Banana Pudding Recipe

5 from 6 votes
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This Banana Pudding Recipe is stacked with bananas, a pudding cheesecake filling and crunchy cookies. This Paula Deen recipe is one of our favorite desserts and we’re so excited to share it with you.

A baking dish full of banana pudding

Banana Pudding Recipe

This mind-blowingly good layered dessert first came into my life years ago, when my friend made it for a party. She got the recipe from the one and only Paula Deen, so I knew it had to be good. Its original name was “Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding Recipe” and that’s the truth! I apologize to Yo Mama, but this is absolutely the best banana pudding recipe. Crunchy cookies and sliced bananas sandwich a creamy layer of banana cheesecake filling. This dessert serves a crowd, so it’s perfect for your next potluck or family dinner.

A scoop of banana pudding on a pink plate with two bananas in the background

Ingredients

  • Pepperidge Farms Chessmen Cookies – Technically, you could get by with two packages, but go ahead and buy three to ensure you have enough whole cookies for the layers. Usually, I find that there are several broken pieces in most packages. You can use broken pieces on the first layer to fill in the bottom and sides, or you can also eat the broken pieces!
  • Sliced Ripe Bananas
  • Milk
  • Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix – You can use French Vanilla or plain Vanilla instant pudding mix for this Banana Pudding recipe.
  • Cream Cheese – To ensure a smooth final product, make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Whipped Topping – For convenience we use thawed Cool Whip, but you could absolutely use homemade whipped cream. You can make homemade whipped cream by mixing heavy cream, a little bit of sugar, and some vanilla extract in a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until stiff peaks form.

Serving Variations

We think this Banana Pudding recipe is pretty much perfect, but if you want to change it up, we do have a few variations. You can use Nilla Wafers, or other vanilla wafer cookies, instead of the Chessman Cookies. Instead of placing the cookies whole on the top layer, you can crush them up and sprinkle the crumbs over the top. You can also serve this dessert in a large trifle dish. Start with a layer of cookies, then a layer of banana slices, then a layer of pudding mixture and repeat until the dish is full.

FAQ

Can I make this Banana Pudding Recipe ahead of time?

  • You can assemble the pudding layers about a day before serving, especially if you prefer the softer cookie texture. However you can make the pudding and cream cheese filling about three days in advance, then layer the fresh bananas and cookies together just before serving. To keep bananas from browning, especially when making ahead of time, lightly brush lemon juice on the banana slices. Try not to use too much though, as you don’t want to change the flavor of the pudding.
  • How do I store leftover Banana Pudding?

    Wait, what’s leftover banana pudding?? JK. In the unlikely even that you have leftover pudding, store it in the fridge in an airtight container, or covered with plastic wrap. Leftover banana pudding is my absolute favorite! The cookies soften a little on the second day and the flavors all blend together deliciously. In my humble opinion, it makes the most scrumptious mid-morning snack! It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.

    More Dreamy No Bake Desserts

    If you’ve tried this Banana Pudding recipe, you know that there’s no need to heat up the house for tasty treats! Try a few more and see for yourself.

    How to Make Four Layer Banana Pudding Dessert

    A baking dish of banana pudding with a yellow gingham towel and two bananas

    Four Layer Banana Pudding Dessert

    5 from 6 votes
    Four Layer Banana Pudding is stacked with bananas, pudding, cheesecake filling and crunchy cookies. This Paula Deen recipe is one of our favorite desserts and we’re so excited to share it with you.
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 0 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20 servings

    Video

    Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
      Vanilla pudding mix combined with milk in a large bowl
    • In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Stir until smooth. For best results, use an electric mixer. Fold in whipped topping.
      Sweetened condensed milk mixed with cream cheese
    • Add the two mixtures together and stir until well combined.
      Sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and cool whip mixed together in a large bowl
    • Line the bottom of a 9×13 pan with one layer of Chessmen cookies.
      Chessman cookies laid out on the bottom of a glass baking dish
    • Place sliced bananas on top of the cookie layer.
      Chessman cookies and banana slices layered in the bottom of a baking dish
    • Pour pudding mixture over the banana layer.
      Chessman cookies, banana slices and banana pudding layered in a glass baking dish
    • Top with another layer of Chessmen cookies.
      Banana pudding topped with Chessman cookies in a baking dish
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
      A scoop of banana pudding on a pink plate with two bananas in the background

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 422mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 320IUVitamin C: 3.6mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 1.5mg

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    About the author

    Echo Blickenstaff

    Echo lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah with her husband, Todd, who works in advertising, and her four kids: two girls and two boys. She deploys her accounting degree as the blog’s resident problem solver. In her time outside the kitchen, Echo loves to get away from the phones and busy schedules and spend quality time with the family. Anywhere’s great – but getting out into nature in the mountains or on the beach – is the best kind of getaway.

    More about Echo Blickenstaff

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    Comments

    1. 5 stars
      I haven’t made this recipe yet I rated it 5 stars for looks. However, I do plan to make it for Easter. Well lets say I plan to make it for Easter If people have left any food on the shelves at grocery stores. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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