I recently whipped up these incredible banana pudding parfaits, and let me tell you, they’re an absolute delight!
Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, ripe bananas, and crispy vanilla wafers come together in one heavenly dessert.
Each spoonful delivers the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy textures.
Even banana dessert naysayers will swoon!
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Why You’ll Love This Banana Pudding Parfait
No-Bake Bliss: Skip the hot oven! With convenient ingredients and simple steps, you can enjoy this effortless dessert without any fuss.
Visually Appealing: The striking layers make for an Instagram-worthy presentation that will wow your guests, guaranteed.
Nostalgic Taste: This Southern classic evokes childhood memories while creating new ones. It’s the kind of dessert that gets passed down through generations.
Make-Ahead: Prepare this parfait the night before and pop it in the fridge. Easy peasy.
Ingredients
- Ripe Bananas: Add natural sweetness and a soft, creamy texture. Use ripe, but not overripe bananas.
- Instant Pudding Mix: Use vanilla or banana cream for the base of the creamy filling.
- Cold Milk: For a smooth and thick pudding consistency. For a creamier flavor, use whole milk.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds extra sweetness and a luscious, velvety texture to the pudding.
- Cream Cheese: Thickens the filling and offers its signature tang.
- Whipped Topping: Folded into the pudding mixture to create a fluffy and creamy layer.
- Vanilla Wafers: Add a delightful crunchy contrast to the creamy pudding and soft bananas. You can use any cookie you like, really.
- Whipped Cream: The finishing tough to make them extra pretty!
How to Make Banana Pudding Parfait
Whether served in individual parfait glasses or a large trifle bowl, this timeless dessert is guaranteed to bring smiles to your family gathering or dinner party.
Easy to make and beautifully layered, it’s a crowd-pleaser for all ages!
1. BEAT the instant pudding mix and cold milk in a large bowl with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until thickened. Set aside.
2. MIX the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese in a separate bowl until smooth. Combine gently with the pudding by hand.
3. FOLD the whipped topping into the pudding mixture until no streaks remain.
4. ASSEMBLE parfaits by layering pudding, chopped cookies, and sliced bananas in glasses or jars. Ensure the bananas are covered with pudding.
5. CHILL covered with plastic wrap for 4–8 hours.
6. WHIP the heavy cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Top each parfait with whipped cream.
7. GARNISH with freshly sliced bananas and enjoy!
Tips For the Best Banana Pudding Parfait
This Southern dessert is a beloved classic for a reason – it’s delish!
All the creamy and crunchy layers are extraordinary. Perfect for sharing or indulging as an afternoon pick-me up.
But before you eat, I have some tips worth reading.
- Ripe but firm. Use ripe but firm bananas to ensure they hold their shape and provide optimal sweetness.
- Chill overnight. Chilling the dessert overnight allows more time for the flavors to meld and wafers to soften.
- Double the banana. For a bigger banana flavor, use banana pudding instead of vanilla.
- Try homemade. For a homemade touch, make your own vanilla pudding from scratch instead of using an instant mix.
- Presentation tip. For an elegant presentation, arrange some whole cookies around the sides and on top of the parfait glasses.
- Even more layers. Instead of mixing the pudding with the cream cheese and whipped topping, spoon it into the glasses as is. That’ll give you more color and more layers to enjoy.
- Banana drama. Keep them from browning by brushing them with lemon juice. And remember to cover them fully when chilling.
- Mix things up. For extra flavor and texture, consider adding layers of caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or chopped nuts. You can also experiment with different fruits, such as strawberries or blueberries.
How to Store
These banana pudding parfaits are the perfect make-ahead dessert…but not too far ahead!
The bananas will turn brown eventually, so I don’t recommend more than overnight.
To Store: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
If you want to make this further ahead (1-2 days), skip the bananas in the layers and just add them fresh on top for serving.