Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding Recipe
Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding is a creamy, layered dessert featuring a luscious combination of sweetened condensed milk, instant vanilla pudding, whipped heavy cream, ripe bananas, and crunchy Nilla Wafers. This no-bake, refrigerator-set dessert is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with its rich texture and classic flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Pudding Mixture
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups ice cold water
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
Whipped Cream
- 3 cups heavy cream
Assembly
- 4 cups sliced barely ripe bananas
- 1 (12 oz) box Nilla Wafers
Instructions
- Prepare pudding base: In a large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and 1 ½ cups ice cold water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the instant vanilla pudding mix and beat well for about 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight to allow the mixture to set properly. This step is crucial to avoid a watery pudding.
- Whip the heavy cream: In a large bowl, whip the 3 cups of heavy cream using a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip.
- Fold whipped cream into pudding: Gently fold the stiff whipped cream into the pudding mixture until well combined and no streaks remain, creating a light and creamy filling.
- Assemble dessert layers: Use a large glass bowl or a 9×13 baking dish. Begin by arranging a third of the Nilla Wafers to cover the bottom, overlapping as needed. Layer one-third of the sliced bananas evenly over the wafers, then spread one-third of the pudding mixture on top. Repeat the layering process twice more, finishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on top.
- Chill the pudding: Cover the assembled dessert tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 8 hours. This chilling time allows flavors to meld and the dessert to firm up. Avoid chilling longer than 8 hours to prevent banana browning.
Notes
- Use barely ripe bananas for the best balance of sweetness and firmness.
- To prevent bananas from browning, slice them just before assembly and consider tossing them briefly in a little lemon juice.
- Ensure the pudding mixture is well set before folding in whipped cream to achieve proper texture.
- This dessert is best enjoyed within 8 hours of preparation for optimal freshness and appearance.
