Magnolia Bakery in New York City might deserve credit as one of the bakeries that started the cupcake craze, but one of their most popular bakery items is not a cupcake… it’s banana pudding!
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding is one of my favorite treats of all time! Creamy, fluffy pudding, fresh banana and simple vanilla cookies combine to create a dessert that is so much more than the sum of it’s parts!
Last year I visited New York City for the first time in my life. Of course there were many iconic places I wanted to visit… Central Park, Time Square, and Magnolia Bakery! When you love sweets and baking as much as I do, it’s easy to see why bakeries are always high on my list of “must see” stops whenever I travel!
As I stood in front of the bakery display at Magnolia Bakery, trying to decide which pretty treat to choose, a lady ran in and went right to the register to order 2 large banana puddings. I hadn’t even noticed the banana pudding, but she seemed quite passionate about it, so I figured I’d better try one too. I ordered a couple different selections (to share with a friend) and included one small order of banana pudding. Each of the items I shared with my friend was delicious… but the banana pudding was by far our favorite! Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding is sweet and fluffy (not as thick as regular pudding), with pieces of what I thought was vanilla cake, and then fresh banana. It’s simply delicious!
After my trip I made sure to seek out the recipe, and luckily it’s available for all to enjoy in The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, along with lots of other delicious recipes!
I made a batch of this delicious pudding and shared a couple jars with a friend. I’m pretty sure our friendship is sealed for life, thanks to this amazing pudding! =)
I’ll have to say I was a bit surprised by this recipe… the ingredients seem so simple, boxed mix pudding, Nilla wafers, banana… but a few unique techniques transform these common ingredients into a truly special dessert! When I first tried this pudding at Magnolia Bakery I was sure that the recipe included vanilla cake… come to find out it’s simply vanilla cookies that have become just soft enough to resemble cake, and yet they are not soggy (as I would have assumed if I’d never tried it for myself).
I can’t urge you enough… just make this!
More No Bake Treats
How to Make Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk 1 can
- 1 1/2 cups cold water filtered is best
- 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix 1 small box
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 28 Nilla Wafers cookies 1 box
- 4 medium bananas
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend sweetened condensed milk and cold water until combined. Add pudding mix and blend on medium speed about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
- After the pudding mixture has chilled and is very firm (at least 4 hours), beat cold whipping cream in the bowl of an electric mixer until the cream is fluffy and holds a stiff peak. Then, use a spatula to gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream (add the pudding to the whipped cream in two batches). Fold/stir just until the pudding is combined. Fill (2/3 full) a large piping bag or a large ziplock bag with the whipped pudding (then snip off one corner of the bag).
- Pour about 1/2 of the box of Nilla Wafers into a large bowl and break up each cookie in half or into a couple pieces.
- Slice bananas, reserving a 1/2 of a banana (in the peel) to slice and add just before serving.
- Begin assembly by adding a few broken cookies, a few slices of banana, and a layer of the pudding. Repeat with cookies, banana and pudding. Add a third layer if possible (depending on your dishes). Chill assembled desserts at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours. Shortly before serving, add a garnish of a few broken cookies and a slice of banana.
Nutrition
Have you ever visited Magnolia Bakery? What’s your favorite treat from their gorgeous selections?
Looking for a banana pudding dessert that doesn’t call for boxed mix pudding? Try one of my most popular recipes of all time, this delicious Banana Caramel Cream Dessert!
I had some couldn’t fit in pan, so I had a cake in a Mary Ann pan and filled the indented top with the pudding.
10 stars !!!!!!!!!!
Hi! I noticed some other famous recipes call for cream cheese – does this take away from flavor or texture without it? Thank you!
Hi! I do love cream cheese in most anything… but for the most authentic Magnolia version of this dish, I’d leave out cream cheese. But feel free to experiment!
Very excited to try this recipe out – I love MB’s banana pudding!
One quick question – 3 cups whipped cream before or after it’s whilped?
Thanks!
3 cups heavy cream BEFORE being whipped. Enjoy!
Just made it with graham crackers. Nice alternative!
Do you make the vanilla cookies or just buy some vanilla cookies that are soft? Unless, I missed something I didn’t see a recipe for the cookies or a favorite brand (if any). I will re-read in case I missed it. I’m looking forward to making it for my boyfriend. HE LOVESSSSS banana pudding!
Or did cookie = wafer?
Disregard … I’m thinking it was some new found cookie lol I re-read and saw it is simply the wafers :). My apologies!
Do you know to make a banana pudding cake I can send you a photo if you nyou a picture if you need one
Thank you Glory. I made it two weeks ago and it was amazing ! Making it again tonight, doubling the recipe.
How should I adjust the recipe to serve 20 or more? Triple the recipe and make in a large pan? Bringing it to a picnic.
If the dish is going to be at a pot-luck style event, I think if you double it it will likely fill a full sized trifle dish (or casserole dish). The servings listed are if you’re filling a half-pint jar and that’s a bit more than most people would dish up onto a plate at a pot-luck.
Has anyone tried to add mashed banana to the custard mixture while cooking, if making from scratch? To make it more ‘bananaery???