If you're looking for a classic dessert with a modern twist, look no further than this irresistible Banana Pudding Parfaits recipe. This dessert takes the classic Southern dessert of banana pudding and turns it into a beautifully layered and decadent treat that's perfect for any occasion.
At the heart of this recipe is a creamy and delicious vanilla pudding made from scratch with simple ingredients like sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, and whole milk. The pudding is infused with rich and flavorful vanilla and a hint of clear vanilla extract, adding depth and complexity to every spoonful. The chilled pudding is layered with slices of ripe bananas and crumbled Nilla Wafers to create the parfait layers.
These sweet and crunchy elements add texture and delicious flavor contrast to the smooth and creamy pudding. To top off this delightful dessert, sweetened whipped cream is folded into the pudding mixture, creating a light, fluffy, decadent, and refreshing texture. The whipped cream adds extra sweetness and a beautiful finishing touch to the parfait.
This Banana Pudding Parfait recipe is the perfect dessert to impress guests at any gathering. It's easy to make ahead of time, which makes it a convenient choice for busy weeknights or special occasions. So if you're looking for a delicious and unique dessert to add to your repertoire, try this Banana Pudding Parfait recipe.
With its layers of creamy pudding, sweet bananas, and crunchy Nilla Wafers, it's sure to become a new favorite among your family and friends. For more banana-inspired recipes, be sure to check out our recipe collection, which includes other delicious treats such as Jumbo Banana Muffins, Marbled Banana Bread, Chocolate Banana Bread, Banana Cake with Chocolate Icing, Toffee Banana Cake, and many others.
How to Make Banana Pudding Parfaits
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it's almost simmering, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. In a separate medium heatproof bowl, whisk the cornstarch, salt, sugar, and eggs together until pale yellow, about 5 minutes. Pour about half of the hot milk mixture into the bowl with the egg mixture and whisk vigorously until smooth. Set a fine-mesh sieve over the saucepan with the milk.
Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking vigorously, until thick and starting to bubble, about 5-8 minutes. Once the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the butter, vanilla extract, and clear vanilla.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly over the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Chill in the refrigerator until cool, for a few hours. Once the pudding is cold, place the heavy cream, Confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium mixing bowl.
Using an electric mixer, whip on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Whisk one-third of the whipped cream into the chilled pudding to loosen it, then using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until incorporated. To assemble the parfaits, spoon a large dollop of the pudding mixture into the bottom of each parfait glass. Top with one layer of cookie pieces and one layer of sliced bananas.
Repeat once and top with a final layer of pudding. Crumble some of the cookie pieces and sprinkle over the top. Refrigerate the parfaits until ready to serve, for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Before serving, garnish with extra Nilla wafer crumbles and sliced bananas, if desired.
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Recipe
Easy Banana Pudding Parfaits
Equipment
- Parfait glasses or small bowls for serving
- Plastic wrap or an airtight lid for covering the pudding mixture
Ingredients
For the Pudding
- ¾ cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 large egg yolks
- 3-½ cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon clear vanilla , pure vanilla extract, banana liqueur, or rum
For the Sweetened Whipped Cream:
- ½ cup heavy cream , cold
- 2 tablespoons Confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Assembling
- 3-4 large bananas , very ripe but not mushy, sliced
- 1-½ boxes Nilla Cookies broken into ¼-inch pieces
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it's almost simmering, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- In a separate medium heatproof bowl, whisk the cornstarch, salt, sugar, and eggs together until pale yellow, about 5 minutes. Pour about half of the hot milk mixture into the bowl with the egg mixture and whisk vigorously until smooth.
- Set a fine-mesh sieve over the saucepan with the milk. Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking vigorously, until thick and starting to bubble, about 5-8 minutes. Once the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the butter, vanilla extract, and clear vanilla. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly over the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Chill in the refrigerator until cool, for a few hours.
- Once the pudding is cold, place the heavy cream, Confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Whisk one-third of the whipped cream into the chilled pudding to loosen it, then using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until incorporated.
- To assemble the parfaits, spoon a large dollop of the pudding mixture into the bottom of each parfait glass. Top with one layer of cookie pieces and one layer of sliced bananas. Repeat once and top with a final layer of pudding. Crumble some of the cookie pieces and sprinkle over the top. Refrigerate the parfaits until ready to serve, for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Before serving, garnish with extra Nilla wafer crumbles and sliced bananas, if desired.
Notes
Make the sweetened whipped cream and refrigerate it separately in an airtight container until you're ready to assemble the parfaits. This step can also be done up to 1 day in advance.
Slice the bananas and crumble the Nilla wafers just before assembling the parfaits. This step should be done just before serving to prevent the bananas from browning and the Nilla wafers from getting soggy.
Assemble the parfaits just before serving, starting with a layer of pudding followed by a layer of sliced bananas and crumbled Nilla wafers, and then a layer of sweetened whipped cream. Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the glass or dish. You can also garnish the top with extra Nilla wafer crumbles or sliced bananas if desired. By preparing the components of the parfait ahead of time, you can easily assemble the parfaits just before serving and have a delicious and impressive dessert ready in no time. How to Freeze Banana Pudding Parfaits are best enjoyed fresh and may not freeze well due to the ingredients used in the recipe. Freezing can affect the texture and flavor of the pudding and whipped cream and may cause the bananas and Nilla wafers to become mushy. Therefore, it's recommended to consume Banana Pudding Parfaits within a few days of making them for the best taste and texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is an estimate, calculated using standard data sources. Actual values may vary based on ingredient brands, preparation methods, and portion sizes. This information is for general reference only and should not be considered a substitute for professional dietary advice.
