Southern Banana Pudding for a Crowd
Even though I am from the South, I have never actually made banana pudding before (shocker I know!!!!). This week I teamed up with a couple of other Sales guys at work to cook for charity. We chose a Southern theme for our submission. What is more Southern than banana pudding? Nothing! We were feeding a bunch so I whipped up this no bake banana pudding recipe that feeds a crowd and will have everyone asking for your recipe.
(Note that the new banana pudding pics show a third of the full recipe. This makes enough Southern banana pudding for a crowd in a big roaster pan like the picture below.)
I volunteered to make banana pudding. Easy, peasy....right?
Well, I forgot about it and then had to figure out a recipe last minute. This recipe checked all the boxes. It's not really like my Granny's (hers had meringue) but I prefer whipped cream instead. Meringue is just not my thing. (It may that my granddaddy always called it "calf slobbers" growing up. Ick!)
I would definitely call this a cheater recipe. Traditional Southern banana pudding has a cooked pudding base while this recipe has an instant pudding base. Thankfully, the instant pudding base makes this a no-bake recipe which we all love.
Regardless it tastes AWESOME and was a big hit with everyone. Don't be wary of the condensed milk in the recipe either. It doesn't make the recipe too sweet, it just changes the banana pudding for a crowd from just good to AMAZING.
Make it for your next barbecue party or take it to a potluck. I guarantee someone will ask for the recipe. Not sure you want to make banana pudding but looking for that flavor? Try my Banana Pudding Rice Krispies instead!
Did you know...
- Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the American diet?
- Bananas float!
- Bananas are officially a berry!
Who knew! Bananas are a favourite in our house (tho Dewey is actually allergic to them). We use them in Green Smoothies, Banana Bread and, of course, Banana pudding. I also love them just as they are or sliced on top of toast slathered with crunchy peanut butter.
If I'm going to eat bananas by themselves, they have to be perfectly yellow with a tinge of green at the top with no brown spots. Once a brown spot appears, into the freezer they go (peeled of course) for smoothies and banana bread. Banana pudding is best when made with ripe but not mushy bananas.
How to Make Southern Banana Pudding for a Crowd
Banana Pudding for a Crowd
Love banana pudding but not sure how to make enough for a crowd? Here is how to make banana pudding for a crowd that everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 3 14 oz/300 ml cans condensed milk
- 4 ½ cups cold water
- 3 3.4 oz packages vanilla instant pudding, small
- 6 cups whipping cream, whipped
- 2 15 oz boxes Nilla wafers
- 12 bananas, +/- depends on how big they are
- additional whipped cream for garnish
- 1 disposable rectangular turkey roaster pan (20.5” x 12.5” x 2.75”)
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine condensed milk and water. Stir until well mixed. Add vanilla pudding and mix well with a whisk. Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
- Whip whipping cream in small batches (you cannot whip 6 cups of cream in a normal mixer at one time....ask me how I know).
- Peel bananas and cut them into ½ inch thick circles. Toss banana pieces with lemon juice to keep from browning. Set aside.
- Gently fold whipped cream into chilled pudding mixture until just mixed. Spread ¼ of the mixture in the bottom of the roaster pan. Follow with a layer of vanilla wafers and then a layer of bananas. Top with pudding mixture, layer of cookies, layer of bananas & finish off with the rest of the pudding. Chill overnight if possible.
- To serve, add additional whipped cream for garnish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
30Amount Per Serving: Calories: 370Saturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 130mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 35gProtein: 4g
Recipe Notes: This is BIG. It will serve a lot of people. It is a big party pleaser, though, so it is worth it. My friend Jolene said, "It's like a slice of heaven." If you have a smaller group just make the original recipe.
Southern food is kind of my jam. If it's yours too, you'll want to check out these fantastic Southern Recipes!
Super Chocolatey Coca Cola Cake
Retro Southern Recipes - Tea Cakes (Cookies)
Yum .that does sound good..
Yummie! Made one n it's just a hit. ???
How did u make whipping cream?
Did you see my earlier comment? Just buy liquid heavy cream, whip it and add sugar and vanilla to taste.
Will this feed a 100, or should I make a small one as well...
It would probably feed 30 or 40. I would make 2 for 100.
Can you substitute the water with milk or will it change the flavor?
You could but you really don't need to. Basically you are just thinning out the condensed milk a bit.
Thank you!! I think I'll just make it the way you have. This way I won't mess it up.
Don't laugh but is condensed milk listed the same as sweetened condensed milk?? Southern girl here who's also never made nana puddin! Lol
Yes! They are the same!
Can you freeze it?
I've never tried. I don't know if I would. I'm afraid it would make the pudding separate and the bananas get runny.
Hey, instead of doing whipping cream into whipped cream...can I buy Cool whip in its place? How much would I need?
Thanks.
I'm not sure since I haven't done it that way. Also Cool Whip is sweetened so it would turn out much sweeter.
@Cary, I made it with Cool Whip and it was delicious!
I'm making banana pudding tomorrow for about 50 people Saturday. I've never made this recipe but my problem is it's always watery the next day. Any suggestions
Banana pudding is best made the same day. The bananas always get watery.
@Mary, I've been told that if you will slice the banana and scoop out the seeds and use the rest that the banana will hold better and not get mushy or turn dark as fast. I'm going to try this soon and see for myself.
Oh. I thought you said best if chilled over night
Oops! I posted this a long time ago. It won't get watery if you make it at night and let it refrigerate over night but I would make it later in the day for sure.
That's exactly what I did. Got a tiny bite out of it. Bound to be a hit?? Thank you
Mary
Wow! My banana pudding for 60 was a hit. Everyone loved it! The only thing is I only got a tiny bite of it last night?
So glad to hear!
Hi!! Did you double this recipe to make for 60 people?
Hi, I was just as to make a banana pudding for about 60 people. How much would you charge for one that size?
No idea.
The recipe says end with remaining pudding. Can you spread the additional whipped cream as the final step and then refrigerate before serving? I want to be sure it turns out really good. It just seems like the whipped cream at the end would make a nice showing. Your thoughts...
Sure! You just may need more.
Ps... approximately how much additional whipped cream is needed to cover the pudding?
No idea since I didn't do it that way. I wouldn't think it would take a ton.
Hi i wonder if you can share your whipping cream whipped recipe.
I can't remember exactly what I did on this one. I usually just add confectioners sugar and a bit of vanilla to taste.
So are you supposed to add sugar to the whipping cream or not? The recipe does not call for sugar to be added to it. Confused...
You don't have to. It is sweet enough without it.
This recipe had people at a funeral fighting for more. Good job! Very light and overly sweet.
Glad you enjoyed it!
You mentioned tossing the bananas with lemon juice to prevent browning, will u be able to taste the lemon juice? I don't want it to ruin the dish, how much lemon juice is used to toss the bananas in? Im making a banana pudding poke cake and afraid to put bananas in it cause they will brown and make it look ugly.
You don’t use much and you drain off any excess. You can’t taste it.
I love banana pudding! It’s definitley a favorite around here. I make it at least once a month
Made this for Thanksgiving lunch for my husbands job. They are still asking for it! I will have to make this again!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Crazy question! On step one in the instructions when you say to add in the vanilla pudding, do you mean the vanilla pudding mix or should I make the pudding per the instructions on the box and then add it to the water & condensed milk mixture?
Good question! The mix!
I needed this to make for a teacher appreciation luncheon and it was perfect! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Yay! I am so glad!
I made this for a memorial about a month ago and about a week later my boss said at our next pot luck I need to make it again so tomorrow is the next pot luck and I just finished making it. Mike - Home Depot measurement services.
That is AWESOME! So glad you like it and it is easy so you don't have to work too hard.
Your roasting pan link shows the size as 12 and 7/8 by 10 in by 2 and 7/8 but the picture is actually a 16 and 1/8 inch by 11 and 3/4 inch by 2 and 5/8 inch roasting pan. Which did you actually use?
The size is not really THAT important. Just buy the big aluminum foil roasting pan your store carries. Because you are layering, it will all come out in the wash. 🙂
I made a double recipe for Bible School and it was a big hit! I followed recipe as written and also followed your advice when making the whipped cream to use only vanilla and no sugar and it was perfectly sweetened. Thank you for sharing this recipe and I will be making it again and also sharing with those who requested your recipe,
I’m so glad it was a big hit! Thank you for letting me know!
No link on the page for the Banana Pudding recipe.
There was a little glitch. It’s there now!