11 Banana Pudding Variations Sweeter Than a Glass of Iced Tea

Updated on Mar. 19, 2026

These fun banana pudding variations include all our favorite elements of banana pudding: bananas, custard and wafer cookies.

Fluffy, creamy and wonderfully sweet, banana pudding recipes span generations. You may know the pudding with a meringue topping a la Grandma or with a much more achievable homemade whipped cream topping with crushed Nilla wafers. Some may know it only by sight from viral videos scooping up Magnolia Bakery’s most popular dessert. But however you know banana pudding, it’s no surprise that its perfectly balanced flavors have become influential enough to spin all sorts of creative banana pudding variations, leaving the 13×9-inch baking pan for new sites.

These banana pudding recipes infuse our favorite aspects of a banana pudding—sliced bananas, vanilla custard and Nilla wafers—into familiar desserts. Expect light upgrades to banana pudding, such as assembling it into a trifle with a few other upgrades, adding an old-fashioned meringue topping or introducing more fruit into the layers. But there are also major overhauls that put whole new spins on banana pudding, turning it into cupcakes, poke cakes, regular cakes, cookies and even tiramisu.

So many of these recipes can be easily turned gluten-free as needed, and many, if not all, of these banana pudding desserts can be made ahead of time too. That means they’re perfect for spring and summer gatherings. Add banana pudding recipes to your Easter dessert menu, spring recipes and summer potlucks, and enjoy the dreamy banana dessert in all its classic and modern forms.

1/11

Banana Pudding Tiramisu

1 Reviews

Total Time:35 min

Servings:9

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Tiramisu Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: This banana pudding tiramisu combines two trendy desserts into one. We use banana liqueur and add fresh bananas to the mix for the best banana flavor. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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2/11

Banana Pudding Cupcakes

Total Time:48 min

Servings:2 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: I'm from the south, where everyone loves banana pudding. I also love cupcakes, so this is an amazing way to have a special treat of both at the same time! —Lori Johnson, Alex City, Alabama

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3/11

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

3 Reviews

Total Time:50 min

Servings:15

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Every bite of banana pudding poke cake is packed with the beloved flavors of banana pudding. Instant banana pudding seeps into each slice of yellow cake, while sliced bananas and crushed vanilla wafers perch on top of the whipped cream frosting. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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4/11

Banana Pudding Cake

8 Reviews

Total Time:45 min

Servings:16

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: I love to make cakes, and my family loves banana pudding. One day while brainstorming in the kitchen, I came up with this banana pudding cake recipe to combine the two. My family and friends can't get enough of it! If you are pressed for time, you may substitute whipped topping for the homemade sweetened whipped cream. —Tiffany Barbee, Rocky Mount, North Carolina

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5/11

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding Recipe

13 Reviews

Total Time:45 min

Servings:8

Test Kitchen Approved

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: This old southern recipe features a comforting custard layered with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas, then topped with meringue. I serve it year-round. —Jan Campbell, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

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6/11

Strawberry Banana Pudding

4 Reviews

Total Time:20 min

Servings:12

Test Kitchen Approved

Strawberry Banana Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: I add in additional fruit to get a little closer to all those servings you need each day. You can also try using different flavored puddings and fruit to switch up the recipe. —Jackie Termont, Richmond, Virginia

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7/11

Banana Pudding Cookies

Total Time:20 min

Servings:2-1/2 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Capture the timeless flavors of banana pudding with this cookie version. Using banana cream pudding along with white chocolate chips in the dough and crushed Nilla wafers for the topper, you’ll definitely go bananas over this treat. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon

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8/11

Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese

7 Reviews

Total Time:15 min

Servings:12

Test Kitchen Approved

From the Recipe Creator: I blend cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping into instant pudding and then layer it with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas. Served in a pretty glass bowl, this banana pudding with cream cheese makes for a fancy yet fuss-free dessert. —Edna Perry, Rice, Texas

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9/11

Banana Pudding Tart

Contest Winner

Total Time:55 min

Servings:14

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Tart Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Here's a tart version of the classic banana pudding. Use the entire box of vanilla wafers, reserving 1/4 cup to sprinkle on the whipped cream topping. Add chai spice to make it interesting! —Tania Gordon, Chicago, Illinois

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10/11

Banana Pudding

65 Reviews

Total Time:35 min

Servings:9

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia

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11/11

Banana Pudding Cups

10 Reviews

Total Time:45 min

Servings:12

Test Kitchen Approved

Banana Pudding Cups Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Creamy and rich, this homemade banana pudding recipe is so easy. Layer it in a trifle bowl for a pretty presentation. —Ruth Kizer, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Banana Pudding Variations FAQ

How can you jazz up banana pudding recipes?

There are two routes you can take to jazz up banana pudding dessert ideas: Introduce new flavors to classic banana pudding, or put all the flavors of banana pudding into a new dessert. For the former, play around with the pudding’s flavor by adding extracts or a bit of booze like rum or banana liqueur. Or, zhuzh up the topping with toasted nuts, torched meringue, chocolate shavings or homemade whipped cream.

For the latter, add all the elements of banana pudding—bananas, pudding and Nilla wafers—to classic desserts like pies, cookies, tarts, cheesecakes or cakes. Our banana pudding variations are tried-and-tested recipes that infuse these flavors into everyday desserts.

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding recipes?

To keep bananas from turning brown in banana pudding, make sure they’re completely covered by the pudding layers when assembling. Bananas turn brown when they’re exposed to air for a certain amount of time, but if they’re covered, they won’t turn brown. You could also lightly spritz the sliced bananas with lemon juice, as acid prevents oxidation.

What can you use instead of Nilla wafers for banana pudding?

Instead of Nilla wafers, layer your banana pudding with graham crackers, gingersnaps, peanut butter cookies or shortbread. Make sure they’re thinner cookies, as they’re supposed to soften in the banana pudding. Thicker cookies won’t soften to their core and will keep a crunchy texture in the banana pudding that creates an unpleasant mouthfeel.