Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding

This Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding could just be the ideal dessert! The no-bake delight just needs 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare for a chilled, creamy, sweet treat that can be assembled ahead of time. This semi-homemade Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding recipe, prepared using Nilla wafers, Jello instant pudding, ripe bananas, and Cool Whip, is excellent for those days when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen!

Best of all, this semi-homemade Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding recipe makes use of several shortcuts, including Jell-O instant pudding, Nabisco Nilla Wafer wafers, and Cool Whip topping. You do not have to create your own custard or meringue. Instead, the simple dessert takes just 15 minutes to prepare…and always vanishes quickly!

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Ingredients That You’ll Need:

This is simply a brief rundown of the few ingredients needed to make the easy DIY Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding. As usual, detailed measurements and directions can be found in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Vanilla wafer cookies: I usually use Nabisco Nilla Wafers, but any comparable brand would do. As an alternative, try graham crackers!
Vanilla instant pudding mix: The small 4-serving box of the Jell-O instant pudding is ideal, but a bigger box may be used if you like thicker layers of pudding.
Milk: to prepare the instant pudding.
Bananas: Your goal is for them to be ripe and delicious, but not mushy.
Frozen whipped topping: thawed overnight in the refrigerator, such as Cool Whip If you like, you may make your own sweetened whipped cream.

Can I Make Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding In Advance?

Absolutely! This Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding may be prepared up to 48 hours in advance. If you don’t want wilted, blackened bananas, you should consume them within two days.

Is A Trifle Dish Required To Prepare This?

Though trifle dishes are the most traditional method to serve Banana Pudding, you may serve your Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding in almost any manner you like! Make tiny versions in mason jars for customized servings, or use your favorite 9″ x 13″ or 11 x 7-inch baking dish.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

Prepare the pudding according to the directions on the box. Refrigerate and put aside.
Spread vanilla wafer cookies on the bottom of an 11 x 7-inch baking dish in a single layer. I used 24 cookies for each layer.
Spread half of the pudding (about 1 cup) over the cookies using a spatula.
On top of the pudding, put a single layer of banana slices.
Repeat the layers, beginning with the cookie layer.
Spread whipped topping on top of the last layer of banana slices. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours (or overnight). If desired, garnish just before serving with more vanilla wafers and banana slices.

What To Serve With Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

How To Store Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

Refrigerate your Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding, covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I don’t suggest storing the dessert since the whipped topping, bananas, and cookies will be “off” when thawed.

Recipe Variations

Sugar-Free. Since the fruit and cookies include sugar, it is not possible to make a totally sugar-free Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding. However, you may reduce the amount of sugar by using a sugar-free instant pudding mix and a sugar-free Cool Whip.
The Pepperidge Farm Checkers Cookies or graham crackers are suitable alternatives to vanilla wafers.
Feel free to create your own handmade whipped cream instead of the Cool Whip and use it to top the pudding. It may need a stand mixer, but the effort is typically well worth it!
Do you want more banana flavors? Some readers have substituted vanilla pudding mix with banana cream pudding mix for an even stronger banana flavor.
In a trifle dish or bowl, layer the same ingredients in greater proportions.

How To Keep Bananas From Turning Brown In Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

If you only make the dessert a few hours ahead of time, the fruit won’t turn brown. But if you want to put together the Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding the day before, you could treat the banana slices with lemon juice or orange juice to stop the browning that happens when bananas are exposed to air.

Don’t put in too much citrus juice, though. You don’t want your Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding to taste like lemon pudding. Instead, lightly brush the juice on the fruit or use a spray bottle to mist it on. In other words, use the least amount of juice you can.

Also, don’t decorate the top of your Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding until the last minute. Just before I bring it to the table, I like to put banana slices or extra vanilla wafers on top.

Recipe Tips

Use ripe and sweet bananas, but not those that are overripe and mushy.
Remember to defrost the Cool Whip overnight in the refrigerator before assembling the dessert. Do not defrost Cool Whip at room temperature, since it has a propensity to “melt” and lose its fluffy quality when exposed to high temperatures.
Before serving, let the Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding for at least four hours cool in the refrigerator. This will allow the cookies to soften, and the layers to combine.
Use a bigger (5.1 oz) container of vanilla instant pudding if you desire pudding layers that are more substantial.

FAQ Section

How To Keep Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding From Getting Watery?

Because you’re using Jell-O pudding and Cool Whip in this no-bake recipe instead of handmade custard and meringue, the dish keeps nicely in the refrigerator and doesn’t go watery at all! The ingredients combine, the cookies soften, and the simple Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding improves with time.

How Long Does Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding Keep?

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days, Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding will remain edible. If you don’t like soggy cookies, try to consume them as quickly as possible, since the bananas will begin to leak and the wafer cookies will continue to soften with time.

Can I Freeze Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding Leftovers?

Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding should not be frozen. The crystallization that occurs when frozen changes the texture of both the bananas and the pudding, and once defrosted, the dessert just does not taste the same!

Can I Add Other Fruits To Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

Try adding additional fruits to the layer, such as blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, in addition to the sliced bananas.

Which Cookies May Be Used To Make Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

For the layer of cookies, you may use several types of crisp, buttery cookies for the vanilla wafer cookies. Shortbread cookies, Vanilla Oreos, or Butter Cookies are all good options. Instead of piling full cookies, you may sprinkle wafer crumbs on top of the pudding.

Can Cream Cheese Be Used In Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

Instead of vanilla pudding, use cream cheese to give some acidity. In lieu of the heavy cream, combine 3/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese with the pudding mixture. The pudding cream cheese combination yields a rich, cheesecake-like pudding.

How Do You Make Pioneer Woman Caramelized Banana Pudding?

Bananas that have been caramelized may be layered in this recipe. In a saucepan, combine banana slices, 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cook for 3 minutes, or until the bananas are slightly caramelized.

How Do You Make Chocolate Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

You may use chocolate pudding for the vanilla pudding in this Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding recipe. Before serving the chocolate banana dessert, sprinkle Chocolate Ganache on top of the pudding.

How Should I Serve Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding?

Your handmade Pioneer Woman Banana Pudding should be served cold with crumbled wafers on top. For a more elegant presentation, slice and serve in individual parfait glasses.

Can I Use Banana-flavored Instant Pudding Instead Of Vanilla?

Of course, you can! Some individuals dislike the artificial banana flavor in the banana cream instant pudding, although this is just a matter of taste. You may also use banana extract for vanilla.

Can I Make Whipped Cream At Home?

Yes, you can. Keep in mind that handmade whipped cream is not as stable as Cool Whip, thus it may turn into a more liquid form if not consumed immediately.