Description
A delightful and creamy Strawberry Crunch Banana Pudding that layers smooth banana pudding with fresh strawberries, bananas, and a crunchy strawberry-infused vanilla wafer topping. Perfectly chilled and garnished, this dessert combines fruity freshness with a satisfying crunch for a delicious treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Pudding
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant banana pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Layers
- 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 bananas, sliced
Strawberry Crunch Topping
- 1 cup vanilla wafers, crushed
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Optional Garnish
- Extra fresh strawberries and banana slices
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding: In a mixing bowl, whisk the banana pudding mix and cold milk together for 2 minutes until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth.
- Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping and vanilla extract into the pudding mixture until fully combined, creating a creamy texture.
- Make the strawberry crunch topping: In a separate bowl, combine the crushed vanilla wafers, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, and melted butter. Stir well to evenly coat the crumbs and create a crunchy topping mixture.
- Layer the dessert: In a 9×9-inch dish or individual serving cups, spread half of the banana pudding mixture as the base. Then add a layer of sliced bananas and fresh strawberries evenly across the pudding.
- Add the crunch topping: Sprinkle half of the strawberry crunch topping over the fruit layer to add texture and flavor.
- Repeat layers: Repeat the layering process by adding the remaining banana pudding, followed by the remaining fresh fruit and crunch topping to build a full dessert.
- Chill: Cover the assembled dish with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the pudding to set and flavors to meld.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, optionally garnish the pudding with extra fresh strawberry slices and banana pieces for an appealing presentation and added freshness.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh ripe bananas and strawberries for sweetness and texture.
- Freeze-dried strawberries add a unique crunch and intense flavor; if unavailable, substitute with freeze-dried raspberries or omit.
- Make sure the whipped topping is fully thawed before folding to maintain smooth consistency.
- Refrigerate for the full 2 hours to ensure the pudding layers set properly.
- This dessert can be prepared a day in advance for convenience and deeper flavor melding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 cup)
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
