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EASY Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Recipe

This is the ultimate nilla wafer banana pudding! This easy and delicious dessert uses basic ingredients, but is far from basic-tasting. It is sure to be a hit for your next gathering!

EASY Rich & Creamy Banana Pudding Recipe

I love banana pudding. I love the creamy richness. I love the crunch of the wafers. I love the soft bananas. And the colder, the better. Give me all the cold, creamy banana pudding, especially during summer! When it’s summer, I’m all about cool fruit desserts.

While there are lots of delicious banana pudding recipes out there (who am I to discriminate against banana puddings?!), this is one of my favorites. It strikes the perfect balance between “easy” and “tastes amazing.”

This pudding uses basic ingredients, but doesn’t taste basic when you are done. So so so good!

Easy Banana Pudding vs. From Scratch

There are recipes that entail whisking eggs, milk, sugar, and various other ingredients in a sauce pan to make pudding.

I’m not complaining about those recipes one bit and think if you have the time and inclination, it’s a fun challenge to try at least once.

The issue is that it’s really easy to scorch homemade pudding, in my experience. Another issue is that the finished pudding requires four hours to refrigerate.

That’s why I’ve chosen to use instant pudding in this recipe. Sometimes I like it when recipes are a sure thing, especially when I have several people waiting for dessert!

Lemon Juice

Not sure if you’re aware, but lemon juice keeps a lot of fruits from turning brown – bananas included!

You don’t have to use the lemon juice if you’re going to serve this right away, but it’s a nice touch in making your dessert “look” nicer.

So that the lemon juice doesn’t affect the taste, place 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of lemon juice in a bowl.

Soak the bananas in the water (in slices or whole) for about 3 minutes. You’ll have the most beautiful, non-brown bananas ever!

Making it Diet Friendly

If you’re looking to trim some calories out of this recipe, you’re going to purchase sugar free, fat free instant banana cream pudding.

Then you’re going to prepare it according to box instructions (fat-free milk) and forgo the evaporated milk.

In addition, you’ll use fat-free Cool Whip. The dish is still delicious, and you’ll end up with 387 calories, 70g carbs, 9g fat, and 38g sugar per serving.

If you want to reduce a little more, simply cut the number of vanilla wafers or serving size (I know – who wants to do that?).

How to make banana pudding

Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers

Ingredients

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 1 (3.5-ounce) package banana instant pudding and pie filling
  • 1 (8-ounce) tub whipped topping
  • 36 vanilla wafers
  • 3 medium bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice
Vanilla wafer banana pudding recipe

Your vanilla wafer banana pudding is ready to serve. Creamy and delicious with a little bit of crunch!

Nilla wafer banana pudding recipe
Easy banana pudding recipe

Get the printable nilla wafer banana pudding recipe below!

Yield: 6 servings

Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding

How to make banana pudding

This is the ultimate easy banana pudding recipe! This pudding uses basic ingredients, but is far from basic-tasting. It is sure to be a hit for your next gathering!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 3.5 oz banana instant pudding (1 box)
  • 8 oz whipped topping (1 tub)
  • 36 vanilla wafers
  • 3 medium bananas

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water.
  2. Add pudding mix and beat until well blended.
  3. Chill at least 5 minutes in refrigerator.
  4. Carefully fold in whipped topping with a spatula.
  5. In separate dishes, layer pudding mixture with wafers, bananas, and more pudding.
  6. Chill thoroughly - for about 20 minutes. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1 serving

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 602Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 283mgCarbohydrates: 95gFiber: 2gSugar: 74gProtein: 10g

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Happy eating! And be sure to visit us as we blog about style, food, and the things we love over at the Pretty Life Girls!

If you love this easy banana pudding recipe, you should also try the following recipes:

Cathy

Friday 27th of January 2023

The Nilla pudding I remember used no instant pudding. We made the pudding. this isn't the original recipe

Amy

Saturday 28th of January 2023

Hi Cathy! You're certainly welcome to make the pudding. These days people like shortcuts but that doesn't prevent anyone from following their bliss with this recipe! Enjoy.

D. Durand Worthey

Monday 18th of July 2016

Banana Pudding always conjures up fond memories of when I was a kid. My mom was the first person to introduce me to the joy and heavenly delight that is banana pudding. And her version is still the gold standard in my opinion. However, this recipe looks pretty solid and I may have to betray my mom's recipe and give this one a chance. Thank you.

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