Description
This Strawberry Banana Pudding is a creamy and fruity layered dessert perfect for any occasion. It combines homemade vanilla pudding with fresh bananas, strawberries, and crunchy vanilla wafers, topped with whipped cream for an indulgent yet refreshing treat. Chilled for several hours, the flavors meld beautifully to create a delightful and comforting dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Pudding
- 1 package (5.1 oz) vanilla pudding mix or homemade vanilla pudding
- 2 3/4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream (for extra creaminess)
- 1/2 cup sugar (optional, depending on desired sweetness)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings and Layers
- 4-5 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 box vanilla wafers (or your choice of cookies)
- 2 cups whipped cream or Cool Whip (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Make the Pudding: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix, whole milk, heavy cream, and sugar if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until thickened, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the pudding to cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Prepare the Fruit: While the pudding cools, slice the bananas and strawberries. To keep the bananas from browning, slice them just before assembling the pudding layers. Set the fruit aside.
- Assemble the Pudding: In a large trifle dish or individual serving cups, start with a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom. Add a layer of sliced bananas, then spoon a layer of the prepared vanilla pudding over the bananas. Follow with a layer of sliced strawberries. Repeat these layers—cookies, bananas, pudding, and strawberries—until the dish is full, finishing with a layer of pudding on top.
- Top with Whipped Cream: Spread whipped cream or Cool Whip over the top layer of pudding for creaminess and a decorative finish. Optionally, garnish with extra strawberry slices or crushed vanilla wafers to add texture.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the assembled pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or, preferably, overnight. Chilling allows the pudding to set properly and the flavors to meld. Serve the pudding chilled and enjoy this creamy, fruity dessert.
Notes
- For best results, slice bananas just before assembling to prevent browning.
- You can substitute vegan whipped topping for a dairy-free version, but pudding mix must also be dairy-free if needed.
- Optional sugar can be adjusted or omitted if using sweetened pudding mix.
- This dessert is best served chilled and consumed within 2 days for optimal freshness.
- Feel free to swap vanilla wafers with other cookies like graham crackers or shortbread for variation.
