Alton Brown Banana Pudding Recipe

This Alton Brown Banana Pudding recipe is a creamy and nostalgic dessert, which calls for sweet condensed milk and classic vanilla wafers. It’s a crowd-pleasing potluck staple, ready in about 20 minutes (plus chilling).

Alton Brown Banana Pudding Ingredients

• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 package (5 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 container (12 oz) frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
• 1 package (16 oz) vanilla wafers (Nilla Wafers)
• 12 small bananas, sliced (ripe but firm)

How To Make Alton Brown Banana Pudding

1. Mix the pudding base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cold milk and the instant vanilla pudding mix. Beat with a whisk for 2 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken.
2. Sweeten: Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until the mixture is completely smooth and uniform.
3. Add flavor and fluff: Stir in the vanilla extract. Then, using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until no white streaks remain. This creates a light, mousse-like filling.
4. Start layering: In a glass serving bowl or trifle dish (to show off the layers), arrange a layer of vanilla wafers covering the bottom.
5. Add fruit: Top the wafers with a layer of sliced bananas.
6. Add pudding: Spread a layer of the pudding mixture over the bananas.
7. Repeat: Repeat the layers (wafers, bananas, pudding) until you reach the top of the bowl or run out of ingredients. End with a layer of pudding.
8. Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours). This allows the wafers to soften slightly and become cake-like.
9. Serve: Just before serving, crush a handful of extra vanilla wafers and sprinkle them over the top for crunch. Serve cold.

Recipe Tips

• Banana ripeness: Use bananas that are yellow with just a few brown spots. If they are too green, they will be starchy; if too brown, they will be mushy in the pudding.
• Preventing browning: If you are making this well in advance, you can toss the banana slices in a little lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown, though the pudding seal usually protects them well enough.
• The Wafers: Nilla Wafers are the gold standard here. Their texture softens perfectly without disintegrating.
• Cold Milk: Ensure your milk is very cold when mixing the instant pudding, or it won’t set properly.

What To Serve With Alton Brown Banana Pudding

This dessert is sweet enough to stand alone.

• Hot Coffee: Balances the sugar.
• Fresh Berries: A tart garnish.
• Whipped Cream: Extra dollops on top never hurt.

How To Store Alton Brown Banana Pudding

• Refrigerate: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that, the bananas may become too brown and liquidy.
• Freeze: Freezing is not recommended as the bananas will turn black and mushy.

Alton Brown Banana Pudding Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 350kcal
• Protein: 4g
• Carbohydrates: 58g
• Fat: 12g
• Saturates: 8g
• Sugar: 45g
• Salt: 0.3g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 20 servings).

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