Magnolia’s Famous Banana Pudding

Ingredients

• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
• 0.5 cup ice-cold water
• 3.4 oz vanilla instant pudding mix (1 box)
• 1.5 cup heavy whipping cream
• 4 bananas (Sliced; the source says “ripped” bananas, understood as ripe bananas. Reserve some slices for topping just before serving.)
• 12 oz Nilla Wafers (1 box; reserve some wafers for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Whisk the ice-cold water and sweetened condensed milk together in a medium-sized bowl until combined.

2. 2

   In a separate bowl, add the vanilla instant pudding mix. Slowly whisk in the condensed-milk mixture until smooth and free of lumps, about 1 minute.

3. 3

   Cover the pudding mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm. It may also be refrigerated overnight.

4. 4

   Pour the heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl and whip until it begins to thicken. Increase the mixing speed and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

5. 5

   Add the chilled pudding mixture to the whipped cream. Fold gently with a spatula until the pudding is fully incorporated and no streaks remain.

6. 6

   In a trifle dish or wide glass serving bowl, spread one-quarter of the pudding mixture over the bottom.

7. 7

   Add one-third of the Nilla Wafers in an even layer, followed by enough sliced bananas—about 1 to 1 1⁄2 bananas—to cover the layer.

8. 8

   Continue layering the pudding, cookies, and sliced bananas until the ingredients are used, ending with a final layer of pudding. Garnish the top with some of the remaining wafers.

9. 9

   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. The dessert is recommended to be served within 12 hours.

10. 10

    Just before serving, top the pudding with additional slices of fresh banana.

Notes

The source gives “1/2 cups” of water; this has been retained as 1/2 cup. The source’s layering instruction is somewhat ambiguous about the exact number of banana slices per layer; use enough to cover each cookie layer. Serve within 12 hours for the recommended texture.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• no-bake
• American
• banana pudding
• make-ahead
• refrigerated
• vegetarian