How to Make No-Bake Banana Pudding from Scratch
Updated: May 24, 2023
This recipe for no-bake banana pudding is a cross between classic banana pudding, tiramisu and a banana parfait.
This no-bake banana pudding has an old-school reputation. You might think of it as an hours-long process to get the perfect dessert for the church potluck or a quick treat to whip up with premade ingredients like Cool Whip and Jell-O pudding mix. My husband thinks of this recipe as the former—and as a kid, his grandmother made the best banana pudding.
I’ve tried to make banana pudding from scratch for him many times but always heard, “This is great, but it’s not like Grandma’s.”
Finally, I found out her secrets—and I’m so excited to share them with you!
No-Bake Banana Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2-1/2 cups milk
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons butter
Whipped Cream:
- 2-1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Assembly:
- 4 to 6 ripe bananas
- 1 package ladyfingers
Editor’s Tip: Use this technique to ripen bananas quickly.
Directions
Step 1: Make homemade pudding
In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and salt. Once combined, add milk and place over medium-high heat, whisking until combined. Then add egg yolks and cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in the butter and vanilla and remove from heat. Allow to cool at room temperature for 5 minutes.
Press plastic wrap into the top of the pudding, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely, about an hour.
Step 2: Whip the cream
It’s easy to make whipped cream from scratch. In a very cold bowl (chill it in the freezer!), whip heavy cream and sugar on high with a whisk attachment on a stand mixer or hand beaters.
As soon as stiff peaks form, whip in cinnamon, a half teaspoon at a time.
Step 3: Assemble the dessert
You serve this no-bake banana pudding recipe as individual parfaits or in a medium-sized trifle dish.
Roughly chop or break ladyfingers with your hands—uneven pieces will give your pudding a more interesting texture. Keep a few whole for garnishing. Spread half the pieces on the bottom of your dish(es) and cover with half the banana pudding.
Slice half of your ripe bananas. Arrange the slices over the pudding layer and quickly top with whipped cream. The faster you top the bananas, the slower they will start to brown.
Repeat the layers and top with a little ladyfinger crumble, some cinnamon, and a few banana slices. Or, if serving individually, stand half of a ladyfinger up in the side of each dish.
The Finished No-Bake Banana Pudding
Just like Grandma’s! Making pudding from scratch instead of using boxed Jell-O mix makes all the difference. The flavor is more subtle and soaks up the banana flavor. The real game changer is the ladyfingers. Each cakey bite plays off the rich, homemade whipped cream for a decadent but not-too-heavy dessert.
Tips for Making No-Bake Banana Pudding
Use ladyfingers instead of vanilla wafers
These crunchy cookies—not the spongy kind you sometimes find in the bakery—are thicker and less sweet than the traditional vanilla wafer. They really soak up the banana pudding so the layer of ladyfingers becomes cake-like in the assembled pudding.
Use lots of egg yolks
Grandma used an extra egg yolk in her recipes, which made the pudding thick and more yellow. That yellow color really makes you think “banana” before you even taste the pudding! (Here’s what to do with the leftover egg whites.)
Add cinnamon to the whipped cream
This is my special twist. The hint of cinnamon elevates this no-bake banana pudding from being very sweet and vanilla-y to have a more complex flavor. It’s a great addition to many desserts with homemade whipped cream.
More Amazing Banana Desserts
Banana Cream Chocolate TrufflesThis truffle recipe was created from ripe bananas and my imagination, and the outcome blew my family and friends away! I don’t particularly like bananas, but I could eat these truffles all day long. —Michele Lassuy, Orlando, Florida
Southern Banana PuddingThis old southern banana pudding recipe features a comforting custard layered with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, then topped with meringue. I serve it year-round. —Jan Campbell, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Banana Skillet Upside-Down CakeMy grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream. —Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
Potato Chip Banana Bread CookiesMy 5-year-old wanted to bake a cake with potato chips and bananas. I couldn't quite manage that, but I did combine two cookie recipes to create these. They are stunningly delicious, and everyone tells me they are addictive! —Rebecca Emmons, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Grilled Banana Brownie SundaesMy niece Amanda Jean and I have a lot of fun in the kitchen creating different dishes. One of us will start with a recipe idea and it just grows from there—and so does the mess. In this case, the happy result was our Grilled Banana Brownie Sundae. —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana
Frozen Peanut Butter and Chocolate TerrineThis terrine can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer. When served, it cuts easily, revealing the lovely layers of banana, peanut butter and chocolate. —Jennifer Jackson, Keller, Texas
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Cinnamon-Raisin Banana Bread PuddingMy family likes to change the toppings for this luscious dessert. We use berries, chopped nuts or fruit, ice cream, whipped cream or caramel topping. If I'm making the dessert for adults only, I love to add a little rum to the milk mixture to give the pudding extra flavor. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
Potluck Banana CakeI found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania
Banana Split Cake BarsSummer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Old-Fashioned Banana Cream PieThis old-fashioned banana cream pie recipe is full of flavor. Because it uses instant pudding, this no-bake dessert is ready in just minutes. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
Hummingbird CakeOut of all of our ripe banana dessert recipes, this impressive hummingbird cake is my dad’s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Banana-Split BlondiesThese banana blondies combine all the beloved flavors of your favorite sundae with a warm, gooey bar. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Bananas Foster SundaesI have wonderful memories of eating bananas Foster in New Orleans, and as a dietitian, wanted to find a healthier version. I combined the best of two recipes and added my own tweaks to create this southern treat. —Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina
Bananas Foster on the GrillBananas Foster is my husband's favorite dessert, and this is one of the easiest recipes I've ever found. Not only is it delicious, it's a great way to use those bananas that are a little too ripe to just peel and eat. —Rebecca Clark, Warrior, Alabama
Caribbean Bread PuddingA completely unexpected dessert from the slow cooker, my bread pudding is loaded with wonderful tropical flavors. I like to garnish it with a slice of fresh pineapple, whipped cream and a cherry—just like a pina colada! —Elizabeth Doss, California City, California
Frozen Banana Cereal PopsFor one of our favorite healthy banana dessert recipes, we dip bananas in yogurt, roll 'em in cereal, then freeze. Ta-da! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
Originally Published: December 13, 2019
