A symphony of flavors awaits your tastebuds with our delicious banana pudding bars — crunchy vanilla wafer crust, velvety banana pudding, and a creamy crown of whipped perfection. Elevate your dessert experience with every heavenly bite.
Inspired by my family’s favorite banana pudding, we present to you these delectable banana pudding bars! Banana Pudding Bars are the epitome of dessert perfection, combining the sweetness of ripe bananas, the creaminess of a luscious filling, and the satisfying crunch of a vanilla wafer crust.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through an easy-to-follow recipe that promises a heavenly dessert experience.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this Banana Pudding Bars recipe for its irresistible combination of creamy banana pudding, crunchy vanilla wafer crust, and easy preparation, offering a delightful and crowd-pleasing dessert experience that balances nostalgic comfort with a touch of culinary creativity.
Ingredients for Banana Pudding Bars
For the Vanilla Wafer Crust:
- 3 cups crushed vanilla wafers (1 box vanilla wafers)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
For the Banana Pudding Layer:
- 1 3.4 ounce box of banana pudding mix
- 2 cups of milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 bananas, sliced
For the Whipped Filling:
- 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
- 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla pudding mix
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon banana pudding mix
- 12 ounces of Cool Whip, thawed
- 11 ounce boxes vanilla wafers
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
Blend 1 box of the vanilla wafers in a food processor or blender until crumbs. Add the crushed wafers and ¼ cup of brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Combine with a fork. Add the melted butter to the mixture and combine with the fork until crumbly.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Bake in the oven for 8 minutes.
To make the banana pudding layer, in a medium pot pour the banana pudding mix and milk together
Turn the heat on medium heat and constantly whisk the mix until a thick pudding forms. Let cook on the heat while whisking for another 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla extract. Let the pudding cool for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
In another bowl, add the cream cheese. Use a hand mixer to blend together until softened and creamy. Add the sweetened condensed milk and blend together again until combined.
Now go in with the whole milk and vanilla and banana pudding mix. Blend once more until a thin mixture is created. Let this sit for 5 minutes so the pudding can get thick.
Then add the cool whip to the thickened mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula.
Once the crust is out of the oven and cooled, pour half of the whipped mixture into the dish.
Then pour the cooled banana pudding on top, spreading evenly again.
Layer the dish with thin slices of banana. Now pour the rest of the whipped banana filling on top of the bananas.
Finish the dessert with a layer of vanilla wafers.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow the whipped filling to set. Cut and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a different type of pudding mix for this recipe?
While the banana pudding mix adds a distinct flavor, feel free to experiment with your favorite pudding mix for a personalized touch.
Can I substitute the vanilla wafers with another type of cookie?
Absolutely! Get creative with your crust by trying different cookie varieties to suit your taste preferences.
How long can I store Banana Pudding Bars in the refrigerator?
These bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, maintaining their deliciousness and texture.
Indulge in the joy of creating Banana Pudding Bars that are not only a feast for the taste buds but also a testament to the delightful journey of culinary exploration. Share these bars with loved ones, and savor the sweet moments they bring. Here’s to many more years of delicious discoveries!
Banana Pudding Bars
Equipment
- 9×13 Rectangle Baking Dish
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
Vanilla Wafer Crust
- 3 cups crushed vanilla wafers, (1 box vanilla wafers)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Banana Pudding Layer
- 3.4 ounce box of banana pudding mix
- 2 cups of milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 bananas, sliced
Whipped Filling
- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla pudding mix
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon banana pudding mix
- 12 ounces of Cool whip, thawed
- 11 ounce box of vanilla wafers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- Blend 1 box of the vanilla wafers in a food processor or blender until crumbs.
- Add the crushed wafers and ¼ cup of brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Combine with a fork.
- Add the melted butter to the mixture and combine with the fork until crumbly.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake in the oven for 8 minutes.
- To make the banana pudding layer, in a medium pot pour the banana pudding mix and milk together
- Turn the heat on medium heat and constantly whisk the mix until a thick pudding forms
- Let cook on the heat while whisking for another 3 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla extract.
- Let the pudding cool for 10 minutes in the refrigerator
- In another bowl, add the cream cheese. Use a hand mixer to blend together until softened and creamy.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and blend together again until combined.
- Now go in with the whole milk and vanilla and banana pudding mix. Blend once more until a thin mixture is created. Let this sit for 5 minutes so the pudding can get thick.
- Then add the cool whip to the thickened mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula.
- Once the crust is out of the oven and cooled, pour half of the whipped mixture into the dish.
- Then pour the cooled banana pudding on top, spreading evenly again.
- Layer the dish with thin slices of banana. Now pour the rest of the whipped banana filling on top of the bananas.
- Finish the dessert with a layer of vanilla wafers.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow the whipped filling to set. Cut and enjoy!
