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Pudding, bananas and wafer cookies create delicious layers of creamy goodness in these simple Banana Pudding Bars
My sister-in-law made these creamy Banana Pudding Bars for dessert for Easter one year and they were fantastic! My husband is a raving fan of banana pudding, so I knew he would like them.
It’s the perfect dessert for the warmer months when you want something light after dinner. This is a much easier way to serve banana pudding to a crowd. Simply chill and cut into bars for serving!
Start with vanilla wafer cookies and butter to create the crust. (PLEASE NOTE: photos show an 8×8 pan, but the recipe is written for a full sized 13×9 baking pan.)
Top with a layer of freshly sliced bananas.
Slather on that rich pudding layer. Yummy!
Top with whipped topping and crumbled vanilla wafer cookies. You can even add some more sliced bananas right before serving if you want. Just don’t add them too early or they will get brown and gross looking. 🙂
If you’re looking for another way to enjoy banana pudding (aside from the classic) then you should definitely try my Banana Pudding Poke Cake!
Banana Pudding Bars
Ingredients
- 60 vanilla wafers finely crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- 3 bananas sliced
- 2 3.4 oz pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 2 1/2 cups whipped topping divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º
- Mix wafer crumbs and butter in 13x9-inch baking dish; press onto bottom of dish. Bake 8 min. Cool 10 min.
- Top with bananas.
- Beat pudding mixes and milk with whisk. Spread 2 cups pudding over bananas.
- Stir 1 cup whipped topping into remaining pudding and spread over pudding layer.
- Top with remaining whipped topping.
- Refrigerate 3 hours and serve cold. Add additional crushed cookies and/or banana slices before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Using the wafers for a crust instead of graham crackers makes a huge difference! It adds that sweet crunch to the bar and makes it taste just like a big bowl of banana pudding. I’m saving this recipe for future picnics and summer gatherings because it’s so easy and the oven is only on for a few minutes!
If you like Banana Pudding Bars, you’ll like my
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding!
Post updated 4/2019
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Cindi S. says
Hi there. This look delicious. Is there a way to make this gluten free?
And how about gluten free, sugar free, and dairy free? I bake treats for people in my Life Group and some are gf, sf, and df. 😏
Nicole Burkholder says
Of all the desserts you could pick, this one would probably be the worst to try to go gluten, sugar and dairy free. At that point, it wouldn’t even resemble banana pudding 😀 I am not experienced in specialized diets, so I can’t help you there, sorry!
Kenny Yarmolchuk says
I used snack pack banana pudding. I separated the pudding color in 2 bowl.
I used the yellow for the bottom and the cream with the whipped cream!
And i dont crush my wafers, i just put then in the bottom and they get soft after couple of hour in the fridge!
Nicole Burkholder says
I love how the wafers gets all soggy and sweet with the pudding! 🙂
Isabelle says
If I wanted to make these the night before, would it be ok to leave in the fridge overnight?
Nicole Burkholder says
You can, but the bananas are going to brown a bit if they are exposed to the air at all. Just make sure all the pudding layers are covering it well and don’t add any bananas to the top until you’re ready to serve. The crust will be a bit softer (like and ice box cake) but the flavors are really yummy after it’s been in the fridge overnight. I love the leftovers!
Catherine says
Dear Nicole, this looks so good! What a fun and delicious treat. xo, Catherine
Nicole Burkholder says
Thank you! And I can’t wait to go read about your evening with Michael Symon!
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
These look great. I love any dessert with layers.
Nicole Burkholder says
Me, too! I really love it when they are EASY layers 🙂
Layne says
I haven’t had banana pudding in so long. I really want to try this recipe, looks delicious!