Description
Southern charm shines through this peanut banana pudding recipe, blending creamy textures with nostalgic comfort. Layers of silky pudding, ripe bananas, and crunchy peanuts create a delightful dessert you’ll savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bananas (large, sliced)
- 2 cups (480 ml) salted peanuts (roughly chopped)
- 1 box 11 oz/311 g vanilla wafers or butter cookies
- 1 package 3.4 oz/96 g instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups (480 ml) cold milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Crushed peanuts (for garnish)
- Banana slices (for garnish)
- Whipped cream (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pudding Preparation: Whisk instant pudding mix with cold milk until smooth and lump-free, creating a velvety base for the dessert.
- Whipped Cream Creation: Beat heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff, glossy peaks form, yielding a luxurious cream component.
- Mixture Fusion: Gently fold whipped cream into pudding, maintaining an airy texture and ensuring complete integration of flavors.
- Layering Foundation: Chill the combined mixture for 20-30 minutes to set and intensify taste profile. Select a serving vessel like a trifle dish or individual glasses.
- Strategic Composition: Create alternating layers of chilled pudding, freshly sliced bananas, crisp vanilla wafers, and crunchy salted peanuts. Build multiple tiers to develop complex texture and visual appeal.
- Final Touches: Top the dessert with a smooth pudding layer, garnish with crushed peanuts, additional banana slices, and an optional whipped cream accent.
- Resting Period: Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and consistency to become perfectly harmonized.
Notes
- Prevent Banana Browning: Toss freshly sliced bananas with a splash of lemon juice to maintain their pristine color and prevent rapid oxidation.
- Texture Perfection: Ensure pudding mix is completely dissolved by whisking vigorously and letting it sit for 2-3 minutes before folding in whipped cream.
- Crunch Conservation: Add peanuts and wafers just before serving to maintain their crisp texture and prevent soggy layers.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap instant pudding with chia seed pudding for a gluten-free, vegan alternative, using plant-based milk and coconut cream for similar creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg