My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding

This Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding recipe is a nostalgic treat that's close to my heart. Creamy, dreamy, and loaded with fresh strawberries and bananas, it’s a delightful twist on the classic banana pudding. Perfect for gatherings, this dessert brings a sweet, fruitiness to any occasion. Plus, it's so simple to whip up, you'll find yourself making it over and over again!

I’m a huge fan of banana pudding in all its amazing varieties, and this My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding is no exception. If you’ve ever met a Southerner or visited the South, you know that banana pudding is practically a culinary icon for us—it’s our go-to dessert. That’s why I’m excited to share this fresh twist with you ---- it’s truly worth every spoonful. The creamy, rich texture is simply irresistible!

For my banana pudding lovers I recommend trying My Grandma's Baked Southern Banana Pudding, Easy Southern Peach Cobbler [with Canned Peaches], or my Classic Southern Banana Pudding next up! Oh, and I have this Delicious Peanut Butter Banana Pudding, and Caramelized "Crunch" Banana Pudding which are a nice twist + spin for all the peanut butter lovers out there! 

Why You Will LOVE Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding

• Creamy, dreamy layers with a delicious strawberry twist
• Crunchy Nilla wafer cookies for the perfect texture
• A fun, Southern-inspired twist on a classic
• Easy to make and a total crowd-pleaser
• Perfect balance of sweet, spiced, and smooth

Jump to:

• Why You Will LOVE Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding
• What is Southern Strawberry + Banana Pudding?
• Ingredients For My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding
• How To Make Strawberry Sauce
• How to Ripen Bananas for Banana Pudding
• Tips To Make THE BEST Banana Pudding
• How To Make Vanilla Pudding
• Foolproof Thick Vanilla Pudding
• Homemade Vanilla Pudding
• Baked Banana Pudding vs. No-Bake Banana Pudding
• What is a Substitute for Nilla Wafers in Banana Pudding?
• Topping Ideas for Banana Pudding
• Can I Make Single-Serving Puddings?
• What Keeps Bananas from Turning Brown in Banana Pudding?
• Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding Recipe Q + A's
• More Delicious Comforting Banana Recipes
• MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
• My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding

What is Southern Strawberry + Banana Pudding?

Southern Banana + Strawberry Pudding is a delightful twist on the classic Southern banana pudding dessert, which is traditionally layered like a trifle. It features layers of vanilla custard, vanilla cookies, and slices of bananas. This version adds fresh strawberry sauce into the mix, making it even more fruity and delicious.

Ingredients For My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding

Here's what you need to throw together this 25-minute dessert:

BANANA PUDDING:

• Bananas. Make sure they're soft and ripe for the sweetest flavor. 
• Nilla wafer Cookies. You'll only need about 1 ½ of the boxes. Feel free to mix the original size with the mini size.
• Vanilla instant pudding mix. I like to use the Jell-O brand (See below for a homemade option!)
• Sweetened condensed milk. I use low-fat for this pudding. It adds plenty of richness and sweetness with a wonderfully thick texture.
• VERY COLD filtered water or milk. You can use unsweetened Almond milk or whole milk.
• Vanilla extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the best vanilla flavor.
• Whipped cream. Store-bought or homemade  (For homemade, see my Whipped Cream recipe)

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS/GARNISH:

• Whipped cream
• Sliced fresh strawberries or spoons of strawberry sauce
• Crushed Nilla Wafer cookies

How To Make Strawberry Sauce

In a saucepan, add together all ingredients over medium-high heat, stirring until combined. Once strawberries begin to soften, continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken a bit, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely!

STRAWBERRY SAUCE:

• Fresh sliced strawberries. Stems removed.
• Organic cane sugar. For sweetness.
• Lemon. Freshly-squeezed
• Strawberry preserves/jam. If you want to go above and beyond you can make your own strawberry jam!
• Water.
• Pinch of ground cinnamon. Adds a nice warming flavor. You can purchase my Dessert Lover Blend for authentic flavor.

How to Ripen Bananas for Banana Pudding

Have you ever had bananas that weren't fully ripe, but you were dying to make a banana pudding? Well, I totally understand. I've definitely been there. Luckily, I've come across a few hacks to help you ripen your bananas if you're in a pinch and here's what you can do:

• Keep the banana bunches together to avoid the ripening process from stalling. 
• Store your bananas in a warm place like near a heater or atop your refrigerator. This helps them to ripen faster.
• Using a paper bag, add your bananas inside and fold it over to close it. The gases from inside the bag once shut tight will ripen the bananas within 24-36 hours.

If you're looking to ripe your bananas more quickly for making this banana pudding then you can do one of the following:

• Oven Method: Preheat the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and place bananas (with peels on) unto a baking sheet and let them bake for 15-20 minutes or until skins are black. The bananas at this point should be soft and sweet.
• Microwave Method: Poke holes into the peel bananas (all around) and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the bananas are soft enough. 

SHOP MY FAVORITE BAKEWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES!

Here, I’ve curated a list of bakeware essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baking treats, especially with this Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding recipe. Everything from my fave baking sheets, parchment paper, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Tips To Make THE BEST Banana Pudding

• Use ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture.
• Pour the warm homemade vanilla pudding [if using homemade] atop everything shortly after whipping it together which helps the flavors to "melt together" prior to baking.
• If you want a crunchier texture, sprinkle additional crumbled Nilla wafer cookies on top of the whipped cream or meringue.
• For cold, instant pudding---create a smoother and "fuller" texture by using milk and 3 (1 oz) boxes of pudding mix.
• Bake your banana pudding in a non-stick baking dish or foil pan for best results.
• Get creative and experiment with different flavor variations, such as adding chocolate or caramel sauce, or using different types of cookies AKA try Best Biscoff Banana Pudding with Caramel or PB Banana Pudding or Caramelized "Crunch" Banana Pudding 
• Use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread the whipped cream or meringue evenly over the top layer of the pudding. You can use homemade whipped cream or store-bought. Cool Whip will work fine, just use it at fridge temperature, not frozen. 

How To Make Vanilla Pudding

• In the bowl (using a hand-mixer), mix together the VERY COLD water (or milk), vanilla pudding mixes, and sweetened condensed milk until smooth and the mixture begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes on medium-high speed (increasing the speed as it thickens). NOTE: The mixture should look like smooth pudding once mixed enough.
• Finally, fold in the whipped cream and vanilla extract and mix for another minute or so.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE:

• In a trifle bowl (or your favorite dish), layer vanilla wafer cookies, sliced bananas, and pudding mixture followed by a few spoonfuls of strawberry sauce; repeat layering until all ingredients have been used.
• Garnish top with a few dollops of whipped cream, crushed vanilla wafers, and a drizzle of strawberry sauce (if desired), and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. NOTE: Best if chilled overnight.

Foolproof Thick Vanilla Pudding

I HIGHLY recommend using a really good electric mixer to make the pudding. Be sure that the water or milk is EXTREMELY COLD + You may need to add an EXTRA BOX of vanilla pudding so that it forms a creamy consistency and is not 'watery' if you notice that it isn't "setting" while mixing.

Homemade Vanilla Pudding

To make your own vanilla pudding over the stovetop instead of buying a store-bought version, here's what you'll need:

• 3 cups milk (whole milk is best)
• 3 egg yolks
• 2-3 Tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
• ½ cup organic cane sugar
• 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For instructions, see my My Grandma's Baked Southern Banana Pudding!

Baked Banana Pudding vs. No-Bake Banana Pudding

OK, so maybe you didn't know that there are two types of banana pudding recipes. A true classic Southern traditional banana pudding is baked with a beautiful meringue and everything is married together well! And then there's a no-bake EASY version which uses vanilla pudding mix.

For the baked version of banana pudding, you'll make your homemade pudding per usual, layer everything, and then whip together an easy meringue using egg whites which will be fluffy and cloudy and is used as the "topping" of your banana pudding.

What is a Substitute for Nilla Wafers in Banana Pudding?

OK, so if you aren't into Nilla wafers, don't currently have them on hand, or just want to switch things up-----don't worry! They can easily be substituted with Chessman cookies or Graham crackers, if preferred. In addition, you can use: shortbread cookies, animal crackers, or ladyfingers.

Topping Ideas for Banana Pudding

Looking for some delicious and creative topping ideas for your banana pudding? Here are some ideas -

• Whipped cream - A classic and simple topping that adds a creamy and sweet flavor to the pudding.
• Toasted coconut - Adds a bit of crunch and a tropical twist to the dessert.
• Crushed graham crackers - A tasty and simple option that adds a bit of texture to the pudding.
• Chopped nuts - Pecans or walnuts are a great addition for a nutty and crunchy flavor.
• Chocolate chips - Add a bit of chocolatey goodness to your banana pudding.
• Caramel sauce -  Drizzle some caramel sauce over the top of the pudding for a sweet and indulgent treat.
• Fresh berries - Strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries can add a burst of freshness and a pop of color to the dessert.
• Marshmallows - Add some mini marshmallows on top of the pudding and then torch them to create a delicious toasted marshmallow flavor

Can I Make Single-Serving Puddings?

Yes! If you prefer to make individual servings of dessert, you can layer the cookies, banana slices, strawberry sauce, and pudding in small glass mason jars for a cute and portable dessert.

What Keeps Bananas from Turning Brown in Banana Pudding?

One of the biggest challenges for some people is the idea that the bananas will turn brown in their banana pudding after awhile, which is often the natural process of bananas once removed from their skin and sliced. However, there is a trick that you can do to slow this process down completely----which is adding a bit of lemon juice to your banana slices prior to adding them to your banana pudding. This helps to keep the bananas fresh for at least 3-4 days. Wallah!

Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding Recipe Q + A's

More Delicious Comforting Banana Recipes

Now that you've fallen in love with the bananas in this Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding recipe, put them to good use with these other sweet banana recipes:

• Banana Chai Oatmeal Porridge
• Crunchy Vegan Banana Bread
• Maple Brown Butter Banana Waffles
• Vegan Banana Cake with Maple Buttercream
• Banana Carrot Cake Scones
• Fluffy Vegan Banana Pancakes
• Fluffy Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
• Easy Peanut Butter Banana Oats Smoothie

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried My Favorite Southern Strawberry Banana Pudding recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

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