Creamy Strawberry Banana Pudding Trifle
A quick and easy fresh homemade dessert featuring layers of creamy vanilla pudding, ripe strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, and crunchy vanilla wafers. Perfect for any occasion and ready to chill in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups cold whole milk (or 2% milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional)
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 medium ripe but firm bananas, sliced
- 1 ½ cups crushed vanilla wafers
- 1 ½ cups whipped cream (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and 2 cups cold milk. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons powdered sugar if desired. Whisk vigorously for about 2 minutes until thick and smooth. Let sit for 5 minutes to set.
- Hull and slice the strawberries and peel and slice the bananas. Keep banana slices firm to avoid mushiness.
- Crush the vanilla wafers into small chunks using a rolling pin or hands.
- If making homemade whipped cream, whip 1 ½ cups cold heavy cream until soft peaks form (about 3-4 minutes). Fold whipped cream gently into the pudding to lighten the texture.
- In a trifle bowl or individual glasses, layer about ½ cup crushed vanilla wafers, then a layer of pudding, followed by a mix of sliced strawberries and bananas. Repeat layers until the top, finishing with a generous layer of whipped cream.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and wafers to soften slightly without losing crunch.
Notes
Use ripe but firm bananas to avoid mushiness. Crush vanilla wafers gently to maintain texture. Layer fruit on pudding rather than directly on wafers to prevent sogginess. Chill at least 2 hours for best flavor and texture. For dairy-free, substitute milk and whipped cream with plant-based alternatives. For gluten-free, use gluten-free vanilla wafers or cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 240 g)
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 43
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 5
Keywords: strawberry banana pudding trifle, easy dessert, fresh fruit dessert, layered pudding dessert, quick trifle recipe