Paula Deen’s banana pudding

 

Ingredients

• 2 pkg Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
• 6 medium bananas, sliced
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 box (5 oz) Instant Banana cream pudding mix ***
• 2 cups milk ***
• 12 oz Cool Whip, thawed

Instructions

1. Line the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish with one package of chessmen cookies. Top with sliced bananas.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add in pudding mix and milk. Beat for several minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Fold in cool whip and spread over banana layer.
4. Top with the remaining package of chessmen cookies. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
5. To serve, slice and serve with an offset spatula. ENJOY

Notes

• French Vanilla or Vanilla Pudding Mix can be substituted for the Banana Cream flavor. Start with fresh, ripened bananas. Preferably ones that are still firm, as the bananas will soften even more as this sits in the refrigerator.
• I used 2% milk, but any variety would work.
• Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies are delicious shortbread cookies and make a great layering cookie. Butter cookies or Nilla Wafers will work if you can’t find them!
• I opt for banana cream instant pudding mix. I think it intensifies the banana flavor to a delicious level. However, Paula Deen uses French Vanilla, and I think even plain-vanilla would work too.
• Use an electric mixer to get smooth pudding results. Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature! The cookies soften as this sits. They become “cake-like” and amazingly fitted.
• For best results, allow the banana pudding to chill for at least 4 hours, overnight is best!
• Store banana pudding covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

 

Tips and Tricks

1. Use an electric mixer to get smooth pudding results. Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature!
2. For best results, allow the banana pudding to chill for at least 4 hours, overnight is best!
3. Store banana pudding covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

Recipe FAQs

1. How long does banana pudding last?

• The bananas in the banana pudding will begin to brown after two days.

1. Is it good to freeze banana pudding?

• I don’t recommend freezing banana pudding. The texture of the cookies will change, and the bananas will turn very dark and unappetizing.

Nutritional information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 219Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 89mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gprotein: 4g

 

Prep Time15 minutes

Chill Time4 hours

Total Time4 hours 15 minutes