Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight – Sweet Layers of Love
Hey friends! Chef Jamie here—your friendly neighborhood chef, cooking buddy, and dessert aficionado. I’m beyond excited today to share one of my all-time favorite dessert recipes: Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight! Creamy, sweet layers of fresh strawberries and bananas, luscious vanilla pudding, and buttery Nilla wafers—this dessert is the definition of delicious nostalgia.
I’m telling you, this recipe will become your instant go-to dessert for family gatherings, potlucks, Sunday dinners, and quite honestly, anytime you’re craving something sweet and comforting. Ready to take your dessert game to the next level? Let’s dig in!
Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight
A Warm Memory: Grandma’s Picnic Pudding Magic
Growing up, there was nothing better than a lazy weekend picnic at the local park with my family and the whole neighborhood. My grandma, who was famous for her sweet treats, used to whip up her incredible banana pudding layered lovingly with fresh sliced strawberries. We’d set it down amongst the dishes on the picnic table, and within minutes, I kid you not, every spoonful would vanish. I’ll never forget the feeling of pride I felt watching everyone eagerly scoop seconds (or thirds!) and begging grandma to share her secret recipe.
Now, years later, I still make her pudding dessert whenever I need a heartfelt, crowd-winning treat. There’s just something so comforting about bringing people together with sweet layers of love, fruit, and deliciousness.
Ready to create your new favorite dessert? Here we go!
👩🍳 Ingredients for Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight
One trip to the grocery store, and you’ll have all the goodies you’ll need. Let’s check off our ingredient list:
– 4 ripe bananas, sliced into coins
– 3 cups of cold milk (whole or 2% works best for creaminess)
– 1 box of classic Nilla Wafers (about 11 ounces)
– 2 small boxes of instant French vanilla pudding (3.4 oz each box)
– 1 package cream cheese (8 oz), softened at room temp
– 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
– 1 container (12 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
– 1–2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
That’s it—easy, delicious goodness awaits us!
🍴 Step-by-Step Directions for Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight
Now it’s time for the best part: building your delicious banana strawberry masterpiece, layer by layer!
Step 1: Build the Crunchy Cookie Base
Grab a nice, clear 9×13 baking dish (glass is perfect because you can show off those gorgeous layers!) and line it with a single layer of Nilla Wafers. This crunchy layer is key to grabbing scoops later, trust me.
Step 2: Fruit Layers
Neatly layer your sliced bananas right on top of the wafers. Place half the strawberry slices evenly over the banana slices. Fruit never tasted so sweet!
Step 3: The Pudding Magic
In a mixing bowl, combine the cold milk and the two boxes of instant French vanilla pudding mix. Use your handheld mixer to blend everything together for a couple of minutes until it’s thick, fluffy, and smooth. Set aside for a sec while we prep the creamy mixture.
Step 4: Heavenly Cream Cheese Blend
In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the sweetened condensed milk until perfectly smooth. Gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip—no rush here, we’re looking for fluffy, dreamy results!
Step 5: Combine the Two Mixtures
Gently stir the cream cheese mixture into the pudding bowl. Use smooth, gentle motions—you’ll feel like a culinary wizard with this fluffy, heavenly filling!
Step 6: Layer and Chill
Pour the creamy pudding mixture evenly over your banana-strawberry layers. Smooth the top gracefully with a spatula. Place the remaining wafers neatly to decorate the top, arranging the rest of the strawberries beautifully along the edges. This gives your dessert that ‘treat-yourself’ bakery look without any added stress—win-win!
Step 7: Let Those Flavors Sing
Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours. (If you can wait overnight, it becomes even tastier. But let’s be honest—it’s tough!) Letting it sit helps the layers meld together, turning this dessert into a creamy, fruity symphony of flavors.
🍓 Serving Suggestions – Make it Special!
You’re done! When it’s time to dig in, grab ice cream bowls or colorful dessert plates, and scoop generous portions—the creaminess and vibrant fruit colors speak for themselves. Feeling fancy? Add a sprig of fresh mint. Throwing a kids’ party? Add a few colorful sprinkles on top for extra fun. It’s as versatile and lovable as grandma herself!
💡 Chef Jamie’s Pro Tips for Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight
Over my many pudding adventures, I’ve discovered a few winning tips for a flawless dessert every time:
– Choose bananas with slight ripeness—not too brown, but sweet enough for lots of natural sugar flavor.
– Slicing strawberries thin will let every bite hold a magical berry punch.
– Want to switch things up? Consider using graham crackers instead of wafers or even experimenting with different berries like blueberries to create your unique spin.
– Use a clear dish if you have one; those layers are gorgeous!
– Don’t skip the refrigeration time—the wait is truly worth it.
💪 Nutritional Information (per serving)
Each generous serving is creamy, sweet, and satisfying. It’s definitely a treat-yourself dessert, but remember—good things come in moderation!
– Calories: approx. 420 kcal
– Carbohydrates: 55g
– Protein: 7g
– Fat: 20g
– Sugar: 38g
– Fiber: 2g
🥄 Prep & Nutrition Info Cheat Sheet
– Prep Time: 20 minutes, plus chill time
– Servings: Approximately 12 generous helpings
– Texture: Creamy, dreamy, fruity with crunchy wafers
– Perfect For: Parties, potlucks, family gatherings, weekend treats, or anytime happiness is needed!
✨ Time to Delight Your Guests (and Yourself)!
And there you have it—my Grandma’s Banana Strawberry Pudding Delight, straight from my heart to yours. I promise you, once you whip up this dessert, guests will ask you to share the recipe, kids will smile, and you’ll feel warm fuzzies knowing you’ve created something truly special. Enjoy the sweet layers of love, friends—happy cooking!
Until next time, take care and stay sweet!
Warmest wishes,
PrintBanana Strawberry Pudding Delight
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
4 bananas, sliced
3 cups milk
1 box Nilla Wafers
2 small boxes instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 oz) container Cool Whip
1–2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
Layer the Base: Line a 9×13 dish with Nilla Wafers.
Add Fruit: Evenly layer banana slices over the wafers. Add half of the sliced strawberries on top.
Make the Pudding Mix: Blend milk and pudding mix with a handheld mixer until thick.
Creamy Blend: In another bowl, mix cream cheese with condensed milk until smooth. Gently fold in Cool Whip.
Combine Mixtures: Stir the cream cheese mixture into the pudding until well blended.
Assemble: Pour the creamy pudding mix over the banana layer. Top with remaining wafers and arrange the rest of the strawberries around the edges for a pretty finish.
Chill: Refrigerate until ready to serve—best after a few hours for the flavors to come together.
Nutrition
- Calories: 420 per serving
- Sugar: 38g per serving
- Fat: 20g per serving
- Carbohydrates: 55g per serving
- Fiber: 2g per serving
- Protein: 7g per serving
