A quick take on a Southern classic, this 3 ingredient banana pudding recipe will knock your socks off! This recipe takes just minutes to make, and the resulting sweet and creamy banana flavor will have you craving it every night of the week.
There’s something nostalgic about a big bowl of pudding, and the layers of fresh bananas and thin wafer cookies make this a perfect light summer dessert.
All you need are bananas, vanilla pudding mix, and cool whip! Blend everything together, serve it up however you like, then kick back and relax. This is a great no-mess-no-fuss dessert that’s perfect for a weeknight, the weekend, or as an everyday treat!
The best part about this recipe is just how easy it is. With only three ingredients required, this means only minutes stand between you and a family-sized portion of this sweet treat.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Bananas
- Vanilla pudding mix
- Cool whip
- Vanilla-flavored cookie wafers (optional)
Here are all the tools you will need to make this banana pudding:
- Blender
- Spatula
- Plastic ziploc bag (optional, to crush cookie crumbs)
How To Make 3 Ingredient Banana Pudding
The steps required to make this 3 ingredient banana pudding are pretty simple. You just blend everything together and serve it how you like! In only a couple minutes, you’ll be spooning out this sweet treat to your hungry guests. It will take you longer to clean the blender!
Now, here are the steps required to make this banana pudding:
Step 1: Blend All Ingredients
Add your cool whip, bananas, and vanilla pudding powder in your blender. Blend until well combined. You may need to stop midway to scrape the sides of the blender with a spatula.
Once the pudding is all blended, pour the contents into a bowl and keep it in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour for it to settle.
Step 2: Layer Your Pudding
To make a traditional version of this Southern classic, you’ll want to layer your banana pudding. To do this, grab some clear jars or glasses and place bananas on the bottom, followed by pudding, then optional wafer cookies.
Repeat this until you reach the top of the glass. Finish with a thick layer of banana pudding and optional cookie crumbs.
Making Cookie Crumbs (Optional):
To make cookie crumbs, simply put some wafer cookies in a ziploc. Seal the ziploc most of the way, leaving a small air hole. Using your hands or a rolling pin, crush the cookies into crumbs.
Ways To Modify This Banana Pudding Recipe
This simple sweet treat is great for sharing with family and friends. As easy as this recipe is, you can make it a little differently every time. Here are some of the ways I recommend:
Chocolate Banana Pudding
Swap vanilla pudding for chocolate pudding mix and add a chocolate sauce drizzle.
Berry Banana Pudding
Blend seasonal berries into the pudding mix and layer with your bananas.
Peanut Butter Banana Pudding
Blend 2 tablespoons of peanut butter into the pudding mix and layer between the pudding layers.
Caramel Banana Pudding
A fun take on creamy tres leches, just add a caramel drizzle between the pudding layers.
Oreo Banana Pudding
Use crushed Oreos in place of vanilla-flavored cookies.
Extra Banana-Licious Pudding
Swap vanilla pudding mix for banana pudding flavor for even more banana-awesomeness.
Other Versions Of This Recipe
This recipe is super versatile, and can easily be altered to suit numerous dietary restrictions.
To make this recipe paleo and vegan:
Swap the cool whip with coconut whip cream. Many grocery stores now carry this vegan alternative.
To make this recipe keto:
Keto whipped cream is easy to make! It’s essentially homemade whip cream with stevia in place of powdered sugar. Here is the recipe:
Keto Whipped Cream Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon powdered stevia
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Keto Whipped Cream Steps:
Using a food processor, blender, or hand mixer, beat the ingredients together until soft peaks form. Store the whipped cream in an airtight container in the freezer for an hour before using.
To make this recipe without cool whip:
If cool whip isn’t your thing, you can make your own homemade whip cream by following the recipe above. If you’re not on a keto diet or trying to reduce sugar intake, consider swapping the stevia for powdered sugar.
Using Jello Pudding Mix:
Jello pudding powder is a great option as it comes in so many flavors and is easy to use. I recommend using 1 package per recipe. Remember to buy “Instant” Jello and not “Cook & Serve.”
Can You Make This Banana Pudding Ahead of Time?
You sure can! This recipe is the definition of convenient. You can easily make this recipe ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready.
If the pudding is really firm by the time you pull it out, just let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes and it will thaw quickly.
Can You Freeze Banana Pudding?
That’s the best part about cool whip! Not only does storing your banana pudding in the freezer retain flavor, but it takes only minutes to get cold and super thick.
I recommend storing your banana pudding in an airtight container and keeping in the freezer for up to a month. Your leftover banana pudding can be stored the same way.
Other Tips & Tricks
One of my favorite ways to make this recipe is to use frozen bananas, which helps save time on waiting for the pudding to settle.
When layering your banana pudding, facing the banana slices outwards will make the layers more defined.
3 Ingredient Banana Pudding
You’ll love this simple 3 ingredient banana pudding! It’s a quick and easy take on a Southern classic. This banana pudding is loaded with flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. With just 3 ingredients and 2 steps required, you’ll be done in no time!
Ingredients
- Bananas
- Vanilla pudding mix
- Cool whip
- Vanilla-flavored cookie wafers (optional)
Instructions
- Add 2 bananas, cool whip and pudding mix into a blender. Blend until well combined.
- Place in a container and store in the fridge for 30 minutes-1 hour to firm up
- Serve with optional wafer cookies and enjoy!
Notes
This is the perfect summer day dessert, as it doesn’t require you to work over a hot stove and wait hours for the pudding to cool. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a family-sized portion of this perfect creamy sweet treat. Serve this banana cream pudding with wafer cookies and sliced bananas, then kick back and relax!
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.