Description
This Strawberry Crunch Banana Pudding is a delightful no-bake dessert combining creamy vanilla banana pudding, fresh strawberries and bananas, and a crunchy strawberry cookie topping. Layers of pudding, fresh fruit, and vanilla wafers come together for a refreshing and easy treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Base and Layers
- 2/3-1 (11 oz) box of Nilla or Vanilla Wafers
- 3 cups whole milk
- 5.1 oz vanilla or banana creme instant pudding mix
- 8 oz whipped topping or Cool Whip, thawed (divided into 2 portions)
- 2-4 medium bananas
- 8-10 fresh strawberries
Strawberry Crunch Topping
- 4-6 pink strawberry sugar wafers
- 8 vanilla cookies or Golden Oreos
Instructions
- Choose Baking Dish: Decide whether to use an 8×8 or 9×13 inch dish. The 9×13 will require a full box of vanilla wafers plus more bananas and strawberries. The topping amount works for both sizes with some leftover for garnish.
- Make Strawberry Crunch Topping: Crush the vanilla cookies and pink strawberry wafers in a food processor until crumbly. Alternatively, place them in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin until finely crumbled. Set aside.
- Prepare Pudding: In a large bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and whole milk according to package instructions until thickened.
- Fold in Whipped Topping: Gently fold half of the whipped topping or Cool Whip into the pudding mixture. Reserve the remaining whipped topping for the final layer.
- Prep Fruit: Rinse and dry the strawberries, remove their tops, and slice. Peel and slice 1-2 bananas. Set aside.
- Layer Pudding: Spoon a few large spoonfuls of the pudding mixture to evenly cover the bottom of your dish in a single layer.
- Add Fruit and Wafers: Layer vanilla or Nilla wafers over the pudding, then top with sliced strawberries and bananas.
- Repeat Layers: Add another layer of pudding over the fruit and wafers, followed by another round of fruit and wafers if desired.
- Top Final Layers: Spread the final layer of pudding mixture evenly and top with the reserved whipped topping layer.
- Add Crunch and Garnish: Sprinkle the prepared strawberry crunch topping evenly over the whipped topping. Garnish with 9 to 15 vanilla wafers on top.
- Chill: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. For best results, chill overnight to soften the wafers.
- Serve: Before serving, remove from fridge and optionally top with additional fresh strawberries.
Notes
- Use either an 8×8 or 9×13 dish depending on portion size desired.
- Chilling overnight softens wafers for the best texture.
- For a banana-forward pudding, use banana creme instant pudding; vanilla pudding works too.
- Crushing cookies with a rolling pin works well if you don’t have a food processor.
- Adjust fruit quantities based on the size of your dish and personal preference.
- Keep pudding and whipped topping well chilled before assembling for best results.
