Make this creamy and indulgent banana pudding cheesecake for a dessert to remember. Perfect for holidays or special occasions, this is a treat the whole family will love.
Make this creamy and indulgent banana pudding cheesecake for a dessert to remember. Perfect for holidays or special occasions, this is a treat the whole family will love.
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Save time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Save time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Each recipe is ready in 30 minutes or less to save you time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Each recipe is ready in 30 minutes or less to save you time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
These banana pancakes turn out fluffy and full of flavor every time. Try them for a special breakfast or make and freeze for an easy on-the-go morning treat!
These banana pancakes turn out fluffy and full of flavor every time. Try them for a special breakfast or make and freeze for an easy on-the-go morning treat!
This Southern-inspired Vegan Banana Pudding is guaranteed to be a hit at your next get together. Vegan vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices layered between a creamy vegan custard, then topped with whipped cream and additional crushed wafers. All you need is 10 simple ingredients!
This Southern-inspired Vegan Banana Pudding is guaranteed to be a hit at your next get together. Vegan vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices layered between a creamy vegan custard, then topped with whipped cream and additional crushed wafers. All you need is 10 simple ingredients!
As you may know, the traditional creamy banana pudding was first published in Good Housekeeping in 1888 and is now a beloved, classic Southern dessert! The first variations of the dessert combined custard with sponge cake, but over time, the original sponge cake was swapped for vanilla wafer cookies and morphed into the no-bake layered dessert we know today.
We decided it was finally time to put our own vegan spin on the classic recipe, replacing the eggs and dairy with simple vegan-friendly ingredients that are easy to find in mainstream grocery stores today. Plus, we developed our own Homemade Vegan Vanilla Wafers, so everyone can make this recipe!
Bring this delicious vegan dessert to your next family gathering, Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, or even summer BBQs. Everyone loves banana pudding any time of year!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Vegan Vanilla Pudding
Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the pudding while keeping the color light. To make sure your pudding is vegan-friendly, opt for organic sugar.
Cornstarch: Many traditional banana pudding recipes thicken the custard using eggs. In this egg-free, vegan dessert, cornstarch acts as the thickening agent and helps thicken the pudding while keeping it soft and velvety in texture.
Non-dairy milk: Any unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice will work, with the exception of homemade oat milk. Homemade oat milk is likely to gelatinize and become unpleasant and slimy. Instead, try our Homemade Almond Milk, or coconut milk, soy milk, or cashew milk!
Vegan butter: Adds richness and an extra smooth mouthfeel to the pudding.
Vanilla extract: Essential for the vanilla flavor!
Turmeric: Optional, but is used to add a bit of color to the pudding, mimicking the color of traditional egg-based custards.
Vegan condensed milk: Adds sweetness and enhances the rich, creamy texture of the pudding. We used our Homemade Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk, but feel free to use a store-bought vegan condensed milk if you have access to it!
Vegan heavy cream: Used to lighten up the texture of the custard and to top the final dessert with homemade whipped cream! We used a store-bought vegan heavy cream. Look for one near you from brands like Silk, Country Crock, Violife, Let’s Do Organic, or Califia Farms!
For the Assembly:
Vegan vanilla wafers: We used our Homemade Vegan Vanilla Wafers, but if you’re lucky enough to have access to vegan-friendly store-bought cookies, feel free to use them!
Ripe bananas: The best bananas for banana pudding are fresh and ripe but not overly browned and spotty. They should be firm enough to hold their shape once sliced and keep well layered in the dessert.
Combine the cornstarch, sugar, and non-dairy milk. Add the sugar and cornstarch to a medium saucepan and combine. Add 1 cup of non-dairy milk and whisk together until smooth. Whisk in the remaining non-dairy milk.
Simmer the milk mixture until thickened. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, mixing constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5-6 minutes.
Add vegan butter, vanilla, turmeric, and salt. Remove the pudding mixture from the heat and add the vegan butter, vanilla extract, turmeric and salt. Mix together until the vegan butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Set aside to cool. Pour the mixture into a large, heatproof bowl and press a piece pf plastic wrap directly on the surface so a skin doesn’t form. Set aside to cool to room temperature. If making it in advance, place it in the fridge until it is ready to assemble.
Add vegan condensed milk. Once the pudding is cooled to room temperature, add the vegan condensed milk. Mix together and set aside.
Whip the heavy cream. Add the vegan heavy cream to a large bowl. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Fold the whipped cream into the pudding. Add the whipped cream to the bowl with the pudding and fold together gently until combined.
Assemble the Banana Pudding
Begin layering the pudding. To a trifle dish or large baking dish, add a quarter of the pudding mixture to the bottom and spread evenly. Add a layer of vegan vanilla wafers, followed by banana slices.
Layer two more times. Continue layering pudding, followed by wafers and banana slices two more times. Top with the remaining pudding mixture.
Refrigerate. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or up to overnight.
Right Before Serving
Make the whipped cream for topping. Right before serving, add the remaining vegan heavy cream and sugar to a large bowl and whip to soft peaks.
Garnish and serve. Top the banana pudding with the whipped cream and crush any remaining vanilla wafers on top. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Can I make this vegan banana pudding gluten-free?
We used our Homemade Vegan Vanilla Wafers and have not tested our homemade recipe with gluten-free flour yet. However, if you have access to vegan and gluten-free vanilla wafer cookies, this recipe can be easily made gluten-free!
How long does the assembled vegan banana pudding last?
Once assembled, this pudding is best enjoyed within 24 hours. The longer it sits, the softer the cookies will become.
Can I serve right away without chilling?
We recommend chilling for at least a few hours. Chilling the layered dessert helps the pudding firm up and creates a dessert that’s much easier to slice and serve. If you like your cookies to remain on the crunchier side, refrigerate for just 2-3 hours!
How to Prepare Vegan Banana Pudding in Advance
If you’re preparing your banana pudding ahead of a dinner your hosting or the holidays, there are a few components you can prep in advance to make the serving day stress-free.
First, prepare the homemade vanilla wafers, if they are being used, and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Second, prepare the homemade pudding and refrigerate until ready to use.
Then, layer the dessert and refrigerate at least 2 hours ahead of serving or overnight!
Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you make this recipe. We love to see your photos!
This Southern-inspired Vegan Banana Pudding is guaranteed to be a hit at your next get together. Vegan vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices layered between a creamy vegan custard, then topped with whipped cream and additional crushed wafers. All you need is 10 simple ingredients!
Combine the cornstarch, sugar, and non-dairy milk. Add the sugar and cornstarch to a medium saucepan and combine. Add 1 cup of non-dairy milk and whisk together until smooth. Whisk in the remaining non-dairy milk.
Simmer the milk mixture until thickened. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, mixing constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5-6 minutes.
Add vegan butter, vanilla, turmeric, and salt. Remove the pudding mixture from the heat and add the vegan butter, vanilla extract, turmeric and salt. Mix together until the vegan butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Set aside to cool. Pour the mixture into a large, heatproof bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface so a skin doesn’t form. Set aside to cool to room temperature. If making it in advance, place it in the fridge until it is ready to assemble.
Add vegan condensed milk. Once the pudding is cooled to room temperature, add the vegan condensed milk. Mix and set aside.
Whip the heavy cream. Add the vegan heavy cream to a separate large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Fold the whipped cream into the pudding. Add the whipped cream to the bowl with the pudding and fold together gently until combined.
Assembly
Begin layering the pudding. To a trifle dish or large baking dish, add a quarter of the pudding mixture to the bottom and spread evenly. Add a layer of vegan vanilla wafers, followed by banana slices.
Layer two more times. Continue layering pudding, followed by wafers and banana slices two more times. Top with the remaining pudding mixture.
Refrigerate. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or up to overnight.
Right Before Serving
Make the whipped cream for topping. Right before serving, add the remaining vegan heavy cream and sugar to a large bowl and whip to soft peaks.
Garnish and serve. Top the banana pudding with the whipped cream and crush any remaining vanilla wafers on top. Enjoy!
Notes
As the assembled pudding chills in the fridge, the cookies will soften to a cake-like texture and the pudding will firm up. If you prefer the cookies to retain more crunch, only chill for a few hours before serving!
This pudding is best enjoyed within 24 hours. The longer it sits, the softer the cookies will become.
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Save time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan take the stress out of meal time. Save time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!
A great way to start the day, our acai bowl recipe is simple and delicious, combining your favorite berries, fruits, and toppings into a ready-in-minutes Instagram worthy breakfast. Ingredients What is Acai? Acai is a berry grown on the acai palm tree…
A great way to start the day, our acai bowl recipe is simple and delicious, combining your favorite berries, fruits, and toppings into a ready-in-minutes Instagram worthy breakfast. Ingredients What is Acai? Acai is a berry grown on the acai palm tree in the rainforest. Full of antioxidants, acai has taken hold as a great...