Old Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding ready to be served

One of the first things discussed when planning a family meal around here isn’t the main course, it’s dessert. And almost without fail, the next question out of my kids’ mouths is, “Are you making banana pudding?”

At this point, it’s asked more as a joke than an actual question because everyone in our family knows there simply can’t be a gathering without banana pudding somewhere on the table.

Over the years, we’ve tried all kinds of variations...homemade pudding instead of instant, homemade wafers instead of store-bought, extra toppings, different layers...but somehow, we always come back to this old fashioned version that has become our family favorite.

Whether you’re planning a Sunday supper, hosting family after church, or simply wanting a little something sweet after a long week, put banana pudding on the table and chances are you’ll have folks scraping the bowl clean before the night is over.

Ingredients

1- 8oz. block cream cheese, room temperature

1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. milk

1 - 3.4oz package instant vanilla pudding

1 - 16 oz. tub Whipped Topping (like Cool Whip)

1 box vanilla wafers; can also use gluten free wafers

3-4 bananas, sliced

Directions

1. In a mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth; add condensed milk, regular milk, and pudding mix. Continue to mix for another 2 minutes or until blended. Add half of the whipped cream, beat into pudding mix.

2. In a bowl of your choosing, you're going to begin to layer the ingredients. Cover the bottom with the wafers in a single layer, then spoon about a third of the pudding on top and smooth out. Add another layer of wafers on top of the pudding mix and then top with bananas.

3. Spoon about half of the remaining pudding mix over the bananas and repeat your layers: wafers, bananas, remaining pudding mix.

4. Spoon the rest of the whipped topping on the pudding mix.

5. Cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it.

Homesteading Tip

1. Replace the instant vanilla pudding with chocolate pudding for special twist.

2. Sprinkle fresh blueberries on each dish that is served.

3. Crumble remaining wafers and sprinkle on top of each dish served.