Banana Pudding Lush
A delightful no-bake dessert combining creamy banana pudding, crunchy vanilla wafers, and rich cream cheese, perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 box vanilla wafers, crushed (about 2½ cups crumbs)
- ½ cup melted butter
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened Allow to sit at room temperature for easier mixing.
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tub whipped topping (Cool Whip), divided (8 oz)
- 2 boxes instant banana pudding mix (3.4 oz each)
- 3 cups cold milk
Garnish
- 2 ripe bananas, sliced For garnish.
- Crushed to taste vanilla wafers For garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a bowl, mix the crushed vanilla wafers with melted butter until fully combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch glass dish to form an even crust. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Gently fold in half of the whipped topping to lighten the mixture.
- Spread the cream cheese layer evenly over the chilled crust, smoothing the top.
- Spoon and spread a generous layer of whipped topping over the cream cheese mixture.
Assembly
- In a separate bowl, whisk the instant banana pudding mix with cold milk until it thickens (about 2 minutes).
- Spread the pudding evenly over the whipped topping layer.
- Sprinkle a layer of crushed vanilla wafers over the banana pudding for added texture and flavor.
- Top the dessert with the remaining whipped topping, smoothing it gently with a spatula.
- Arrange fresh banana slices around the edges and sprinkle additional crushed wafers in the center for garnish.
- Cover and chill the dessert in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, before slicing and serving.
Notes
This dessert is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or family dinners! Store in a sealed container to keep fresh for up to 3 days.