Banana Pudding for a Crowd | Merry with Children

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. I volunteered to make banana pudding. Easy, peasy….right? Well, I forgot about it and then had to figure out a recipe last minute. Thankfully Allrecipes.com had my back.

I would definitely call this a “cheater” recipe. Traditional banana pudding has a “cooked” pudding base while this recipe has an instant pudding base. Regardless it tastes AWESOME and was a big hit with everyone.

Banana Pudding for a Crowd
Serves 30+
Adapted from this recipe that serves 8 (so it says)

3 cans condensed milk
4 1/2 cups cold water
3 small packages vanilla instant pudding
6 cups whipping cream, whipped
2 boxes Nilla wafers
12 bananas (+/- depends how big they are)
additional whipped cream for garnish
1 disposable rectangular turkey roaster pan

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 1/2 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 1/4 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 over night if possible.

To serve, add additional whipped cream for garnish.

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.