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{Magnolia Bakery’s} Banana Pudding

No Bake Desserts

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This is the famous Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe, made with a creamy banana pudding using sweetened condensed milk. Layers of banana pudding, homemade whipped cream, bananas, and vanilla wafers make up this delicious classic dessert. 

favorite southern banana pudding with whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk served on a white plate

I first posted this recipe back in 2015, about 6 months after my last trip to Manhattan. At that time, I had hoped I would be able to visit NYC every couple of years. But life had other plans, and here we are, 6 years later, and I still haven’t been back since. 

I’m feeling nostalgic and have the travel itch currently, and since visiting Manhattan might still be a little ways off, I decided it was time to update this post with brand new photos and some more detailed information about how to make this Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding at home.

While there is no substitute to actually being at a Magnolia Bakery and eating their gorgeous desserts in magical NYC, making their easy banana pudding recipe is a great way to temporarily satisfy the craving. 

Get ready to have your life changed with this smooth banana pudding loaded with vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and whipped cream. It would make a fabulous Easter dessert too!

layered banana pudding recipe with whipped cream and crushed vanilla wafers in a white casserole dish

Let’s Talk About Why I Love This Recipe:

  • Magnolia Bakery: This famous bakery got its start in the West Village in NYC. Everything they make is practically gold, and the last time I visited Manhattan, I got this banana pudding 3 times (in 3 days 🤣).
  • A very simple recipe: While I love a banana pudding from scratch, there is no doubt that this easy banana pudding version is just as good, if not better. Trust me on this.
  • It’s versatile! I keep this recipe very classic (and follow Magnolia Bakery’s ingredients and  instructions), but you could add in different cookies, add in caramel, add in chocolate chips, ground cinnamon, etc.
  • It makes a lot: You can serve a lot of people with this recipe, which makes it a wonderful summertime dessert for a family gathering.
  • It’s amazing. This is one recipe that all banana lovers are going to flip for. It’s like the best banana cream pie filling you’ve ever had.

Other Banana Recipes to Try Next:

  • Banana Coconut Cream Pie: banana cream pie meets coconut cream pie to make the best graham cracker crusted cream pie.
  • Maple Glazed Banana Bread: moist banana bread topped with a maple glaze
  • Banana Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: crushed vanilla wafers are actually used in the cake batter!
  • Hummingbird Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting: a southern cake classic made with bananas, pecans, pineapple and cream cheese frosting!

banana pudding ingredients on a marble board

Easy Banana Pudding Ingredients:

  • cold water: or room temperature water—you just don’t want hot water
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • instant vanilla pudding mix: make sure you get instant (not stove top), and definitely use vanilla pudding mix. Banana pudding mix has a bit of a fake banana flavor.
  • heavy whipping cream: you’ll use this for both the pudding and whipped cream on top
    • *In the original recipe, you mix all of the whipped cream into the pudding. I save a little bit to serve on top of the pudding. 
  • bananas: use bananas that are ripe, but not banana-bread-ripe. You need the bananas to have a bit of hardness to them to hold up against the pudding.
  • vanilla wafers: this is a classic cookie choice, but you could use graham crackers, shortbread cookies, golden oreos, etc. 

How to Make Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding Recipe:

  • the cold water and sweetened condensed milk are mixed together with a hand mixer or standing mixer for 1 minute. You need the power a hand mixer or standing mixer provides to whip this well.
  • Next, add in the instant pudding. Mix it with a mixer for 2 minutes.
  • Then, chill for 4 hours (or up to 8 hours). The pudding needs this chill time to truly set up properly.
  • Make whipped cream. Reserve 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
  • Fold half of the whipped cream into the banana pudding, gently folding until well combined.
  • Layer the baking dish with vanilla wafers, pudding, sliced bananas, whipped cream.
  • Chill leftovers.

vanilla wafer cookies in a white baking dish on a gray board

Can I Make Banana Pudding Ahead of Time?

  • Yes, you can make this ahead of time, but banana pudding does need to be eaten fairly quickly. 
  • I suggest if you make it ahead of time, to make it only one day in advance. And, if possible, assemble very close to serving.
    • the bananas will start to brown if you don’t eat it within 24 hours
    • the vanilla wafers will become soggy too
  • However, the pudding will last longer without the bananas and vanilla wafers if you really need to make this 2 days in advance or so.
    • at the last minute, assemble with bananas and cookies. 

smooth banana pudding smoothed over vanilla wafers in a white baking dish

How To Serve:

  • Magnolia Bakery serves their banana pudding in a cup with all ingredients mixed together. 
  • You can serve in a bowl or baking dish, with everything mixed together.
  • You can serve with everything layered (like I did: wafers on the bottom, half of the pudding over the top, a layer of bananas, the rest of the pudding on top, whipped cream, and crushed wafer crumbs).
  • Make into one large trifle, or serve in individual trifle glasses.
  • If using a casserole/baking dish, I suggest using a 9×9, 11×7, or 13×9. 

sliced bananas on top of banana pudding in a white baking dish

3 Steps To Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding

  • Pudding: Again, this is not banana pudding from scratch, but it truly is comparable to the flavor. It’s made with sweetened condensed milk, water, and instant vanilla pudding mix.
  • Homemade Whipped Cream: heavy whipping cream is whipped to soft peaks, and it’s used in both the pudding and as the topping. Because of the sweetened condensed milk in the pudding mixture, you don’t need any additional sugar in the whipped cream.
  • Vanilla Wafers and Bananas: These mix in perfectly with the custard filling. 

easy banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery served on a white dish with a tan and lace napkin

Variations:

  • This is the original Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe, so any of these variations will make this taste different than the original. 
  • Cookies: While I love a Nilla wafer banana pudding recipe, you could use gingersnaps, golden oreos, shortbread cookies, graham crackers, etc.
  • Pudding: Personally, I don’t like instant banana pudding, but you can use it. You can also use butterscotch, caramel, french vanilla, etc.
  • Add ins: Because this is Magnolia Bakery’s famous banana pudding, I kept the recipe the exact same. However, other mix-ins, like chocolate chips, candy bars, toffee bits, coconut, etc. 

creamy banana pudding with whipped cream, vanilla wafer cookies, and bananas on a white plate

Final Tips & Tricks to Making this Easy Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery!

  • Use bananas that are not overly ripe. The bananas you would use for banana bread? Use them for banana bread. Banana pudding needs a banana that can hold up to the pudding.
  • Use Vanilla instant pudding mix (not stovetop pudding mix)
  • Once completely assembled, eat within 24-48 hours, otherwise the bananas and wafers will get soggy.
  • Ideally, assemble this banana pudding dessert right before serving; however, you can make the pudding (without the wafers and bananas) ahead of time and assemble the rest of it later. 

 

5 from 10 votes
easy banana pudding recipe with fresh whipped cream and bananas on a white plate
Print
{Magnolia Bakery’s} Banana Pudding
Prep Time
4 hrs 30 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
 

This is the famous Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe, made with a creamy banana pudding using sweetened condensed milk. Layers of banana pudding, homemade whipped cream, bananas, and vanilla wafers make up this delicious classic dessert. 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana pudding
Servings: 12 Servings
Author: Michelle
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (3.4) oz instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 4 large bananas, sliced
  • 1 (12 oz) box vanilla wafers
Instructions
  1. With a standing mixer or a hand mixer, beat cold water and sweetened condensed milk until combined. 

  2. Add in instant vanilla pudding mix, and beat until combined, about 2 minutes. 

  3. Cover the pudding mixture and refrigerate for 4 hours (you have to chill the pudding, otherwise it will not set up properly). 

  4. After the pudding is set, make the whipped cream. Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream until it reaches the consistency of whipped cream, about 4-5 minutes on med-high speed. 

  5. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of whipped cream, if you want to spread some on top. (If not, mix all of it into the pudding.)

  6. Fold the remaining whipped cream into the pudding, gently folding until fully incorporated. 

  7. In your serving dish, layer vanilla wafers, sliced bananas, and pudding. Top with reserved whipped cream, and sprinkle with vanilla wafer crumbs, if desired.

  8. Refrigerate until ready to serve (I suggest assembling this dessert just before you plan on serving, or within a few hours, if possible, otherwise the bananas and wafers will get soggy).

Recipe Notes

Recipe from Magnolia Bakery. 

 

Originally posted 2015; updated 2021.

homemade banana pudding with whipped cream, bananas and vanilla wafers on a plate photo collage

 

Here are some other favorites to try next:

Mini Turtle Cheesecakes

caramel topped mini cheesecakes with ganache and pecans

No Bake Lemon Cream Pie

Lemon Blueberry Cream Pie

blueberry lemon cream pie slice on blue plate

 

Shared by Michelle

Comments

  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    February 18, 2015 at 5:31 am

    5 stars
    Banana pudding is my ultimate weakness! I absolutely love it, but never think to make it. I definitely need to change that after seeing this recipe! Looks so delicious!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      February 18, 2015 at 10:21 am

      Me too! Thanks, Gayle! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    February 18, 2015 at 10:06 am

    5 stars
    This is perfect!! I love banana pudding. So pretty too!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      February 18, 2015 at 10:21 am

      Thanks, Dorothy! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jen and Emily @ Layers of Happiness says

    February 18, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    5 stars
    I have had dreams of trying Mangolia’s banana pudding for as long as I can remember… and we are going to New York this summer so I’m so glad to hear that it’s worth all the hype! But until then… I’ll totally be indulging in your homemade version. 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      February 18, 2015 at 4:36 pm

      It is so worth the hype! 🙂 Thanks so much!

      Reply
  4. Medha @ Whisk & Shout says

    February 18, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    5 stars
    I love how minimal the ingredients for this recipe are! So delicious 🙂

    Reply
  5. Annie @ ciaochowbambina says

    February 24, 2015 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    I know already this is going to be one of my favorites!! This sounds divine! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      February 28, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      Thanks, Annie! 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Michelle and this is where you'll witness my baking addiction. I bleed coffee and breathe sugar. Come join me as I journey through life one recipe at a time! READ MORE
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