Strawberry banana pudding is a delightful variation of the classic banana pudding combining two tasty fruits into a creamy cookie filled pudding!
Strawberry banana pudding is so good! I honestly got the idea from my husband when he asked me to make it one day. Desserts are my favorite things to create so I tried a few different ways to incorporate strawberries into banana pudding and this is the best recipe that I came up with! It’s fresh with the sweet and tart taste that strawberries have as well as packed with banana flavor. The Nilla Wafers add even more vanilla flavor to the creamy vanilla pudding. Ya’ll know I love vanilla!
This recipe is one of those that require very few ingredients. Strawberries, bananas, Nilla wafers, vanilla instant pudding, milk, cool whip, and a splash of vanilla extract! Yum, Yum! You are more than welcome to leave the extra vanilla extract out; it just adds even more flavor and I am a lover of vanilla flavor. I always have to have a few bottles of that stuff in my pantry.
My family loves banana pudding. My mom, siblings, niece, and nephews love it and it is my husband’s favorite. I made my classic banana pudding recipe for my daughter’s first birthday party and it was gone before the party was over. That always puts a smile on my face when people love my recipes! Try this strawberry banana pudding recipe out or my classic banana pudding and be sure to leave a comment on how you liked it!
Ingredients in Strawberry Banana Pudding
Strawberries– The fresher the better. Try to find strawberries that are fresh and sweet. Avoid the older ones if you can to keep your dessert as fresh as possible.
Bananas– It isn’t banana pudding without bananas, right? If you are one of those who does not like how mushy and brown bananas can turn after sitting a while then opt for a banana instant pudding and prepare it the same way just with no bananas.
Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix– This is gonna be the base of the pudding and the vanilla flavor is the best route to go for classic banana pudding flavor. Feel free to use banana flavor, or even cheesecake flavor and always add the splash of vanilla extract.
Milk– You need milk to make the instant pudding. I use skim milk in mine but use whatever dairy milk that you have on hand.
Cool Whip– You will add this to the pudding mixture and it is going to make it lighter and more fluffy. The taste will change slightly as well and make all the difference in how your pudding turns out.
Vanilla Extract– This will add more vanilla flavor and make the pudding taste like it is from scratch instead of a box pudding.
Nilla Wafers– These are going to add dimension to the flavor offering a delicious vanilla cookie flavor as well as texture to the pudding.
Tips for Better Strawberry Banana Pudding
- Use fresh ripe fruit. Make sure your fruit is sweet but not on the verge of being old. You have to find the fruit sweet spot and this will make your pudding last longer in the fridge.
- Cut strawberries into cubes for easier eating. There will be strawberries in every bite as well.
- Slice bananas into thin slices right before layering so that they do not turn brown while sitting out.
- Use the splash of vanilla extract for a more homemade flavor or omit it if you do not have any.
- Do not leave the cool whip out of the pudding. During my days of trying out recipes I missed this step and it was not a good thing.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours for the softest pudding, 1 hour if you just can’t wait.
- Feel free to use whatever containers you would like. This is just a layering of ingredients so you can use one big bowl, mason jars, small bowls, cups, whatever you would like.
How to Make Strawberry Banana Pudding
- Prepare pudding in a mixing bowl using powdered box mix and 2 cups of milk. Whisk it all together then set aside to let pudding get firm.
- Wash strawberries and then cut them into cubes.
- Mix Cool Whip into pudding.
- Mix vanilla extract into pudding.
- Slice bananas into thin slices.
- In your desired serving container, place a layer of Nilla Wafers down, then place a layer of pudding on top of the cookies, then place a layer of banana slices on top of the pudding, then place a layer of strawberries on top of the bananas.
- Repeat these layers to the top of your container. Finish with a layer of pudding and crushed Nilla Wafers. If you run out of pudding, then top with a layer of Cool Whip and crushed Nilla Wafers.
- Place it in the fridge for about 3 hours or until you are ready to serve. Smaller containers need less time.
- Enjoy!
Strawberry Banana Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 3.4 oz box Vanilla Instant Pudding
- 2 cups Milk
- 2 Bananas sliced
- 1 1/2 cups Strawberries diced
- 1 cup Cool Whip
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 box Nilla Wafers
Instructions
- Prepare pudding in a mixing bowl using powdered box mix and 2 cups of milk. Whisk it all together then set aside to let pudding get firm.
- Wash strawberries and then cut them into cubes.
- Mix Cool Whip into pudding.
- Mix vanilla extract into pudding.
- Slice bananas into thin slices.
- In your desired serving container, place a layer of Nilla Wafers down, then place a layer of pudding on top of the cookies, then place a layer of banana slices on top of the pudding, then place a layer of strawberries on top of the bananas.
- Repeat these layers to the top of your container. Finish with a layer of pudding and crushed Nilla Wafers. If you run out of pudding, then top with a layer of Cool Whip and crushed Nilla Wafers.
- Place it in the fridge for about 3 hours or until you are ready to serve. Smaller containers need less time.
- Enjoy!
