Some desserts are so iconic, so beloved on their own, that it seems almost audacious to combine them. But today, my friends, we are being audacious. What happens when you take the cool, creamy, nostalgic comfort of Southern-style Banana Pudding and combine it with the rich, dense, fudgy decadence of a perfect chocolate brownie? You get a dessert so ridiculously delicious, it will leave you speechless. Welcome to my recipe for Banana Pudding Brownies.

This is the ultimate dessert mashup, a true showstopper for any party or special occasion. We start with a crisp, buttery vanilla wafer crust. On top of that, we bake a layer of my richest, fudgiest, deep-dark-chocolate brownies. And the crowning glory? A thick, dreamy, and surprisingly light no-bake banana pudding and cream cheese topping, finished with fresh whipped cream and more cookie crumbles.

It’s a fun, layered bar that has something for everyone—crunchy, fudgy, creamy, and fruity all in one perfect bite. Get ready to create the most talked-about dessert at your next gathering.

The Most Glorious, No-Holds-Barred Dessert

This recipe was born from a moment of pure, joyful indulgence. I was trying to decide what to bring to a friend’s party and couldn’t choose between my two favorite comfort desserts. Then a lightbulb went off: why not both? This isn’t just a brownie with a banana on top; it’s a true deconstruction and reassembly of two classics into one harmonious dessert bar.

The deep, slightly bitter chocolate of the brownie layer is the perfect, sophisticated counterpoint to the sweet, creamy, and fruity banana pudding topping. The vanilla wafer crust provides a necessary crunchy foundation and a nod to the original dessert. It’s a dessert that’s full of delightful surprises and textures, and because the topping is no-bake and the whole thing needs to be chilled, it’s the perfect make-ahead masterpiece for stress-free entertaining.

Why This Mashup is Pure Genius:

The Best of Both Worlds: You get the rich, fudgy satisfaction of a brownie and the cool, creamy, fruity flavor of banana pudding in one single dessert. It’s a dream come true.
Incredible Layers of Flavor and Texture: This dessert is a journey! You get the crunchy crust, the dense and fudgy brownie, the light and creamy pudding, and the soft whipped cream.
A No-Bake Topping Makes It Easy: The rich banana pudding layer is a simple, no-cook, mix-and-chill topping that comes together in minutes.
The Ultimate Party Showstopper: The beautiful layers and crowd-pleasing flavors make this the perfect, impressive dessert for potlucks, holidays, or any celebration.

Ingredients & Equipment

For the Vanilla Wafer Crust:

Vanilla Wafers or Butter Biscuits (Butterkekse): 200g (about 2 cups of crumbs).
Granulated Sugar: 2 tablespoons.
Unsalted Butter: 85g (6 tablespoons), melted.

For the Fudgy Brownie Layer:

Unsalted Butter: 115g (½ cup), melted.
Granulated Sugar: 200g (1 cup).
Eggs: 2 large, at room temperature.
Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: 45g (½ cup), sifted.
All-Purpose Flour: 60g (½ cup).
Salt: ¼ teaspoon.

For the Banana Pudding Topping:

Full-Fat Block Cream Cheese (Frischkäse): 225g (8 oz), softened to room temperature.
Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (Vanillepuddingpulver zum Kaltanrühren): 1 small box (about 100g / 3.4 oz), the dry powder only.
Cold Milk: 240 ml (1 cup).
Very Ripe Bananas: 2 large, mashed.
Heavy Whipping Cream (Schlagsahne): 240 ml (1 cup), cold.
For Garnish: Extra whipped cream, crushed wafers, and fresh banana slices.

Helpful Equipment:

A 9×13 inch (or similar 23×33 cm) baking pan.
A food processor (for the crumbs).
An electric hand mixer or stand mixer.

Time Estimates

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 30-35 minutes
Chilling Time: At least 4 hours (essential!)
Total Time: Approximately 5 hours (mostly inactive cooling and chilling time)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s build this layered masterpiece!

Step 1: Make the Crust Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper with an overhang. In a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafers into fine crumbs. In a bowl, mix the crumbs with 2 tablespoons of sugar and the 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes to set it.

Step 2: Make the Brownie Layer While the crust bakes, prepare the brownie batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the ½ cup of melted butter and 1 cup of sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Fold in the sifted cocoa powder, flour, and salt until just combined.

Step 3: Bake the Brownie Pour the brownie batter evenly over the warm, pre-baked crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist, fudgy crumbs. Place the pan on a wire rack and let the brownie base cool completely to room temperature. This is a crucial step.

Step 4: Make the Banana Pudding Topping In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until completely smooth and free of lumps. Add the dry instant vanilla pudding mix, cold milk, and mashed bananas to the bowl. Beat on low speed to combine, then increase to medium and beat for 2 minutes, until the mixture is thick and smooth. In a separate, clean bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the banana pudding mixture until no streaks remain.

Step 5: Top and CHILL Spoon the banana pudding topping over the completely cooled brownie layer and spread it into a thick, even layer. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This is an essential step for the pudding layer to set up firmly.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve Just before serving, you can top the chilled bars with an extra layer of sweetened whipped cream, a sprinkle of crushed vanilla wafers, and some fresh banana slices. Slice into bars and serve cold.

Notes, Tips & Variations

Cool the Brownie Layer Completely!: You absolutely must let the brownie layer cool to room temperature before adding the dairy-based pudding topping. A warm brownie will melt the topping into a soupy mess.
Instant Pudding Powder is Key: Use the dry powder from the box of instant pudding. Do not prepare it as a pudding first! The powder acts as a thickener and stabilizer for the topping, ensuring it sets up beautifully.
Make-Ahead Perfection: This is the ideal party dessert because it must be made ahead of time. You can make it the day before your event, leaving you with nothing to do on the day but add the final garnish.
Fresh Banana Garnish: If you garnish with fresh banana slices, be aware they will brown quickly. For the best presentation, toss them in a little lemon juice to prevent browning and add them right before you serve.

The Ultimate Banana Pudding Brownies Recipe

These Banana Pudding Brownies are the ultimate dessert mashup, guaranteed to be the star of any party. A crisp vanilla wafer crust is topped with a rich, fudgy brownie layer, then finished with a cool, creamy, and light no-bake banana pudding filling. A fun, layered, and impressive make-ahead dessert bar that combines two beloved classics in one.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 35

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 15

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

Crust:
200 g 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
2 tbsp granulated sugar
85 g 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Brownie Layer:
115 g ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
200 g 1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
45 g ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
60 g ½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
Pudding Topping:
225 g 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 box 100g instant vanilla pudding mix, dry
240 ml 1 cup cold milk
2 large ripe bananas mashed
240 ml 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
Garnish: Whipped cream crushed wafers, fresh banana slices

Instructions

Crust: Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Mix wafer crumbs, 2 tbsp sugar, and 6 tbsp melted butter. Press into the bottom of a parchment-lined 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Brownie: While crust bakes, whisk together ½ cup melted butter and 1 cup sugar. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Fold in cocoa, flour, and salt until just combined.
Bake Brownie: Pour brownie batter over the hot crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool completely.
Make Pudding Topping: Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the dry pudding mix, cold milk, and mashed bananas until thick. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the banana mixture.
Top & Chill: Spread the pudding topping over the cooled brownie layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until fully set.
Serve: Garnish with extra whipped cream, crushed wafers, and fresh banana slices just before serving. Slice into bars and serve chilled.

Notes

Notes / Tips & Variations:

It is essential that the brownie layer is completely cool before adding the topping.
The 4-hour (or overnight) chill is a mandatory step for the pudding layer to set properly for clean slices.
For the crust, you can substitute German Butterkekse for vanilla wafers.

Keyword Banana Pudding Brownies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What kind of cookies are best for the crust? Classic American Nilla Wafers are the traditional choice. If you can’t find them, any simple, crisp vanilla or butter biscuit works perfectly. In Germany, I recommend using Leibniz Butterkekse—they make a fantastic, buttery crust.

2. Do I prepare the instant pudding mix according to the box directions? No, and this is a very important step! You use the pudding powder dry, straight from the box. It acts as a thickener and stabilizer for the cream cheese and banana mixture, which is what helps the topping set up firmly so you can slice it.

3. Can I make this dessert ahead of time? Yes, this is the perfect make-ahead dessert! It actually needs to be made ahead of time to allow the pudding layer to chill and set for at least 4 hours. You can easily make it the day before your party or event. Just wait to add the final whipped cream and fresh banana garnish until right before you serve.

4. How do I keep the fresh banana slices on top from turning brown? The best way to prevent the banana slices from browning is to add them right before you plan to serve the dessert. If you need to prepare them a little bit ahead of time, you can gently toss the slices in a small amount of fresh lemon or pineapple juice. The acid will help slow down the browning process.

Ready for the Ultimate Dessert Mashup?

This is one of the most fun and outrageously delicious desserts I have ever made. It’s a guaranteed showstopper that will have everyone asking for the recipe. I hope you have as much fun making (and eating) it as I do. If you make it for your next party, I would love to hear all about it in the comments below!

For more fun and decadent dessert ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram. Enjoy every single crunchy, fudgy, and creamy bite! And try out my Easy Tiramisu Brownies.

The Ultimate Banana Pudding Brownies Recipe (A Dreamy Dessert Mashup!)