Banana Pudding Mini Desserts in Cups Recipe

Easy banana pudding mini desserts recipe for parties. Add these semi-homemade mini desserts in cups to your dessert table or dinner party at home. This classic banana pudding recipe includes vanilla wafers, instant vanilla pudding, and whipped topping.

Easy Mini Desserts for Parties

If you know me at all you know I’m all about semi-homemade recipes when it comes to cooking for parties and entertaining. It saves time and just makes life easier!

These individual banana pudding cups are a great example. The recipe combines fresh ingredients with convenience products for these adorable dessert parfaits.

A great thing about making this dessert recipe is that bananas are delicious year round. Some fruits, like berries, are available all year but taste best during their growing season. Bananas taste great any time.

If you love traditional banana pudding, you’re sure to love these too. Serve them for bridal or baby showers alongside other small bites when designing dessert tables. 

Make Ahead Parfaits

These mini banana pudding parfaits are awesome for a party because you make them ahead and chill. I suggest making them up to a day ahead of your party.

Once you’ve made the individual dessert cups, cover them and keep refrigerated. Save the whipped cream and cookie garnish until you’re ready to serve.

The nice thing about these is that the vanilla wafer crumbs form the crust. If you have leftovers you can keep them covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

PARTY TIP: If you want to add a single layer of whole vanilla wafer cookies, you can place it on top of the banana layer.

What is the easiest way to make great banana pudding?

Do you like banana pudding? It’s a true southern tradition here. But I have to admit, the bananas are my least favorite part of the dessert!

I like bananas on their own, but in a layered dessert I tend to like the other parts more. So, I’m sharing MY favorite way to make individual sized banana pudding. And it’s super simple when you combine fresh ingredients with convenient packaged foods.

When you dig into my mini banana pudding cups you’ll get more creamy pudding, a little bit of banana, and more vanilla wafer crust. To me it’s the perfect bite!

RELATED: Set up a make-your-own banana split ice cream bar.

How to make Mini banana pudding cups   

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It’s hard to serve a full size banana pudding dish at a party. That’s when you reach for these cute mini desserts.

1. 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. 
2. Next I add a single layer of banana slices. They’re cut thin so they don’t overpower. 
3. Finally, the prepared pudding gets combined with whipped topping for a light, creamy, spoon full of goodness. 
4. Garnish the finished desserts with remaining cool whip topping and a whole cookie.

You can divide these in a couple of different ways, so the servings will vary accordingly. You can get about eight servings using 4-ounce mini glasses like the ones I show here. Or you can get about 16 servings using these mini cups.

If you make these in 4 ounce containers they will work beautifully with these dinner party menu ideas.

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.

More recipes for desserts in cups

Here are more bite size treats to serve on a dessert party table. 

• black and white parfaits
• mini tiramisu chocolate trifles
• easy dessert parfaits
• easy chocolate lava cakes in a jar
• strawberry angel food & cream desserts

I hope you try these easy banana pudding mini desserts for parties and celebrations. If you like this post PIN, Share, or sign up for our email Newsletter at the top of the page. Cheers!

Banana Pudding Mini Desserts Recipe

Yield: 8 to 16 individual servings

Easy banana pudding dessert cups recipe for individual servings, perfect for a party.

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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

1. Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter together in a medium size bowl.
2. Divide the mixture evenly among dessert cups and tap down using the bottom of a smaller glass.
3. Make the pudding according to package directions.
4. Fold in 2 cups of whipped topping into the pudding, until well combined.
5. Layer 3 to 5 slices of banana on top of cookie crumb layer.
6. Fill mini cups with pudding mixture, cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
7. Top with a dollop of remaining whipped cream topping and garnish with whole vanilla wafer cookies.