These Banana Pudding Bars are a rich, layered dessert that brings together everything people love about classic banana pudding in an easy-to-serve bar form. With a buttery vanilla wafer crust, a smooth banana pudding center, and a light, creamy whipped topping, each layer adds texture and flavor that works perfectly together.
This recipe is designed to be simple and approachable, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a reliable dessert for gatherings, potlucks, or family treats. The step-by-step method keeps things straightforward, while the familiar ingredients make it easy to recreate without stress.
Chilled until perfectly set and finished with a layer of vanilla wafers, these bars deliver a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert that is both comforting and visually appealing.
Yield: 1 – 9×13 pan of bars
Equipment:
9×13 Rectangle Baking Dish
Hand Mixer
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 8 minutes
Idle Time: 4 hours
Ingredients:
Vanilla Wafer Crust
- 3 cups crushed vanilla wafers (1 box vanilla wafers)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Banana Pudding Layer
- 1 3.4 ounce box of banana pudding mix
- 2 cups of milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 bananas, sliced
Whipped Filling
- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla pudding mix
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon banana pudding mix
- 12 ounces of cool whip, thawed
- 1 11 ounce boxes vanilla wafers
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
Blend 1 box of the vanilla wafers in a food processor or blender until crumbs.
Add the crushed wafers and ¼ cup of brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Combine with a fork.
Add the melted butter to the mixture and combine with the fork until crumbly.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes.
To make the banana pudding layer, in a medium pot pour the banana pudding mix and milk together.
Turn the heat on medium heat and constantly whisk the mix until a thick pudding forms Let cook on the heat while whisking for another 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla extract. Let the pudding cool for 10 minutes in the refrigerator
In another bowl, add the cream cheese. Use a hand mixer to blend together until softened and creamy. Add the sweetened condensed milk and blend together again until combined.
Now go in with the whole milk and vanilla and banana pudding mix. Blend once more until a thin mixture is created. Let this sit for 5 minutes so the pudding can get thick.
Then add the cool whip to the thickened mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula.
Once the crust is out of the oven and cooled, pour half of the whipped mixture into the dish.
Then pour the cooled banana pudding on top, spreading evenly again.
Layer the dish with thin slices of banana.
Now pour the rest of the whipped banana filling on top of the bananas. Finish the dessert with a layer of vanilla wafers.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow the whipped filling to set. Cut and enjoy!
