exactly as the recipe is!! Used 4 bananas, the whole thing fit in an 8×8 glass square 2″ deep.
This recipe deserves 1000 stars. It was light delicious and creamy, I was tempted too dat the entire pan. I only used 2 bananas, I don’t like it too bannanaish
Just want you to know…..I’ve been making banana pudding for my family at the least 45 years …Always doing it the old fashion way…using the cook & serve pudding……..Girl, your Banana Pudding is the Bomb!!! My Family Raved over it and fought over the last spoonful……Thank you for making my life Easier and my family Happy !, If you publish a recipe Book I want One !
Hahaha! Thanks love! As much I love old-fashioned recipes I do prefer my banana pudding this way. So glad your family liked it!
WOW? Should have known you were from North Carolina!!!! LoL…All your Recipes are deliciously Southern…….so am I, in a little town called calabash where everything is fried Seafood.
Can’t wait to Get one of your Cookbooks.!!
this recipe is my go to. it is our favorite banana pudding!! So good I am going to use it for desert shots for our wedding. thank you for another fantastic recipe
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Made this for a family cookout today! I don’t even like banana pudding but I thought this would be a quick dessert to take as everyone else was making cakes. I made one that was 1.5 times larger than the original recipe. When I tell you it was delicious! This will be my go to summer time dessert! I should have known The Diva’s recipes would not let me down! Thanks so much!
Omg!!! This is awesome ????
Love this recipe! I also add raw coconut to give it a little flavor .
I made this for a Christmas Eve celebration and it was absolutely delicious!!! It got 2 thumbs up even from people who are not banana pudding fans.
after I finish making this … I put it in the fridge to wait for it to thicken up .. I waited 8 hours . Still not thick ! Came out really soupy … you know what I did wrong ? I accidentally brought the cook and serve instead of instant pudding !! Didn’t wanna make the pudding all over so I stick it in the freezer . & thank god !!! It came out perfect !!! This dish is so amazing . And all my family loved it !!!
I made the same mistake how long did you leave it in the freezer?
Best Banana Pudding and the most requested for my family! Thanks.
I was absolutely amazed how easy it was to make! My children loved it! It’s a great family dessert!
I made this for my family for Thanksgiving a few years ago and they have been requesting it ever since. Will putting making again in a few hours. Thank you!
It does sound good.Might have trying it out for new year for a superise party will be have next week in January.
Thanks you so much for this recipe bc my family have always love banana pudding but my mawmaw always done cook banana pudding but this come up year will be this one
Christine
What’s wrong with using banana flavored pudding?
Nothing at all. I just really prefer this with vanilla. It’s hard to find a good boxed banana pudding that tastes right.
I want to try this recipe and I was curious as to why you suggest NOT using banana flavored pudding?
Yesssss Monique girl! Delicious!
Hey Monique I brought banana flavored pudding before reading your recipe? Will it still turn out delicious?
Excellent. Does not have that instant pudding taste. Really good and easy. Thank you for this recipe. People ate it up!
My family and friends absolutely love this banana pudding. It is requested at every holiday or event!! So simple and oh soo delicious!!
Do you add in pudding powder or already made pudding
Is there any way I could make this with heavy whipping cream instead of Cool Whip? I have everything else but that. Thank you!
Absolutely amazing! Omg this was the most perfect banana pudding I have ever tasted! It was so easy to make and so delicious that my husband asked me to “put it on the list”. Too tasty.
Yayyy I’m so glad to here it was a success!!
I love this recipe : )) so easy and yummy.
I love this recipe I made it for Christmas this year,
It was a big hit!!! I will continue to use this recipe.!!
I was skeptical at first cuz it calls for the sour cream
But actually It toned it down a little not making it
Sweet,& you don’t taste it at all !! Its delicious !!!!
Thank You So Much for Sharing the recipe & Video????
I made this along with the Italian Cream Cake and 7up cake! OMG I am now a baker!!!! This is absolutely the best banana pudding! Thank you for the recipes.
Love this recipe! I refuse to make Banana Pudding in other way. Been making it this way for over two years now. It’s awsome!! I love, love, love it! Today, I’m trying it with the Chessman cookies. A co-worker tried it this way and it came out really good. I’m also starting to believe this is where she got the recipe cause her pudding taste too much like this one. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing. All your reciepes are the bomb.com
This banana Pudding is awesome .
So I’m making it as one of the desserts for Christmas
Thank You for Sharing this recipe❣
Made this tonight and I must say this is the best banana pudding I’ve ever had ???????? thank you for the recipe!
It’s so good and tasty I love it
I made this for my family reunion and when I went to get some, the entire aluminum pan was gone. The pan was a large one. I added vanilla extract in it as well. Next time, I will try the heavy whipping cream. This is a wonderful recipe.
Monique, I am excited to be making this for our parent youth pot luck tomorrow. I’m hoping and praying I make this right and that everyone enjoys it! I will admit the secret ingredient sour cream surprises me.
Just made this banana pudding can’t wait to taste it
Let me know how you like it!
I’ve made your pudding recipe and passed it on to friends. We ALL ADORE…ADORE this recipe….you are heaven sent and so is this pudding……:-)
**previous comment had errors and was incomplete**
I’m making mac and cheese (using a blend of my momma’s and yours) and your banana pudding today and by mistake poured 4 oz of the heavy cream into the banana pudding. Oh. My. Goodness. I’ll never make banana pudding without it again. I used your heavy cream and smoked cheddar along w my momma’s recipe – didn’t think her recipe could get any better.
I have many of my momma’s recipes but she passed away not long ago so you’re website has filled in many places. Thank you. Cooking always takes me back to times with her.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I take it everywhere I go! No one can top this recipe. So many people ask me what I use… But I refuse to tell them the secret ingredient!
Thanks again!
I love this recipe!!! It is super simple to make, cheap, and delicious! This is my go to dessert for potlucks and I’m always given many praises for how delicious it tastes. There’s never any leftover to take home because it’s all gone within 15 minutes. By the way, I use Vanilla Almond Milk. I’m not sure if it makes a huge difference but it tastes really good.
Monique, I don’t even cook well, but this recipe was amazing.
Thank you!!
Ole my…… Monique…(in pattie pie voice) This is by far the best banana pudding recipe.
Yassssss Yasssssss Yasssssss chileeeeee with this right here!!!! I prefer this over the old fashioned way too! Simple and DELICIOUS!!!! Thanks Mo girl 🙂
Omg this recipe is perfection!!!! I made it for my family a few times and they fightover the last piece!!! My dad said he has never tasted banana pudding that good since he was in Alabama!
FABUIOUS!!!!!!!
Think next time I wiII add 1/2/ cup of sugar to pudding and miIk mixture. There wiII be a next time.
This is very good and simple to make. Loved it!!!
Took this recipe to work and everyone loved it. When I need a recipe I will come here first.
I make this banana pudding for my family and it is gone so fast. How do i double this recipe for more.
Man #DivasCanCook…. i made this Banana Pudding and it was a REALLY big hit with my family and friends. In fact, i have been geeting calls requesting me to make more. I had never made Banana Pudding before and this recipe was really wasy to follow. Not to mention it was very cheap to make…. TY Divas Can Cook for an awsome experience.
Mmm Mmm Mmm!!! Love this Banana pudding. Super easy to make. Banana pudding is one of my favorite deserts & I never knew how to make it. I use to bug ppl to make it for me all the time. Well not any more! This recipe is on point. I was licking the bowl lol… Thanks
This is simply divine! So easy and effortless but tastes like a lot if effort was put into it…I am not going through the effort of cooking my pudding fron scratch anymore.
I will have to tell you that your recipes were a hit at Thanksgiving. I used you dressing and banana pudding recipe. My husband compared the dressing to his mothers (now that says something) and he was amazed when I told him there was sour cream in the banana pudding. He loved them both. From now on when I need a recipe, I’ll be looking here. Thanks!
Amazing recipe! Loved it!
This is my first time making banana pudding and you made it so easy! It was a hit with everyone! Absolute perfection!!
Very, very, very Good!!!!
My grandma would love this recipe
I was wondering since you don’t bake it, do the cookies still get soft?
I cooked this Friday and it was great. Thanks!
Just made this Banana Pudding today. It is by far theee BEST (sorry granny) !!! Not too sweet, very smooth & DELISH! Thx Monique, I watch your videos on YouTube all the time. Keep the videos coming!
Yummy Yummy Yummy!!! I made this for Easter dinner not only was this my 1st time making Easter dinner but this was my 1st time making Banana pudding!!! It was great everyone loved it 🙂
This recipe is delicious!!!! Loved it…Will be my go to recipe for now on!!
I love this recipe! I’m used to making banana pudding the old fashioned way but wanted to try something different after tasting a banana pudding at a family gathering. I was given the recipe but had misplaced it. I was directed to your website for another website and started looking around and found this banana pudding which seemed similar. Ma’am…..you are wonderful! I made this, and some other recipes, for my family and they LOVED it! I made the mistake of taking this banana pudding to a gathering of extended family members last year and I have not been allowed to bring anything else since. I love your recipes. Keep ’em coming!!!!
My first time making a banana pudding I used this recipe and it was a hit with my 4 year old and husband! They LOVE IT and it request it often!
Made this last night and it was so good. I was a little skeptical about using sour cream but you don’t even taste it
made this recipe yesterday, it was my 1st time making banana pudding. I did the recipe exactly the way she did and it turned out AMAZING. I had two friends to tell me it was better than their mother’s! Being from the south (Georgia) that’s a HUGE compliment. Can’t wait to try other recipes on this site!!
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was one of the biggest crowd pleaders! So easy. Thanks for teaching me to cook soul food style!
Made this for my new beau and OMG! Lets just say. . He asked for seconds and bragged to his family about it. I’m making him another as we speak:) keep the great recipes coming:-).
I’m so glad I found your website – everything looks fantastic. This was the first recipe I tried, and I’m definitely making it again. For other Canadian readers, here how I translated it: Use two 102 g pkgs of instant pudding. I think they’re a little bigger because I thought the cookies were a little dry so I poured a little Kahlua on each serving. Next time I’ll add an EXTRA 1/2 cup of liquid (e.g. Kahlua, milk, or chocolate milk) when I make the pudding, and I’m going to drizzle it directly over the cookies.) The 8 oz. of Cool Whip is 3 cups, which is 3/4 of a 1L container (the large one). And the 8 oz. of sour cream is close enough to a 250 ml container (the small one) that I just used that.
I’m looking forward to trying out other recipes from Divas Can Cook!
I may not be single anymore because of this recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I normally use evaporated milk or condensed milk, is it ok to use that in your recipe instead of whole milk?
I have made the oven barbecue chicken, cabbage greens, candied yams, lets not forget the banana pudding. This was Sunday dinner. My daughter was a little skeptical about sour cream being added to the banana pudding. Everything was very tasteful. Thanks to your site!!
I made this earlier in the week for my family and I….. let me just tell you, it was a hit!!! So, so simple and DELISH :-)! I even plan on making it again for an upcoming event. I just know it’ll be a hit there too. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
I’m trying this recipe this week. I will return with my review 🙂
This looks soooooooo good!!! I just went to the store and got my ingredients!! I’m making it tomorrow morning! Will be back with my response! 🙂
Made this last night 🙂 Super yummy and easy to make! My husband was very skeptical when he seen me putting in the sour cream but quickly changed his mind (helping himself to TWO helpings) when he tasted the finished product.
I love these recipes!!!!!!! Simple and Satisfying!
cont…….also, I made some for my co-workers and one lady asked me for the exact recipe. Now, her sister is a caterer and she told me she loves this recipe way better. Those her exact words. Imagine that!! A caterer?! Not too sweet-just right!! 🙂
PLease, please, please dont EVER leave us or shut down your site diva. I have made this recipe 3 times and I never can have any to myself after I leave family functions lol. God made you for reason and you have THAT gift! Keep it up. You have ppl that follow and thrive to be just like you in the kitchen. My boyfriend just loves when I get into the kitchen and pull your website up on our laptop 🙂
Very Good!
This was one of the best banana pudding I have eaten in a while and it was so easy to make.
Make it a whole day ahead of your event for maximum impact!!! This banana pudding is passed good!
Wow, is all I can say. I made this banana pudding for Christmas and it was wonderful. My family really enjoyed it.
OMG!!!! This is the BEST banana pudding I have ever tasted and my hubby too… So easy to make too. Thanks so much for all your wonderful recipes. So excited to make your Red Velvet Pancakes for Christmas morning for the kids 🙂
This Banana Pudding is the BOMB! I got so many compliments after making it for this past Thanksgiving dinner. It was O for AWESOME! It was so easy to prepare. This is one of the desserts I look forward to eating everytime we go to The Golden Corral Buffet and when I seen this recipe I just had to make it. Now everytime I have a craving for it I can just make it at home. Thanks Monique!!!
Loved it, made it for Thanksgiving…my only problem was that it wasnt enough, made one batch and had to make another that morning…next time i will use 3 boxes vanilla and one box banana pudding for more taste..Ive tried 3 of your recipes but always have to tweak them, its ok because i know how to cook and how to get around the kitchen but your recipes are always a good base, plus your southern and im west indian so our tastes may be a little different. i can say that your recipes give me something different to add to the dinner table, no one wants jerk, curry and stew all the time so thank you. I have added you to my favorites channel on YT also
OMG ! I have never made banana pudding before. This was one of my desserts for this Thanksgiving. Super easy and mmm good. I was so proud everyone loved it ! Thank you 🙂
I just reviewed the ingredients list and it does say “instant”. My apologies. I stand corrected. Apparently, I failed to write it down correctly on my grocery list. Thanks again!!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a HIT. My in-law’s loved it which amazed me because they are for real scratch cooks. My only suggestion is in the ingredients list change the vanilla pudding to say INSTANT vanilla pudding. I accidentally purchased the cook and serve kind and had to run out to the correct kind when it wasn’t thickening as your video indicated. LOL!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Made this last year, actually a lot of your recipes, and they were all a hit!!! Love your website! Thanks for sharing. I made a big pan of this Banana Pudding this year..last year’s went so quickly. God Bless 🙂
Hey there, I was just wondering if the wafers get soft by it being made with instant pudding instead of the stove top Pudding? Or are they still hard?
Thanks! 🙂
I used the recipe to make a filling for banana pudding pie and it was excellent. thank-you so much for inspiring me. I look forward to trying more of your recipes very soon.
I made this banana pudding on Saturday with the intention of saving it for dessert for Sunday dinner…needless to say it didn’t last that long! 🙂 It was so good! I can’t wait to try out some of your other recipes! I made 4 of them already, and my family and I loved them all!
OMG!!!! I just made this its in my fridge chilling off I can’t wait to try it. I love banana pudding my daddy tough me how to make it but I wanted a quicker way to make it. i was a little turned off by the instance pudding but i have tried other repicies from you and all have turned out mouth watering good. thanks so much with your recipies i seen like a all star pro and so many people ask me to keep making the dishes and i give all credit to you!!!! 🙂
Used this recipe for my co-workers and I got numerous “this is the BEST banana pudding I’ve ever had” comments! I can’t cook to save my life, but this I can do! Thank you thank you thank you!
Another Hit! Thanks For Sharing This Wonderful Recipe.
This banana pudding is excellent. The only change I made to it – I used banana cream pudding mix.
Highly recommend.
Thanks Monique
(=
I <3 banana pudding
thanks <3 luv ya
hey i am 11 years old and i love to cook i watch your videos all the time likeyour BBQ chicken,banana pudding cupcakes, and your fitness citrus mint water all delicous thanks for being awesome monique
I just made this and I cannot believe how simple and yummy this is!!! Love your site!!!!!!
I should have followed your suggestion and doubled the recipe….It was a biggggggg hit…Thanks for giving me great recipes that do not take a 1,000+ ingredients and hours to make……keep them coming!
Thanks Monique,
You did it again, I just finished and put in the fridge to cool. Thanks for sharing your gifts and talents with the WORLD! God Bless…
didn’t think about using sour cream with instant pudding, thanks for a great idea girl, will def use this recipe, looking forward to how it will turn out 🙂
very sweet n rich!!!
I made this today and I was licking the spoon 🙂 I like it because its so light! Hope I resist the temptation to eat it before its ready. If ya’ll haven’t tried the banana pudding cupcakes yet please get on it! Both are excellent!
I want to try the banana pudding.but all I have in the pantry is vanilla pudding (cook and serve) can I use it instead of the instant pudding.
Monique
I was looking through your recipes and I notice the banana pudding which I have never fix one before. So I was going to make this on Sunday but I couldn’t help myself I got all the ingredients which wasn’t much and fix the pudding tonight. I know you are suppose to let it stay in the fridge for 3 hours but after 1 1/2 hours I just had to get a small bowl and then another and its great. Its not to sweet, moist creamy and just really good. I have done some of your other recipes and they were great too. Thanks for such great recipes and where food taste good and not so fatty like other ingredients. DELICIOUS!
We’ve made this several times in our house. It never last more than a day. It is the best and so simple to make.
I’m going to try this. I usually do the sweetened condensed milk/cool whip/cream cheese mixture, but I’m always looking for new recipes to try. Thanks
Monique, thank you for blessing the world with all your gifts ex. beautiful spirit, wonderful recipes and a talent that we all can learn from. May God continue to bless and keep you and family. I love your site and videos look forward to tuning in every day.
this stuff is soo gooood!!! Sometimes I leave the bananas out. I put some cookies in my serving bowl, then some pudding, then some more cookies. Stir it up and eat it. I like my cookies crunchy. Either way it is really good. Thanks for a great site!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
have you ever tried it with condensed milk? GOOD!!!!
I JUST finished making this! I’m currently licking my spoon… Lol. Thanks Monique!
Do you get the large boxes of pudding or the small ones? How much does this make? I’m going to make it for Thanksgiving but I’m not sure if I need to double up the ingredients.
I use the 3.4 oz boxes. This serves about 8-10
my whole family loves banana pudding i think i might make this
thanks Monique
I’m making this for Thanksgiving, using Instant French Vanilla Pudding. 🙂 🙂 🙂
I never made Banana Pudding before but this recipe looks so easy, Im going to try this for my family for dessert for Sunday dinner. Im so excited LOL. I love banana pudding.
I was going to wait until sunday but I made it tonight and it is the best.
Monique, I made this banana pudding tonight for my fiance, and he absolutely LOVED it. So did I!!!!
I crushed a few wafers and spread them on the top. We tried to hold off until tomorrow to eat with Sunday’s dinner but it looked so good, we couldn’t wait. LOL!!!! Thanks for sharing all of these great recipes. I am so excited to try as many as possible. The collard greens are cooking as I type. I’m sure those will be great also. God bless~ LaVonne
I made this banana pudding for the first time
At Christmas,I’m telling y’all it went very fast
It was a big hit!!! Thank You So Much for Sharing
The Recipe,& Video!!!! What I like about this recipe
Its fast & easy to whip up,but its delicious also!!❤️
Thnx girl for this recipe. I made it tonight and we all loved it!
Monique,
Ever since I just happened to wonder upon your website, I have been amazed at what you have taught me in the kitchen. I think my boo loves me even more now. This recipe sounds easy. I am always messing up all my attempts to make banana pudding. What happened to the “show me” video?
Thanks. I am getting thicker and being loved more.