Despite the title, I am not right now at home, alone, with a banana pudding. If I were I’d be home alone, but the banana pudding would be long gone — all of it, down the the last pudding-soaked ‘Nilla-wafery crumb.
I love it that much.
No, instead I’m at work suffering through the knowledge that my husband and daughter are right now at home, together, with the leftovers of last night’s banana pudding.
Well, probably not anymore.
Luckily, I grew up with my grandmother’s make-it-in-10-minutes Jell-O version, and I can whip up a replacement in no time — and I will tonight! Even though my foodie friends have tried to break me with caramel and homemade custard versions aplenty, this is still my favorite. It must be my personal comfort food.
So here’s my Grammie’s oh, so easy banana pudding recipe. Give it a try next time you want to whip up a quick treat for all — or just for you!
Quick Banana Pudding
Total time – 20 min till ready to eat. (But best after 2 hours in the fridge!)
1 large box Jello Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 large box Jello Instant Banana Cream Pudding*
(*Small is OK if you can’t find large in Banana Cream, just adjust the Milk down by 1 cup. 2 Large Vanillas work, too)
5-1/2 Cups Milk
2-3 Bananas
4-5 Handfuls Vanilla Wafer Cookies
1 Regular size container whipped topping
Layer the vanilla wafers in the bottom of a 9″x13″ casserole dish. Whisk the pudding and milk together, pour or spoon 3/4 of the pudding over the cookies in the casserole dish. Slice the bananas and layer over the pudding. Mix the whipped topping together with the remaining pudding and spread over the banana layer. Refrigerate till set. Wait at least 10 minutes before eating if you’re in a hurry — but it’s best after 2 hours in the fridge.
Variations:
Use a smaller, taller dish for more cookie/pudding/banana layers and top with whipped topping layer. It’s really pretty in a trifle dish or clear bowl with wafers lining the side, too.
For a party, make individual pudding parfaits in cute glasses or desert dishes.
Use real whipped cream or, like my foodie friends, make your own custard. It just takes a little longer (seriously? I can’t wait that long).
