Indulgent Ina Garten Banana Pudding Recipe

Check out the world of banana pudding, a Southern culinary treasure that whispers tales of cherished family moments and sweet nostalgia.

This luscious dessert weaves magic with its velvety layers of creamy pudding and tender banana slices.

Crisp vanilla wafers provide a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the smooth, silky filling.

Generations have fallen in love with this simple yet elegant treat that transforms ordinary ingredients into a symphony of flavors.

Soft, cloud-like whipped cream crowns this masterpiece, inviting you to indulge in pure comfort.

Each spoonful promises a journey through rich, harmonious tastes that dance across your palate.

Get ready to experience a dessert that’s more than just a recipe, it’s a slice of Southern culinary heritage waiting to enchant you.

How to Serve Ina Garten’s Southern Banana Pudding

• Serve with Elegant Flair: Garnish each slice with a delicate mint leaf or a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes for a sophisticated touch.
• Pair with Complementary Beverages: Offer chilled coffee, sweet iced tea, or a light dessert wine that enhances the creamy banana pudding's rich flavors.
• Create Personalized Portions: Prepare individual servings in clear glass mason jars or elegant dessert glasses to showcase beautiful pudding layers and impress guests.
• Elevate Presentation: Dust the top with a light sprinkle of cinnamon or graham cracker crumbs for added texture and visual appeal just before serving.

How Ina Stores Leftover Banana Pudding Smoothly

• Maximize Freshness: Store this banana pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The dessert stays creamy and delicious when properly sealed.
• Prevent Browning: Toss banana slices in a little lemon juice before layering to keep them fresh and prevent discoloration during storage.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire dessert up to 24 hours in advance for stress-free entertaining. The flavors actually improve as they sit and blend overnight.
• Freezing Tips: While best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze individual portions in sealed containers for up to 2 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator and enjoy within 1-2 days of defrosting for optimal taste and texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Calories: 576 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredients in Ina Garten’s Classic Banana Pudding

• Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: Select a high-quality mix with rich vanilla flavor, ensuring smooth and creamy texture.
• Cold Milk: Choose fresh, whole milk for a lusher and more indulgent pudding consistency.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Pick a brand with balanced sweetness, creamy texture enhances overall dessert richness.

• Heavy Whipping Cream: Look for cream with high fat content, ensuring stable and fluffy whipped peaks.
• Powdered Sugar: Opt for fine-grain sugar that dissolves smoothly and adds delicate sweetness.

• Vanilla Wafers, Bananas: Select crisp, golden wafers and ripe, spotty bananas for maximum flavor depth and textural contrast.

Kitchen Tools to Whip Up Ina’s Banana Pudding

• Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious container for combining pudding ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Perfect tool for blending pudding mix and milk without lumps.
• Measuring Cups: Precise measuring for milk and sugar amounts.
• Separate Clean Bowl: Used specifically for whipping fresh cream.
• Electric Mixer or Hand Whisk: Essential for creating stiff cream peaks.
• 9×13 Inch Glass Dish: Ideal for layering and presenting the dessert.
• Spatula: Helps gently fold whipped cream and spread layers evenly.
• Knife: Useful for slicing ripe bananas into uniform pieces.
• Refrigerator: Necessary for chilling and setting the dessert.

Instructions to Make Banana Pudding the Ina Way

Craft Creamy Banana Pudding Delight

Create a luxurious dessert that’ll make everyone’s taste buds dance with joy! This heavenly treat combines silky pudding, ripe bananas, and crispy wafers into a mouthwatering masterpiece.

• Whip Up Pudding Magic

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and blend instant vanilla pudding with cold milk. Whisk energetically until the mixture transforms into a velvety smooth consistency that looks like pure happiness.

• Layer Flavor Foundations

Choose a beautiful glass dish and start building your edible artwork. Spread a generous base of vanilla wafers, then nestle sliced bananas between each crispy layer. The key is creating a stunning landscape of textures and tastes.

• Fold in Dreamy Cream

Gently incorporate fluffy whipped cream into your pudding mixture, creating a cloud-like texture that’ll make your dessert irresistibly light and creamy. Carefully fold to maintain the airy volume of the cream.

• Assemble Delectable Layers

Alternate between pudding mixture, wafers, and banana slices. Stack these delightful components 3-4 times, ensuring each spoonful delivers a perfect balance of flavors. Finish with a crowning layer of pudding.

• Chill and Celebrate

Top your masterpiece with a billowy blanket of sweetened whipped cream. Sprinkle extra wafers or banana slices for a gorgeous finishing touch. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, allowing all the flavors to mingle and create pure dessert magic.

Tips for Layering and Creaminess in Ina’s Banana Pudding

• Maximize Banana Pudding Perfection: Smart Baking Strategies
• Pick Perfect Bananas: Select ripe bananas with golden-yellow skin and minimal brown spots for the sweetest, most intense flavor without overwhelming mushiness.
• Prevent Banana Browning: Toss sliced bananas in a light splash of lemon juice to maintain their fresh appearance and slow down oxidation during preparation.
• Wafer Texture Hack: Let vanilla wafers sit in the pudding layers for 30-60 minutes before serving to create a delightful soft-yet-slightly-crunchy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this dessert the night before serving to allow flavors to develop and layers to merge beautifully, creating an even more delicious final result.

Silky Ina Garten Banana Pudding Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s banana pudding combines classic Southern comfort with elegant simplicity. Creamy layers of rich custard, fresh bananas, and vanilla wafers create a delightful dessert you’ll savor with pure pleasure.

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Ingredients

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• 4 fresh bananas
• 1 11 oz (311 g) vanilla wafers
• 2 cups (480 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups (480 ml) cold milk
• 1 14 oz (397 g) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 (3.4 oz or 96 g each) instant vanilla pudding packages
• 3 tbsps powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Pudding Base Preparation: Whisk instant vanilla pudding mix with cold milk in a large bowl, beating continuously until smooth and thickened, then integrate sweetened condensed milk thoroughly.
2. Cream Transformation: Whip heavy cream in a chilled bowl until stiff peaks form, then gently fold two-thirds into the pudding mixture, maintaining its airy texture.
3. Sweetened Topping Creation: Blend powdered sugar into remaining whipped cream, creating a luxurious topping, and chill briefly.
4. Layer Foundation: Construct the dessert by creating an initial base of vanilla wafers, covering the entire serving dish bottom completely.
5. Banana Distribution: Strategically place banana slices across the wafer foundation, ensuring full coverage and even distribution.
6. Pudding Layering: Carefully spoon the pudding mixture over banana layer, spreading evenly and creating a smooth surface. Repeat layering sequence of wafers, bananas, and pudding mixture until ingredients are exhausted.
7. Final Presentation: Crown the dessert with reserved sweetened whipped cream, creating an elegant topping.
8. Chilling and Setting: Refrigerate the completed banana pudding for a minimum of two hours, allowing flavors to meld and achieve optimal texture before serving.

Notes

• Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to develop and pudding to set perfectly, enhancing overall taste and texture.
• Precision in Layering: Create even, uniform layers of wafers, bananas, and pudding to ensure balanced flavor and visual appeal in every bite.
• Whip Cream Technique: Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks carefully, maintaining its airy structure to guarantee a light, fluffy texture throughout the dessert.
• Banana Freshness: Use ripe but firm bananas to prevent browning and maintain optimal texture when layered in the pudding.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 576
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 350 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 62 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg