Banana pudding

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese, softened to room temp.
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (5 oz.) package Instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups milk (2 % or higher)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 (16 oz) tub whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (11 oz.) box Nilla wafers
• 5-7 bananas, peeled and sliced
• Directions:
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.
• Add in sweetened condensed milk, pudding mix, and milk.
• And vanilla extract and stir well (see Cook's Note below).
• Cook's Note: Keep your mixer on low speed at first so the milk doesn't fly everywhere. If you are using a stand mixer, make sure you get in there with a rubber spatula and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is getting incorporated. That cream cheese likes to stay on the bottom of the bowl. Also, I find that the pudding can sometimes become a bit lumpy (especially if my cream cheese isn't soft enough). If this happens to you, just keep mixing until most of the lumps are gone. The mixture will also begin to thicken too. After a few minutes of constant mixing, it will smooth out.
• Finally, stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping.
• Now, time to layer! Place one-third of the vanilla wafers in a layer on the bottom of a trifle dish, large bowl or a 9x13 baking dish. You will notice that as I add the wafers, I face some outwards and up the sides. This is not necessary but when you are using a clear dish like this, it sure does make it look pretty when it's done!
• Next comes a layer of sliced bananas.
• Then pour one-third of the pudding mixture on top (enough to cover all the bananas).
• Continue with two more layers. A layer of wafers, followed by bananas, then pudding mixture. I like a lot of bananas in there. I want at least a piece of banana in every bite.
• Your final layer will be pudding. Then you will top the pudding with the rest of your whipped topping.
• I always save about 3 cookies to put on top. Again, not necessary but it looks pretty.
• Also, you see how the sides of the bowl look since I turned some of those cookies outward and layered a few on the sides?
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
• Then grab a spoon and dig in!!

Details

Level of difficulty Average
Cost Average budget