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Southern Banana Pudding Recipe With Instant Pudding

Easy Instant Banana Pudding Recipe The Soul Food Way

This instant banana pudding recipe comes together with a bit of modern convenience. Instead of cooking pudding from scratch, we’re using instant pudding mix for a quicker, no-fuss version that still delivers that same down-home Southern flavor!
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food
Servings: 12
Calories: 327kcal
Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

  • Whisk to make the instant pudding
  • 2-quart glass bowl (preferably with a lid) Or 9"x13" baking dish (preferably with a lid)

Ingredients

  • 3 bananas ripe and sliced into banana rounds
  • 2 cups milk cold
  • 4.6 oz. vanilla pudding instant pudding
  • 8 oz. whipped cream 1 container
  • 8 oz. cream cheese 1 container, whipped-version
  • 11 oz. Nilla Wafers 1 box and ¼ cup of crumbled Nilla Wafers cookies

Instructions

  • Prepare the instant pudding according to the instructions on the box, using milk, and set it aside in the refrigerator.
  • Mix the whipped topping and cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  • Line the bottom and sides of a baking pan or dish with Nilla Wafers cookies.
  • Add a layer of banana slices over the Nilla Wafers.
  • Using a small spatula, spread the vanilla pudding evenly over the bananas.
  • Add a layer of the whipped topping and cream cheese mixture over the pudding layer.
  • Repeat the above steps for a second layer of cookies, bananas, pudding, and whipped topping.
  • Sprinkle the ¼ cup of crumbled cookies over the top layer of whipped cream.
  • Allow the banana pudding to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
  • Banana pudding is easiest to slice after being refrigerated, then serve, and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 468IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 0.1mg

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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