Easy Microwave Banana Pudding

A no-fuss, homemade banana pudding cooked right in the microwave. You’ll love the smooth texture and classic flavor layered with fresh bananas and crunchy vanilla wafers—all without standing over a hot stove.

8 servings

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 7

Chill Time 3

Total Time 3 17

Ingredients

⅔ cup (132 g) granulated sugar
3 (54 g) egg yolks -
3 tablespoons (23 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups (454 g) milk - (skim, 1%, 2% or whole)
¼ teaspoon table or sea salt
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium or 3 large bananas
1 11-oz box (312 g) vanilla wafers

Whipped Cream

1 cup (240 g) heavy whipping cream - 240 gr
¼ cup (25 g) powdered sugar - 57 gr
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Pudding

Blend Ingredients: Add ⅔ cup granulated sugar, 3 egg yolks, 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour, 2 cups milk, and ¼ teaspoon table or sea salt to a blender or food processor bowl. Pulse 5 times until mixed well.
Cook in microwave: Pour mixture into a 2-quart batter bowl. Microwave on HIGH 4-5 minutes. Whisk. Continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals, whisking each time, until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Finish pudding: Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract to the pudding. Whisk until smooth.

Assembly

Layer: In a 1.5-quart dish, spread a small amount of pudding. Add a layer of 1 11-oz box vanilla wafers, then 4 medium or 3 large bananas, sliced, then more pudding. Repeat layers and finish with pudding on top.
Cover and chill: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Whipped Cream

Whip cream: In a cold bowl, beat 1 cup heavy whipping cream. When thickened, add ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Top pudding: Spread whipped cream over chilled pudding. Garnish with wafer crumbs, strawberries, or maraschino cherries if desired.

Notes

1. If you decide to make your own shortbread, let it cool, then crumble and layer in the same way as vanilla wafers.

2. I don't use a sieve for this pudding. Mixing in a blender before microwaving prevents lumps. However, if the pudding does turn out lumpy, push it through a coarse sieve before it cools.

3. I also use this recipe to make banana cream pie, coconut cream pie, and chocolate cream pie.

4. Many people put meringue on top of their banana pudding, but I'm a whipped cream girl. Suit yourself.

For a smaller batch (for 2-3 people), be sure to check out my 2-Minute Microwave Chocolate pudding. The vanilla variation is perfect for only a couple of servings of banana pudding.

Variations: Store-bought vanilla wafers are my go-to cookie for this dessert. But sometimes, I like to make my shortbread crumbles for a dessert that tastes like banana cream pie in a bowl. Oh, my! It's wicked good!!

Nutritional Information