Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding Recipe
Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding is a classic Southern dessert featuring layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fresh banana slices, and crunchy vanilla wafers, all combined with whipped cream for a delightfully smooth and indulgent treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Pudding Mixture
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1½ cups ice cold water
- 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix (Jell-O brand recommended)
- 3 cups heavy cream
Additional Ingredients
- 11 oz box vanilla wafers (Nabisco Nilla Wafers recommended)
- 5 ripe bananas, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the Pudding Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and ice-cold water. Stir thoroughly until well mixed. Add the instant vanilla pudding mix and whisk for about 2 minutes until the mixture thickens and is smooth.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. This should take about 3-5 minutes on medium-high speed.
- Combine Cream with Pudding Base: Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture, ensuring it is fully incorporated but still light and fluffy.
- Layer the Pudding: In a large trifle bowl or 9×13 inch dish, start with a layer of vanilla wafers on the bottom. Add a layer of sliced bananas evenly over the wafers. Pour a layer of the pudding and whipped cream mixture over the bananas. Repeat the layers (wafers, bananas, pudding) until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of pudding on top.
- Chill the Dessert: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the wafers to soften slightly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Just before serving, you can optionally garnish the top with additional sliced bananas or crushed vanilla wafers for added texture and presentation.
Notes
- Using ripe bananas is key for natural sweetness and flavor.
- Make sure the heavy cream and water are cold to achieve the best whipping and pudding texture.
- The pudding thickens quickly, so work efficiently when combining ingredients.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute half and half for heavy cream, but the texture will be less rich.
- Banana pudding is best served chilled and will last for 2-3 days refrigerated.
Keywords: banana pudding, Magnolia Bakery, vanilla pudding, banana dessert, no bake dessert, layered pudding, vanilla wafers