Joanna Gaines Banana Pudding Recipe
Do you love desserts that feel like a warm hug? This Joanna Gaines Banana Pudding Recipe is the ultimate treat for your family. It is creamy, sweet, and incredibly easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups ice-cold water
- 1 3.4-ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 11-ounce box Nilla Wafers (vanilla wafer cookies)
- 4 to 5 large ripe bananas sliced into rounds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional for extra flavor
Instructions
Mix the Base
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and ice-cold water. Ensure they are fully combined. Then, add the instant vanilla pudding mix. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
Chill the Pudding
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes. It needs to become firm. This step is vital for the structure of your dessert. Don’t skip the chilling time!
Whip the Cream
- In a separate chilled bowl, pour in the heavy whipping cream. Use an electric mixer on high speed. Beat the cream until stiff peaks form. This means the cream stands up straight when you lift the beaters.
Fold the Mixtures
- Take the pudding base out of the fridge. Gently fold in the whipped cream using a spatula. Do not stir too hard. You want to keep the air in the cream to keep it light.
Start the First Layer
- Grab your glass dish or trifle bowl. Place a single layer of Nilla Wafers at the bottom. Make sure they cover the surface well. This acts as the "crust" for your beautiful pudding layers.
Add the Bananas
- Arrange a layer of sliced bananas over the cookies. Try to keep the slices even in thickness. This ensures every bite has a bit of fruit. Use about one-third of your banana slices here.
Spread the Cream
- Spoon one-third of the pudding mixture over the bananas. Use your spatula to spread it to the edges. Ensure the cookies and fruit are completely covered. This helps the cookies soften up later.
Repeat the Layers
- Continue layering cookies, then bananas, and then the pudding. Repeat this process until you reach the top of the dish. Usually, three layers fit perfectly in a standard trifle bowl or glass dish.
Garnish and Chill
- Top the final layer of pudding with crushed Nilla Wafers. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Overnight is even better for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use Cold Water: Always use very cold water for the pudding mix. This helps it set much faster.
- Ripe Bananas: Choose bananas that are yellow with a few brown spots. They are sweeter and softer than green ones.
- Add Toppings: You can drizzle a little caramel sauce on top for extra decadence.
- Individual Servings: Try making these in small mason jars for parties. They look adorable and are easy to serve.
- Lemon Juice Trick: If you are worried about bananas browning, toss them in a little lemon juice first.
- Chocolate Version: Swap vanilla pudding for chocolate pudding to create a "Black and White" banana dessert.