This easy strawberry banana pudding recipe has layers of fresh bananas, juicy strawberries, creamy pudding, Nilla wafers, and fluffy whipped cream. It’s the perfect no-bake banana strawberry dessert for summer and always a hit!
The best strawberry banana pudding
Strawberry banana pudding puts a delicious spin on traditional banana pudding. It’s a luscious and moreish dessert, with the perfect amount of creamy, smooth pudding, tender cookies, juicy strawberries, and sweet bananas.
To amp up the strawberry factor, I decided to make strawberry pudding instead of classic vanilla pudding, but that is optional. Plus, the soft pink color looks so pretty!
And did I mention how crazy-easy this banana and strawberry dessert is? You essentially mix the pudding, slice your fruit, and then layer everything up. Simple!
We love it so much that it frequently appears on holiday dessert tables, summer BBQs, family gatherings, and potlucks. A crowd pleaser for sure!
If you love the banana strawberry combo as much as we do, be sure to check out this strawberry banana cheesecake salad next!
Ingredients
Here’s a list of ingredients needed to make this summery strawberry banana pudding. Please have a look at the recipe card below for detailed measurements.
- Sweetened condensed milk brings sweetness and creaminess to the banana pudding. You need one 14-oz can of full-fat sweetened condensed milk.
- Instant pudding: I used strawberry instant pudding mix to emphasize the strawberry flavor and give the pudding a lovely pink hue. Feel free to swap in instant vanilla pudding for a more classic banana pudding flavor. In any case, make sure you’re using instant pudding; cook & serve pudding will not work here.
- Water is required to prepare the pudding. You can also use milk for an even richer taste.
- Nilla wafers: Every good banana pudding uses sweet vanilla wafers.
- Bananas: Fresh banana slices give all the banana flavor this pudding needs. For the best results, use firm, slightly green bananas. Ripe or spotted bananas aren’t ideal here – save those for banana bread!
- Strawberries: Fresh, juicy strawberries contribute to the amazing strawberry flavor. So be sure you pick up some sweet, ripe, high-quality berries.
- Heavy whipping cream: We need this to make the homemade whipped cream. The cream must be very cold. Otherwise, it will not whip up and hold volume as well, potentially causing your pudding to fall flat. You can also use Cool Whip if you prefer.
How to make strawberry banana pudding
Strawberry banana pudding with condensed milk is an impressive dessert, but surprisingly simple to put together. I’m so excited for you to dig in! Let’s walk through the process step-by-step!
#1: Prepare pudding
Pour the sweetened condensed milk and water into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, mix until combined. Add the instant strawberry pudding mix and beat to combine.
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap. Set in the fridge to firm up.
#2: Add whipped cream
Add the heavy cream to a chilled mixing bowl. Beat until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the strawberry pudding with a rubber spatula.
#3: Assemble banana pudding
Add a small amount of pudding to the bottom of your trifle dish. Then add a layer of Nilla wafers and place a row of cookies against the wall of the dish. Add layers of bananas and strawberry slices. Top with 1/3 of the pudding mixture and smooth with a spatula. Repeat these layers 2 more times and alternate a row of strawberries and bananas. Finish with pudding.
#4: Garnish & chill
Whip the cream to stiff peaks and pile it on top of the banana pudding. Chill in the refrigerator, until set and the wafer cookies have softened.
How to serve strawberry banana pudding
Decorate the top of the pudding with a few banana slices, halved strawberries, and some more vanilla wafers. The cookies will create a little crunch with the wafers that have softened in the pudding.
To serve, scoop portions of the pudding into bowls, small mason jars, or dessert plates – whichever you prefer. Enjoy!
Tips for success
I have a few tips to help you create the most beautiful and tastiest banana strawberry pudding ever:
- Layering the fruit: When assembling the pudding, cut and cover the bananas and strawberry slices quickly to minimize exposure to air. This will prevent the bananas from browning. You can find more tips on this in the FAQ section below!
- Wait to garnish the pudding until just before serving: Doing so ensures the banana coins and strawberries look fresh and delicious. Or you can also decorate with just the whipped cream and Nilla wafers.
- Serving options: You can serve your strawberry banana pudding in a large trifle bowl, a 9×13 inch baking dish, or individual serving bowls (such as small mason jars). The 9×13 baking dish is probably the most convenient to travel with (if you want to bring the pudding to a putlock or family gathering). The trifle dish looks very impressive with the gorgeous layers of pudding, fruit, and cookies.
Storage & make-ahead
Make strawberry banana pudding ahead
Strawberry banana trifle is a great dessert to make ahead. Honestly, it tastes best if you let it rest for a couple of hours before serving. It allows the flavors to mingle, and the cookies have a chance to soak up some of the pudding.
I recommend serving the pudding within 4 to 8 hours of making it. The bananas won’t brown too much within that time frame, and your pudding will still look picture-perfect.
If you have a dinner planned, prepare the strawberry pudding the day before and keep it in the fridge overnight. On the morning of, whip the cream and fold it into the pudding. Then layer the pudding and pop it in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
How to store strawberry banana pudding
The pudding will keep for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The bananas might brown a bit, but the taste will remain the same. The Nilla wafers also continue softening over time.
How do you keep strawberry banana pudding from getting soggy?
The key is to store the pudding cold. After assembling the pudding, keep it in the fridge. The strawberries will eventually release their juices, so I suggest serving the pudding within 4 to 8 hours.
Can you freeze strawberry banana pudding?
No, banana pudding doesn’t freeze well. The strawberries and bananas will become mushy, and the pudding will get watery while thawing. It’s best to eat this treat fresh.
Strawberry Banana Pudding Recipe
This easy strawberry banana pudding recipe has layers of fresh bananas, juicy strawberries, creamy pudding, Nilla wafers, and fluffy whipped cream. It's the perfect no-bake banana strawberry dessert for summer and always a hit!
Ingredients
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 cups / 350 ml / 12 fl oz cold water
- 1 box (3.4 oz / 96 g) vanilla instant pudding mix
- 3 cups / 700 ml / 24 fl oz heavy cream
- 3 cups / 450 g / 16 oz sliced barley ripe bananas
- 3 cups / 375 g / 13 oz sliced strawberries
- 1 12-oz / 340 g box Nilla Wafers
Garnish (optional)
- 1/2 cup / 120 ml / 4 fl oz heavy cream
- banana slices
- strawberries
- Nilla wafers
Instructions
- Mix sweetened condensed milk and water. Pour the sweetened condensed milk and water into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, mix until combined. Add the strawberry instant pudding mix and beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until well incorporated.
Tip: Add a few drops of pink or red food coloring for a stronger pink color. - Chill pudding. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap. Set in the fridge to chill completely and firm up, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Whip heavy cream. Add the heavy cream to a chilled mixing bowl. Beat with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Fold pudding and whipped cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the strawberry pudding with a rubber spatula. Be careful not to deflate the whipped cream too much while ensuring everything gets mixed evenly.
- Assemble. Add a small amount of pudding to the bottom of your trifle dish. Then add a layer of Nilla wafers and place a row of cookies against the wall of the dish. Add layers of bananas and strawberry slices. Top with 1/3 of the pudding mixture and smooth with a spatula. Repeat these layers 2 more times and alternate a row of strawberries and bananas. Finish with pudding.
Tip: If you don't have a trifle dish, assemble the banana pudding in a big glass bowl, a 9x13-inch pan, or individual serving cups. - Garnish. For the topping, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Pile it on top of the banana pudding and decorate with banana coins, halved strawberries, and Nilla wafers.
- Chill and serve. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, until set and the wafer cookies have softened. You don't want to go much longer than 8 hours, or the bananas might start to turn brown. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 506Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 204mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 6g
FAQ
How do I keep bananas from browning?
You can do a couple of things to prevent your banana from changing color.
- Use green bananas: Green, slightly underripe bananas will hold up better than more mature or spotted bananas.
- Drizzle with lemon juice: Drizzle the banana slices lightly with an acidic fruit juice like lemon, lime, or pineapple juice. Coat only lightly as not to change the flavor.
- Minimize air exposure: Bananas that are exposed to air will brown quicker than those covered up. So, be sure to hide your bananas under fluffy pudding.
Even with these tips, your bananas are going to turn a little brown after a while, especially the ones near the top that are most exposed to the air.
However, a slightly browned banana doesn’t taste any different, and the texture is still exactly the same. It’s perfectly normal, but assembling the pudding close to serving will be in your favor!
Can I use another flavored instant pudding instead of strawberry?
Absolutely! If you don’t enjoy the strawberry flavoring in strawberry instant pudding, prepare the pudding with vanilla, banana, white chocolate, or cheesecake-flavored instant pudding.
You can also use classic vanilla pudding and add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to tint your banana pudding pink.
Can I use cook and serve pudding?
No, the recipe only works with instant pudding. The cook-and-serve kind has to be cooked over heat to set. And since this is a no-cook pudding, you’d end up with a runny filling.
Can I use Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream?
Sure! If you make this recipe even easier, opt for Cool Whip. On the other hand, whip up real heavy cream if you prefer a silk, richer version.
Is there a substitute for the condensed milk?
No, sweetened condensed milk is key in this creamy banana strawberry pudding. It’s one of those ingredients that can’t be replaced.
If you need a dairy-free alternative, you can try sweetened condensed coconut milk or sweetened condensed oat milk.
What if I don’t have Nilla wafers?
If you don’t have Nilla wafers, you can use another vanilla cookie or graham crackers. The texture and flavor will be a little different, but still delicious.
Why you’ll love this strawberry banana pudding
I love this simple, creamy dessert for many reasons, but here come some of the reasons it’s always a hit:
- Delicious twist on the classic: My banana strawberry pudding is made up of 3 delicious, simple components, all of which complement each other. The Nilla wafers, the whipped cream, the strawberry pudding, and the sweet fruit all shine in their own right.
- Beautifully simple: The recipe consists of simple steps and is quick to whip up.
- Simple ingredients: This strawberry banana dessert uses easy-to-find ingredients like instant pudding, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla wafers, sliced bananas, and strawberries!
- Flexible: You can easily customize the flavor of the fruit, cookies, and pudding to suit your taste.
More banana pudding recipes
Honestly, is there anything better than banana pudding? I crave it all the time and have rounded up a few more recipes that I know your family will love! Try them all, and let me know which is your favorite!
- Condensed Milk Banana Pudding
- Banana Pudding without Condensed Milk
- Meringue Banana Pudding
- Chocolate Banana Pudding
- Red Velvet Banana Pudding
- Banana Pudding Brownies
Other strawberry desserts
There’s a reason why strawberries are a summer staple. They are so delicious and refreshing! Here are a few more great recipes to try when juicy strawberries are in season.
