I must admit, I’d been living under a rock and had never tried Banana Pudding before I came up with this recipe. I know, hard to believe. And maybe even harder to believe that I came up with this recipe on the fly one Christmas Eve morning, while wracking my brain on what to take to my mother in laws for Christmas Dinner. Knowing there would be many savory traditional dishes served, I opted for a dessert. People bring desserts to potlucks all the time, because it’s easy and who doesn’t love a good dessert table at a gathering? But let’s face it, they’re usually store bought and not the best. 

This dessert is easy to make, homemade and a showstopper! This recipe is a cross between Banana Cream Pie and Banana Pudding, it’s not traditional by any means but equally delicious and creative. So popular with my family that it has become one the most requested desserts for every gathering. We enjoy it all year around, for special occasions from holidays to birthdays. It has even taken the place of cake at birthdays, hence why we refer to it as The Birthday Pudding, it’s oh so very good! 

Also, a great option for those who don’t like chocolate desserts but want something rich, creamy, and decadent. Made with layer after layer of fresh bananas, creamy vanilla pudding, crunchy crumbled cookies and topped with whipped cream and walnuts are optional. It’s silky, crunchy, and creamy, need I say more? 

The best part, it comes together in 30 minutes and requires no baking, it’s a great dessert to make during these warmer summer months. It’s an easy and quick version of the southern classic Banana Pudding and although it’s not traditional, it will soon become a tradition in your family.

Does this Banana Cream Pie Dessert store well?

Bananas aren’t the easiest to keep fresh, so this dessert is perfect to make for a crowd or gathering because chances are you will not have any leftovers to store. However, I have to say that on a rare occasion, I have had some left for the next day (maybe I made too much) and it did not store well. But please do not let this hinder you from making this recipe, make some adjustments to scale down the recipe if you’re not feeding a crowd or omit the bananas all together. 

If you want to make this but aren’t keen on using fresh bananas for any reason, a great way to still have the banana flavor is by using instant banana pudding mix instead of vanilla pudding. 

Keep in mind that the cookies will lose their crunch between the layers the longer it sits. And what makes a dish great, whether it’s dessert or anything else, is the contrast in textures. 

So, it’s important for every ingredient to keep its integrity throughout the dish. It’s pleasing to the palate and makes the experience of eating this dessert even richer. 

My advice is to make this a few hours before the gathering or event and enjoy the same day. Some things in life are best enjoyed in the moment and not left for later. 

Happy Eating!

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No-Bake Banana Cream Pie with Fresh Bananas

BY ERICA GAMBOA

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SERVES: 10-12 | Difficulty: Easy

PREP TIME: 30 minutes COOK TIME: 2 hours TOTAL TIME: 2 hours 30 minutes

Tips 

Presentation

When assembling a layered dessert, especially when you are using a glass serving dish or trifle; it is very important to keep the layers as neat and clean as possible. Aesthetically speaking, this dessert is a visual masterpiece and I get excited when I make this dessert, so I can get a little heavy handed sometimes. I need to remind myself to slow down and take my time. I clean as I go, wiping away any excess around the edges with a clean wet paper towel or clean wet kitchen towel. 

It’s important to take your time while layering each ingredient so that each layer is visible through your glass dish. It makes for a beautiful and impressive presentation. 

Using a Trifle Dish

I recommend using a trifle dish, if you don’t have one, other containers that will work well are a punch bowl, glass mixing bowl or clear ice bucket. 

Feeling Creative

If you are feeling creative, try making these in mini-individual trifles or shot glasses. These individual dessert shooters make a gorgeous and tasty addition to any treat table for a baby shower, bridal shower, wedding, or birthday party. You will surely wow your guests with these.

Alternatives & Substitutions

As we know, bananas don’t have a long shelf life, if you don’t want the hassle or stress of bruised bananas, use an instant banana flavored pudding mix instead. For those of you who love an intense banana flavor, use the banana flavored pudding mix and the fresh bananas. It’s delightful this way also.

Cookie Alternatives

Other cookies that will work great in this recipe also are listed below. My favorite variation in this recipe is made with Biscoff cookies.

• Honey Graham Crackers
• Nilla Wafers
• Pepperidge Farm Chessman Butter Cookies
• Biscoffs
• Ginger Snaps
• Shortbread

Nutrition Facts | Calories per serving – 268

SERVINGS: 10-12

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