Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding

Teresa Ambra

Here’s a Banana Pudding recipe to die for! This one has Caramel sauce squirted on each layer making it incredibly irresistible but also rich and decadent. This dessert is fabulous, fattening, and tastes utterly divine! Banana Pudding is one of my husband’s favorite desserts.

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I’m not sure if it’s because the dessert is loaded with bananas or the creamy filling. My recipe is richer than the standard Eagle Brand Milk recipe because it has the addition of cream cheese in the pudding mix. Not only that, it’s a wonderful, light and fluffy dessert for potlucks or to wow your company–especially if you add caramel sauce.

The nice thing about Banana Pudding is how EASY it is to make! It only has a few ingredients but it is big on taste. You layer the dessert with vanilla wafers, a cream pudding mixture of instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix, cream cheese, condensed milk and whipped topping and another layer of bananas.

I’ve always swished my sliced bananas in a little lemon juice to protect them from becoming brown. Then after a layer of bananas I squirt caramel sauce over top of the bananas. I repeat the layers three times, followed by a layer of whipped topping and caramel sauce/syrup on the top. Talk about yum!

My original recipe came from Beverly Phillips when we both worked together at the Baptist General Convention of Texas in the late 90s and early 2000s. The caramel addition came from Angela Russell, one of the young wives in our Sunday school class at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, Texas, who used my same basic recipe but squirted caramel sauce over top each layer of bananas when she made it.

I’ve taken to using Angela’s recipe a little more because everyone loves the addition of caramel sauce which makes this dessert even richer.

If you’re looking for a scrumptious Banana Pudding recipe you need to check out this lovely version. It’s spectacular. While I try not to overdo the sweets these days I broke down and made a big batch of this for my husband, ahem, so he could enjoy this tasty dessert. Boy is he going to celebrate!

When I initially posted this recipe in July 2012, my blog had only been going for a month. While my pictures were okay, I was still using an iPhone 3 for a camera, plus I was taking pictures inside (and not anywhere near a window), so the pictures were darker than I liked.

I recently remade this recipe for company (June 2016) and retook the pictures so you will be able to drool a little more. 🙂

Here are a couple of thoughts to help you with this delicious Banana Pudding. I swish the bananas in lemon juice and then drain on paper towels before using. Try to use just barely ripe bananas without the seeds going black like they do the older the bananas get.

Don’t worry about the dessert or the bananas tasting bitter from the lemon juice. You won’t even be able to taste it if you use the caramel sauce over each layer. Also, try to save out about 10-12 of the nicest shaped vanilla wafers for the top garnish.

No one will see the crumbly ones inside the layers. Finally, I used at least twice as much caramel sauce in the pictures as you really need for this recipe to turn out well. Unless you like extremely sweet desserts, don’t be as heavy handed with the caramel sauce.

I did that specifically to be able to see it in the layers for the pictures. When I served this dessert a couple of days ago everyone RAVED over it. Everyone went back for seconds, but truly you don’t need to use almost a full bottle of caramel sauce (which I did) to make this dessert amazing. Use a little self-control. 🙂

One additional thought. Unfortunately, this dessert cannot be made too far in advance. I made this about 5 hours before serving it. That gave it enough time to refrigerate and get good and cold, but not long enough that the bananas start discoloring or get mushy.

You can make it in the morning for an evening dessert, but don’t try to make it the night before, or I’m afraid the dessert will not be as appealing as you would like. Even if you use lemon juice on the bananas, it will only keep them fresher a short length of time. I hope you enjoy Banana Pudding with Caramel Sauce as much as our company did.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding is a gorgeous dessert and it tastes wonderful too. We love to make this for company because everyone just raves over it.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Here is a close up of Banana Pudding in an individual parfait dish.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

We prefer our Banana Pudding with the caramel sauce over top and on each layer.

Here’s what I did.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

I used these ingredients.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

In a mixing bowl, add French vanilla pudding and pie filling mix. Add milk to the pudding mix.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Beat with an electric mixer until thickened.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Soften cream cheese. Beat with a mixer until creamy.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Add whipped cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Evaporated milk is NOT the same as sweetened condensed milk.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Mix with an electric mixer until combined.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Add half of the 16-oz. container of whipped topping.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until combined.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Soak banana slices in lemon juice. Drain on paper towels before using.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Reserve 10-12 of the nicest vanilla wafers for garnish. Set aside.

To layer the dessert: Place vanilla wafers in glass trifle dish or parfait dishes. You will get four layers in a trifle dish but only two layers in a parfait dish.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Spoon a layer of pie filling mix over the vanilla wafers. Add a layer of sliced bananas. Then squirt caramel sauce over top. (I would cut the amount of caramel sauce in half. I used this much just for the pictures).

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Layer another row of vanilla wafers.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Add another layer of vanilla pudding, bananas and caramel sauce. (Again, I would use about one third of the caramel sauce used here).

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Repeat with another layer of vanilla wafers.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Add the third layer of pudding, bananas and squirt with caramel sauce. (Use about half this amount).

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Repeat with the fourth and final layer of vanilla wafers.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Add the fourth layer of pudding, bananas and squirt with caramel sauce.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Cover with remaining whipped topping. Squirt with caramel sauce. Place extra reserved vanilla wafers into the whipped topping. Garnish with maraschino cherries, if desired.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding is one of our favorite desserts.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Our friends just kept going back for more and more of this irresistible dessert. I recommend that you only make this for company because it only lasts for about 8 hours. After that the bananas will get too soft and discolor. Because of that, this makes a great dessert to take to potlucks and backyard barbecues with neighbors or friends.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Every spoonful of Banana Pudding will have you drooling. The caramel sauce makes this dessert so rich, decadent and spectacular.

Here’s the recipe.

BANANA PUDDING

(Recipe from Beverly Phillips, when we worked together at the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Angela Russell when we attended Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, TX)

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding

Teresa Ambra
Banana Pudding to die for! The filling consists of cream cheese, condensed milk, whipped topping, & vanilla pudding mix. This recipe uses caramel sauce which makes it rich, decadent, and wonderful!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 382 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large trifle dish or glass bowl
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 table knife to slice bananas
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 medium mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 6 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 16 oz. container cool whip or other non-dairy whipped topping
  • 4-5 almost ripe bananas sliced
  • 1 box vanilla wafers
  • 12 oz. jar caramel sauce or caramel syrup
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice as needed

Instructions
 

  • Reserve 10-12 of the nicest vanilla wafers for garnish. Set aside.
  • Cream the cheese until smooth in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • In a separate bowl, mix pudding mix and milk with an electric mixer until thick.
  • Add pudding mixture to cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk.
  • Fold in half of the cool whip or non-dairy whipped topping.
  • Dip sliced bananas in lemon juice and lay out on paper towels.
  • Layer the vanilla wafers, then pudding mixture, then bananas in a glass trifle dish or parfait dishes.
  • Squirt with caramel sauce.
  • Repeat layers three times.
  • Top with remaining whipped topping.
  • Drizzle caramel sauce over top.
  • Top with reserved vanilla wafers and maraschino cherries, if desired.
  • Chill.

Notes

NOTE: Bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice help them from turning dark.
 
NOTE: Reserve some of the nicest vanilla wafers for decorating the top.
 
NOTE: I used almost a whole bottle of caramel syrup for this recipe, but I recommend using only about a half of a container.
 
NOTE: This dessert should not be made more than 8 hours in advance of serving or the bananas may discolor.
 
NOTE: The lemon juice will not cause the bananas to taste too tart. If you use caramel sauce on each layer, you will never be able to even taste any lemon juice.
 
NOTE: Try to find bananas just barely ripe so the seeds have not darkened yet.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 9gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 408mgPotassium: 436mgFiber: 1gSugar: 62gVitamin A: 217IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 251mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword banana pudding, bananas, caramel sauce, dessert, pudding, vanilla wafers
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Banana Pudding[/b]
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Beverly Phillips when we worked at Baptist General Convention of Texas and from Angela Russell, when we attended Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, TX
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
Banana Pudding to die for! The filling consists of cream cheese, condensed milk, whipped topping, & vanilla pudding mix. This recipe uses caramel sauce which makes it rich, decadent, and wonderful!
Ingredients
  • 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
  • 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups milk
  • 6-oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 16-oz. container cool whip or other non-dairy whipped topping
  • 4 or 5 almost ripe bananas, sliced
  • 12-oz. box vanilla wafers
  • caramel sauce or syrup
  • lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Reserve 10-12 of the nicest vanilla wafers for garnish. Set aside.
  2. Cream the cheese until smooth.
  3. Mix pudding mix and milk until thick.
  4. Add to cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk.
  5. Fold in half of the cool whip or non-dairy whipped topping.
  6. Dip sliced bananas in lemon juice and lay out on paper towels.
  7. Layer the vanilla wafers, then pudding mixture, then bananas in a glass trifle dish or parfait dishes.
  8. Squirt with caramel sauce.
  9. Repeat layers three times.
  10. Top with remaining whipped topping.
  11. Drizzle caramel sauce over top.
  12. Top with reserved vanilla wafers and maraschino cherries, if desired.
  13. Chill.
Notes
Bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice help them from turning dark.[br][br]Reserve some of the nicest vanilla wafers for decorating the top.[br][br]I used almost a whole bottle of caramel syrup for this recipe, but I recommend using only about a half of a container.[br][br]This dessert should not be made more than 8 hours in advance of serving or the bananas may discolor.[br][br]The lemon juice will not cause the bananas to taste too tart. If you use caramel sauce on each layer, you will never be able to even taste any lemon juice.[br][br]Try to find bananas just barely ripe so the seeds have not darkened yet.
Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding with Caramel Sauce is one terrific dessert!

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

My Banana Pudding recipe has luscious caramel sauce drizzled over the top. As a result, everyone gets a sugar high when they sample this luscious dessert.

Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding – one of John’s favorite desserts–and it will certainly be one of yours if you give it a try! 

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Banana Split Dessert

Banana Split Dessert | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fabulous #dessert is perfect for the #holidays. It's like eating #BananaSplits! #bananas #pineapple #cherries

Banana Cake with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting

Banana Cake with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic #cake is our favorite. It has a spectacular #chocolate & #marshmallow frosting to die for! Prepare to drool after the first bite! #dessert #bananas #almonds

Banana Sheet Cake with Caramel Frosting

Banana Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
Banana Pudding | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | BEST #BananaPudding ever! This one has #caramelsauce squirted over each amazing layer making it rich, decadent and utterly divine! Great #dessert for summer #holidays. #bananas

Banana Pudding

Teresa Ambra
Banana Pudding to die for! The filling consists of cream cheese, condensed milk, whipped topping, & vanilla pudding mix. This recipe uses caramel sauce which makes it rich, decadent, and wonderful!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 382 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large trifle dish or glass bowl
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 table knife to slice bananas
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 medium mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 6 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 16 oz. container cool whip or other non-dairy whipped topping
  • 4-5 almost ripe bananas sliced
  • 1 box vanilla wafers
  • 12 oz. jar caramel sauce or caramel syrup
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice as needed

Instructions
 

  • Reserve 10-12 of the nicest vanilla wafers for garnish. Set aside.
  • Cream the cheese until smooth in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • In a separate bowl, mix pudding mix and milk with an electric mixer until thick.
  • Add pudding mixture to cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk.
  • Fold in half of the cool whip or non-dairy whipped topping.
  • Dip sliced bananas in lemon juice and lay out on paper towels.
  • Layer the vanilla wafers, then pudding mixture, then bananas in a glass trifle dish or parfait dishes.
  • Squirt with caramel sauce.
  • Repeat layers three times.
  • Top with remaining whipped topping.
  • Drizzle caramel sauce over top.
  • Top with reserved vanilla wafers and maraschino cherries, if desired.
  • Chill.

Notes

NOTE: Bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice help them from turning dark.
 
NOTE: Reserve some of the nicest vanilla wafers for decorating the top.
 
NOTE: I used almost a whole bottle of caramel syrup for this recipe, but I recommend using only about a half of a container.
 
NOTE: This dessert should not be made more than 8 hours in advance of serving or the bananas may discolor.
 
NOTE: The lemon juice will not cause the bananas to taste too tart. If you use caramel sauce on each layer, you will never be able to even taste any lemon juice.
 
NOTE: Try to find bananas just barely ripe so the seeds have not darkened yet.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 9gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 408mgPotassium: 436mgFiber: 1gSugar: 62gVitamin A: 217IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 251mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword banana pudding, bananas, caramel sauce, dessert, pudding, vanilla wafers
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

6 Comments

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  • Char

    November 25, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    Thanks for getting back to me Teresa. Okay….so now I’m confused. The directions say to “chill”…but you replied saying that you don’t recommend making this a day or night before. I was planning on making this the day before. But now I’m not really sure when to make it. lol I just figured the wafers needed time to soften up….or do they not need that long? We plan on having a Thanksgiving lunch, so I need to have everything ready by noon. When do you recommend I get this ready?

    1. Teresa

      November 26, 2014 at 8:12 am

      Char, I’m so sorry for making this confusing. I would make this Thanksgiving morning. Allow it to chill a few hours before you’re ready to serve it. If you have a lot of stuff to do on Thanksgiving morning, you can make the pudding stuff the night before. But don’t assemble it or cut the bananas until Thanksgiving morning. If you can chill it three or four hours that would be optimal. I hope you make it because you and your guests will love it.

  • Char

    November 24, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    Hi,
    I was thinking about making this. But I have a question about the bananas. When you dip them in the lemon juice, will that make the bananas taste tart in this dish? I know you pat them dry….but I’m worried people will find a “surprise” sour flavor when they take a bite. lol

    1. Teresa

      November 25, 2014 at 9:09 am

      Hey, Char. Great question. I’ve actually made it both ways. Unless, you are going to make this dessert an hour before you plan to serve it, you will probably need to dip the bananas in lemon juice or they will discolor and no one will want to eat your dessert! There is so much sugar with the pudding, condensed milk and caramel sauce that the very slight lemony flavor is really rather refreshing rather than bitter. You can always make some parfaits in a small dish and try it both ways if you’re uneasy. Just make sure you pat the bananas dry really well with a paper towel and you should be okay. I don’t recommend making this a day or night before you need it either.

      Another option if you’re uneasy is to mix all the ingredients for the pudding and refrigerate them. Then assemble everything really quickly right before you want to serve the pudding. Assembly won’t take more than 5 or 10 minutes if you have the other stuff ready to layer. Maybe that will work better for you.

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