We happen to have a soft spot for banana pudding!
This Nilla wafer banana pudding highlights our favorite flavor in one delicious dessert! With just a handful of simple ingredients and a quick prep time (20 minutes), it’s ready in no time. One of the BEST things about this treat is how it’s served!
We layered it in a trifle dish for a beautiful presentation and a perfect mix of flavors in every serving. It’s a showstopper for sure!! You could even make mini trifles in mason jars for a fun twist. Either way, this is irresistible and sure to be a crowd-pleaser!!
For more banana flavor favorites, try our Banana Pudding Poke Cake!
Why we think you’ll love it:
- For a crowd. A layered trifle lends itself to parties and crowds – perfect for sharing!
- A favorite flavor all year long. Enjoy banana pudding trifle at any celebration – it’s always in season.
- An easy preparation. While it looks stunning, the assembly is so simple – just 20 minutes of prep!
Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk – do not use evaporated milk
- 1 (5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix – or vanilla, banana, cream cheese, or white chocolate pudding powder. You must use INSTANT pudding for it to set correctly. Do not make the pudding according to the box, just use the powder in the recipe.
- 3 cups cold milk – Stick to whole milk or 2% for the creamiest pudding.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 (8-ounce) tubs whipped topping thawed – store-bought Cool Whip or 6 cups Homemade Whipped Cream
- 4 ripe bananas sliced – perfectly ripe (with just a few brown freckles on the peel), overripe bananas will be too mushy
- ½ (12-ounce) box vanilla wafers – or use Chessman cookies, Golden Oreo Thins, graham crackers, shortbread cookies, animal crackers, or butter cookies
- optional garnish – extra Vanilla Wafers, sliced bananas, chopped nuts, white chocolate shavings, or a dusting of cinnamon
How to Make Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding
- PUDDING. In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces of cream cheese until fluffy and with no clumps. Add 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 package pudding mix, 3 cups cold milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Add 8 ounces of whipped cream and FOLD until combined. Let chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- LAYER. Line the bottom of a trifle dish with vanilla wafers around the edge. Add half the pudding mixture and spread across, top with a layer of sliced bananas, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat.
- CHILL. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Top with the remaining wafers and banana slices if desired and serve.
Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 (8-ounce) tubs whipped topping thawed (or 6 cups homemade whipped cream)
- 4 bananas sliced
- ½ (12-ounce) box vanilla wafers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy and with no clumps. Add sweetened condensed milk, pudding mix, cold milk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Fold in 8 ounces of whipped cream and mix until combined. Let chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Line the bottom of a trifle dish with vanilla wafers around the edge. Add half the pudding mixture and spread across, topped with a layer of sliced bananas. Add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat layers. Nilla wafers – pudding mixture – bananas – whipped topping.
- Top with more wafers and banana slices if desired. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store it covered in the fridge. It tastes amazing one, two, or even three days later – a great make-ahead dessert.
Store leftover dessert in the covered trifle dish or spoon into individual airtight storage containers. Keep it in the fridge for 4-5 days.
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This recipe was originally published May 2019.
The only problem with this recipe is I don’t want to share it! 🙂 Just made it for Easter dessert this afternoon. My husband is not a dessert person, he tested it and loves it! It’s going to be a hit. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy your husband approved too! 😉
Ratio for serving size is odd.. I definitely don’t need 12 servings for me and my girlfriend. When you adjust servings it has a really weird calculation of ingredients needed.
You could try just halving the recipe. It may still leave you with a few leftovers if you are making enough for just 2, but it may be easier to figure out measurements just splitting everything in half.
Ratio for serving size is odd.. I definitely don’t need 12 servings for my girlfriend and I and anything less doesn’t even make sense..
This is not homemade. It’s adjusted store bought.
Doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. Just not homemade because you call it that.
This is the best recipe hands down! My sister asked me to make this for her birthday in place of cake. It was a huge hit at the party so much so that my husband and boys are asking for me to make again and my niece wanted it for her birthday party. Who knew cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk would be in this delicious dessert. Don’t make the quick and easy recipe, makes this and you won’t look back…
This is the best banana pudding I’ve ever made. And my family says it’s awesome! Thank you!
You’re welcome! So glad it was a hit with your family!
I followed this recipe perfectly, and the sweetened condensed milk make it too sweet, and ruined the whole recipe. We had to throw the whole thing out. Just a suggestion to omit the sweetened condensed milk.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
Wonderful recipe!
Thank you!!
So delicious and easy to make! I used banana pudding instead of vanilla, and whipped cream instead of cool whip. I added vanilla and sugar to the whip cream. I also used almost a whole box of vanilla wafers. Oops. Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m glad that you liked the recipe! Sounds like your substitutions turned out great too.
You are so talented in different crafts! Maintaining a blog like this isn’t easy. I once started a blog but due to hectic schedule at work, I left it outdated. Been busy working with some website projects these days and just dropped here for break and saw this yummy recipe.
I hope you enjoy the recipe! Best of luck with your blogging efforts as well. It is very rewarding, but definitely a lot of work too. 🙂