The Best Layered Banana Pudding Trifle

Everybody loves a scoop of cool, luscious banana pudding. Serve it as a Layered Banana Pudding Trifle, and now you’ve got a full-on show stopper! This beautiful dessert comes together seamlessly and features layer upon layer of vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, Nilla Wafers, and a thick and creamy homemade whipped cream.

In addition to a gorgeous new dessert recipe, you’ll also leave today with tricks and make-ahead tips that make this beauty over the top easy!

HOW TO KEEP YOUR DESSERT FROM BEING DESSERTED

I don’t know about your family, but when mine gets together, there is typically an outrageous amount of food, and desserts are never in short supply. It’s like the women in my family just can’t contain themselves, and pies, cakes, and cookies flood the tables.

On any given occasion, we could make a meal of the sugary stuff alone. I’m not saying it would be a healthy meal, I’m just saying there’s always more than enough dessert to go around. Inevitably a whole pie or cake will go almost untouched. Heartbreaker.

I imagine a dessert overload is not too far out of the ordinary for most Southern potluck gatherings. So how do you make your dessert stand out amongst the rest? How do you keep your dessert from being…well, deserted? Let’s face it: When it comes to potluck desserts, us ladies are on the hunt for a Real Deal Holyfield show-stopper. A dessert that’ll bring the house down and have guests ranting and raving over our sweet, sweet success.

Dear friends, your solution lies within the many layers of the lovely trifle. A trifle is a layered dessert typically consisting of pudding, some sort of cake and whipped cream. They are moist, decadent and absolutely beautiful.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST LAYERED BANANA PUDDING TRIFLE

Banana Pudding Trifle begins with a creamy, decadent homemade vanilla pudding and layers of fresh sliced bananas. If you don’t want to make pudding yourself, purchase 3 large boxes of vanilla pudding mix, whip up a big batch, and use that instead.

Once the pudding has cooled (which takes a good while — be sure to account for this in your prep time), you’ll make the whipped cream and begin putting together your trifle. Whipped cream is another one of those things you could sub in a store-bought version for, however, I will encourage you with this: Homemade whipped cream is extremely easy and fast to make, and storebought renditions typically do not even come close to the real thing. It’s an extra step, but one worth taking.

HOW TO LAYER THE TRIFLE

Layering your banana pudding trifle is as simple as following this pattern:

• Pudding
• Bananas
• Pudding
• Nilla Wafers
• Pudding
• Whipped Cream

You’ll repeat this pattern twice for you trifle, and end it with the decorative placement of leftover Nilla Wafers.

MAKE-AHEAD TIPS

You can make your homemade or vanilla pudding up to 2 days in advance. Your whipped cream can be made up to a day in advance. This will help you to pace out the work, and also ensure that all of your ingredients are perfectly cooled come assembly time.

The trifle itself is best made either the night before you intend to serve it, or at least 2 hours in advance so it is served completely chilled.

It’s cool, it’s satisfying and absolutely perfect for both spring and summertime entertaining. Not only that, but this Southern trifle is guaranteed to get your dessert the attention it deserves. Please, enjoy.

4.6 from 15 votes

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Banana Pudding Trifle | Recipe

Prep Time

40 mins

Pudding Chill Time

7 hrs

Total Time

40 mins

 

A classic Southern pudding dessert recipe featuring homemade vanilla pudding and whipped cream, Nilla Wafer cookies and bananas.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 Servings

Calories: 562 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

For the Homemade Vanilla Pudding:

• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt separated
• 5 cups whole milk
• 8 large egg yolks
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Whipped Cream:

• 4 cups cold heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners (powdered) sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Trifle:

• 4 - 4 1/2 cups homemade vanilla pudding
• 2-3 bananas, cut at a 1/4” bias
• 4 cups homemade whipped cream
• 8-10 ounces Nilla Wafers™

Instructions

For the Vanilla Pudding:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and fine sea salt. Set aside until ready to use.

2. In a large sauce pan, warm the milk over medium heat. Do not allow to simmer. Remove from the heat once warmed and set aside.

3. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. If you don't have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until pale yellow and thickened, 3-5 minutes.

4. Sprinkle in cornstarch mixture and mix until absorbed. Then, mixing on low, stream in the warmed milk. Remove from the stand mixer, and scrape down the sides of the bowl, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan.

5. 
   

6. Transfer to the stovetop and place over medium heat, slowly stirring, occasionally, for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture reaches a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 2-3 minutes, until thickened. 

7. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter until melted, followed by the vanilla extract. Refrigerate for 4-5 hours, or until chilled through. The pudding can be made up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

For the Whipped Cream:

1. For the whipped cream, combine cream, confectioners sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a 1/4 teaspoon sea salt in the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Alternatively, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. 

2. Begin beating on low speed until the mixture has just slightly thickened, then crank up the speed to medium-high. Beat for 2-4 minutes, until stiff peaks have formed. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Trifle:

1. To assemble the trifle, in a standard-sized trifle bowl, add a layer of vanilla pudding (about 3/4 cup) and spread using an offset spatula or the back of a large spoon. Add a single layer of bananas across the pudding, followed by another layer of pudding. Place Nilla Wafers ™ atop and add one more layer of pudding. Top with 2 cups of the whipped cream. Repeat this exact process once more. 

   NOTE: Both additions will go like this: Pudding, bananas, pudding, wafer cookies, pudding, and lastly, whipped cream.

2. Place trifle in the refrigerator and allow to chill at least 2 hours before serving.

Recipe Notes

You must allow the pudding at least 4-5 hours to completely cool. DO NOT combine warm pudding and cold whipped cream in the same serving vessel. 

 

Pudding will be gritty if cooked over too high of a heat setting. Do not be tempted to raise the heat above medium to reach a simmer more quickly.

Nutrition Facts

Banana Pudding Trifle | Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 562 Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 34g 52%

Saturated Fat 20g 100%

Cholesterol 203mg 68%

Sodium 264mg 11%

Potassium 241mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 58g 19%

Sugars 45g

Protein 6g 12%

Vitamin A 26.1%

Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 15.3%

Iron 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.