Description
Delightful Banana Pudding Cups featuring layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fresh ripe bananas, and crunchy vanilla wafer cookies. This no-bake, easy-to-make dessert is perfect for individual servings and comes together quickly with instant pudding mix and homemade whipped cream, making it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pudding Mixture
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
- 2 cups cold whole milk
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- 3 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer cookies, crushed or whole
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold whole milk for about 2 minutes until thickened. Refrigerate the mixture for 5 minutes to allow it to fully set.
- Make the whipped cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the cold heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, indicating that the cream is stable and fluffy.
- Lighten the pudding: Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the chilled pudding mixture. This step lightens the texture, making the pudding creamier and more airy.
- Assemble the cups: Start by layering vanilla wafers at the bottom of small cups or jars. Add a layer of banana slices on top of the wafers, followed by a layer of the pudding mixture. Repeat these layers—wafers, bananas, pudding—until the cups are filled, finishing with a final layer of pudding.
- Top with whipped cream: Spoon the remaining whipped cream over the top of each cup to create a creamy finishing touch.
- Chill before serving: Refrigerate the assembled pudding cups for at least 1 hour. Chilling enhances the flavors and allows the pudding to set perfectly for ideal texture.
Notes
- Slice bananas just before assembling to prevent them from browning and maintain a fresh appearance.
- For a homemade version, you can substitute instant pudding with cooked vanilla pudding if desired.
- Use cold ingredients (milk and cream) to ensure the pudding and whipped cream set properly and achieve the best texture.
