Best Banana Pudding
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whip Up the Homemade Cream 🍦✨
- In a chilled large mixing bowl, pour in your 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream, ½ cup of powdered sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer equipped with a whisk attachment, beat the cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Set this fresh whipped cream aside in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Make the Velvety Pudding Mixture 🍮🥣
- In a separate large bowl, beat the 8 oz of softened cream cheese and 1 can of sweetened condensed milk together until completely smooth and lump-free.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix and 2 cups of cold whole milk for about 2 minutes until it begins to thicken.
- Pour the thickened pudding into the cream cheese mixture and fold them together until completely uniform.
- Carefully fold in half of your prepared homemade whipped cream. This turns a standard heavy pudding into an incredibly light, cloud-like mousse! Save the remaining half of the whipped cream for the top layer.
Step 3: Layer It Like a Pro! 🏗️🍌
Grab a 9×13-inch glass baking dish or a large glass trifle bowl to show off those beautiful layers!
- The First Layer: Line the bottom of your dish with an even layer of Nilla Wafers.
- The Fruit: Top the cookies with a generous layer of sliced ripe bananas.
- The Cream: Spread half of your velvety pudding mixture smoothly over the banana layer.
- Repeat: Add another layer of Nilla Wafers, followed by the remaining banana slices, and top with the rest of the pudding mixture.
- The Finale: Spread your remaining pure whipped cream over the top layer. Crush up a few extra Nilla Wafers and sprinkle the crumbs alongside whole cookies across the top for a gorgeous, bakery-style finish! 🎨🫓
