Banana Pudding Mini Desserts in Cups
Easy banana pudding mini desserts are semi-homemade and perfect for parties. This classic recipe includes vanilla wafers, instant pudding, and whipped topping, and they’re served in individual cups or jars. Add them to showers, dessert tables, or a dinner party at home.
Banana pudding is a true southern tradition but I have to admit, when it comes to this layered dessert I tend to like the cookies and the creamy filling more than the banana layer. So, I’m sharing MY favorite way to make banana pudding.
When you dig into these mini dessert cups you’ll get more creamy pudding and more vanilla wafer crust with just enough bananas to add flavor and texture. To me it’s the perfect bite!
- They’re a semi-homemade recipe which saves time and just makes life easier when you’re hosting!
- Make them ahead for easy entertaining, and there’s no cooking involved!
- Bananas are delicious year round, unlike some fruits and berries that taste best during their growing season.
- These are perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, and ladies luncheons.
Make-Ahead
I suggest making them up to a day ahead of your party.
Once you’ve made the individual cups, cover them and keep refrigerated. Save the whipped cream and cookie garnish until you’re ready to serve.
If you have leftovers you can keep them covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Ingredient Notes
- Vanilla Wafers. You’ll crush them to make the crust, plus use some to garnish the top. Change it up by using graham crackers, Biscoff cookies, or shortbread cookies.
- Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix. You don’t have to cook the instant mix! Change it up by using cheesecake flavored pudding or coconut flavored pudding.
- Milk. Use whatever type of milk you like, from whole to skim.
- Bananas. Use fresh bananas that have yellow skin with some dark brown or black spots on it. That insures they’re soft but still firm, and they’re sweet.
- Frozen Whipped Topping. I use classic Cool Whip for this. Make sure it’s thawed.
RELATED: Set up a make-your-own banana split ice cream bar.
How to Make It
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- The first thing I do is make the crust layer extra thick. I use my mini food processor to grind the cookies into crumbs. It took about 60 cookies for 1 cup of crumbs. Combine the crumbs with melted butter. I find that using my fingers to do this works best.
- Place a layer of crumb mixture in the bottom of mini cups and press it down with the bottom of a glass.
- Next, add a single layer of banana slices. They’re cut thin so they don’t overpower.
- Combine the prepared pudding with whipped topping and layer it on top of the bananas.
- Garnish the finished desserts with remaining Cool Whip and a whole cookie.
Serving Tips
You can divide these in a few different ways so the number of servings will vary accordingly.
- You can get about eight servings using 4-ounce mini glasses like the ones I show here.
- Get about 16 servings using these mini cups.
- You can also use 4-ounce canning jars to prepare these in. That would work great for a picnic as you can put the lid on during transport.
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Banana Pudding Mini Desserts Recipe
Easy banana pudding dessert cups recipe for individual servings, perfect for a party.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs, from about 60 cookies
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups milk called for on pudding mix directions
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 container whipped topping
Instructions
- Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter together in a medium size bowl.
- Divide the mixture evenly among dessert cups and tap down using the bottom of a smaller glass.
- Make the pudding according to package directions.
- Fold in 2 cups of whipped topping into the pudding, until well combined.
- Layer 5 slices of banana on top of cookie crumb layer (use more slices if you want more bananas in the pudding cups).
- Fill mini cups with pudding mixture, cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Top with a dollop of remaining whipped cream topping and garnish with whole vanilla wafer cookies.
This looks so easy to make, and so delicious too!
Dear Chris, I completely agree with you. After the guest list the most important in a house party is the delicious food. Thank you very much for sharing the most amazing and yumminess filled desert recipe with us followers of your page. I made the Banana Pudding Mini Desserts in Cups and my friends were completely in awe of the this dish. Looking forward to much more interesting recipes.