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Easy No-Bake Banana Pudding Trifle Recipe for Perfect Summer Dessert

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A quick and easy no-bake banana pudding trifle featuring creamy homemade pudding, ripe bananas, and crunchy Nilla Wafers. Perfect for summer, this nostalgic dessert requires no oven and is ready in under 20 minutes plus chilling time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups whole milk (or 480 ml; use dairy-free milk like almond if preferred)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (40 g; for gluten-free, try a 1:1 baking flour)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large egg yolks (room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28 g; softened)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4–5 ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1 box Nilla Wafers (about 11 ounces / 312 g)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240 ml; chilled)
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (15 g; optional for whipped cream sweetness)

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined.
  2. Slowly pour in 2 cups of milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
  3. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and starts to bubble—about 7-9 minutes.
  4. In a small bowl, lightly beat the 3 egg yolks.
  5. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the yolks while whisking vigorously to temper the eggs.
  6. Pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons softened butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
  8. Transfer pudding to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface, and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  9. While pudding cools, beat 1 cup chilled heavy cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar until soft peaks form—about 3-4 minutes on medium speed.
  10. Gently fold about half of the whipped cream into the cooled pudding to lighten the texture, saving the rest for topping.
  11. In a glass serving dish, start with a layer of Nilla Wafers (about 1 cup crushed or whole).
  12. Add a layer of banana slices, then spread a layer of pudding mixture on top.
  13. Repeat layers, ending with pudding.
  14. Finish with the remaining whipped cream spread over the top and a few whole Nilla Wafers for decoration.
  15. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours—overnight is best for flavors to meld.

Notes

Whisk continuously while cooking pudding to prevent lumps. Temper egg yolks slowly to avoid scrambling. Whip cream to soft peaks for light texture. Layer wafers gently to maintain crunch. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor and texture. Can substitute Nilla Wafers with graham crackers, ladyfingers, or gingersnaps. For dairy-free, use coconut milk and coconut whipped cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana pudding, no-bake dessert, summer dessert, trifle, Nilla Wafers, easy dessert, homemade pudding, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/easy-no-bake-banana-pudding-trifle-recipe-for-perfect-summer-dessert/