How can this Banana Cream Pie Recipe so easy and yet so amazingly decadent and delicious? It tastes like an old-fashioned banana cream pie, BUT it only takes about 15 minutes to make!
It’s made with all the good stuff; sliced bananas, instant pudding mix, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped cream all in a graham cracker crust(or Nilla wafer crust if you want! Drizzle it with chocolate to make it extra special!
I feel like whenever I tell share a banana recipe I have to share a little disclaimer: I don’t really like bananas! But you know what…I LOVE this easy banana cream pie!
Although bananas aren’t my thing I LOVE cheesecake and the filling in this pie is a cross between a no bake banana cheesecake and a pudding filling. It’s heavenly!
Plus…this recipe is a no-bake, no microwave, no stove-top dessert. Seriously, so EASY!
SEE MORE: Be sure to check out my other banana recipes that even non-banana eaters love! Coconut Banana Bread, Banana Pancakes, Banana Brownies, Chocolate Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate Banana Muffins, and Strawberry Banana Bread.
Ingredients in Banana Cream Pie
It seems like everyone is looking for recipes that can be made with simple ingredients. This recipe fits the bill!
I’m going to give you some options so you can use up whatever you have in your pantry/fridge without having to go to the store!
- Graham Cracker Pie Crust – Of course, you can make a homemade crust, or just buy one from the store. Use a Nilla wafer crust, or an Orea pie crust if you’d like. I’ve made this pie with a pastry type pie crust and it’s good, but the graham cracker crust is better.
- Bananas – You want fresh bananas that are barely ripe, not over-ripe.
- Cream Cheese – I always use full fat because reduced-fat cream cheese has extra liquid making the filling less set up.
- Pudding Mix – You need INSTANT pudding mix, not the cook kind. I like the Jello brand the best. Vanilla, banana, white chocolate, or cheesecake are all great flavors for this pie. If you want a chocolate banana cream pie you can use chocolate pudding.
- Milk – 2% or whole milk
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – It’s thick and in a short can. It’s different than evaporated milk.
- Whipped Cream – I like real heavy whipped cream. You can use frozen whipped topping though.
- Garnish – These are all optional, but chocolate curls, grated chocolate, hot fudge sauce, chocolate sprinkles
How to make Banana Cream Pie
Trust me, you’ll have this recipe whipped up in less than 20 minutes! Just remember to plan on chilling time.
Scroll down to the bottom for a printable recipe and instructions.
STEP 1: Make the pudding. Whisk pudding and milk together. Set aside.
STEP 2: Make the filling. Mix room temperature cream cheese until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and mix until smooth. Add pudding mixture to and beat again until smooth. Fold whipped cream into pudding mixture. Set aside.
STEP 4: Assemble the pie. Slice bananas and spread onto the bottom of the graham cracker crust. Gently spread pudding/cheesecake mixture over the bananas.
STEP 5: Chill Pie. Refrigerate pie for at least three hours, or overnight.
STEP 6: Garnish and Serve. Garnish pie however you’d like. Spread remaining whipped cream over the pie, or pipe whipped cream on the pie. Drizzle with hot fudge sauce, sprinkle with grated chocolate, add chocolate curls, or use fun colored sprinkles. You could also garnish with extra banana slices. Cut in slices and serve.
How long does Banana Cream Pie last?
Okay, some people will tell you it lasts in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The bananas will turn brown about a day after you cut into the pie.
So, yes! You can make this banana cream pie ahead of time. But I wouldn’t cut into it until you are ready to serve it.
If you do have leftover pieces, be sure to cover the pie with aluminum foil, or plastic wrap. It will still taste great, just won’t be as attractive.
Other Easy No-Bake Dessert Recipes
You must love easy desserts too! Check out these favorites easy dessert recipes!
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Icebox Cake – 3 ingredients
- Orange Pie – tastes like a Creamsicle
- Lemon Cheesecake – creamy and easy
- Microwave S’mores Mug Cake – takes 5 minutes to make
- Caramel Cookies – so easy
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies – salty and sweet
Now, if you’ve got a few minutes you really need to make this Banana Cream Pie Recipe! It’s a good one to let the kids help you make too!
Easy Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients
- 9 ounce graham cracker pie crust
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 cup milk whole or 2%
- 3.4 ounce vanilla pudding mix instant
- 3 cups whipped topping thawed, divided
- 2 whole bananas
Garnishes (Optional)
- Hot fudge sauce
- Chocolate curls
- Grated Chocolate
- Spinkles
- Walnutes, pecans, etc. chopped
Instructions
- Whisk milk and pudding together. Set aside. See notes below to make homemade whipped cream instead of whipped topping.
- To make the filling mix room temperature cream cheese until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and mix until smooth. Add pudding mixture to and beat again until smooth. Fold half of the whipped cream (about 1 1/2 cups) into pudding mixture. Set aside.
- Slice bananas into about 1/4 inch slices and set in the bottom of the graham cracker crust. Gently spread pudding/cheesecake mixture over the bananas.
- Chill Pie. Refrigerate pie for at least three hours, or overnight.
- Spread remaining whipped cream over the pie, or pipe whipped cream on the pie.
- Garnish and Serve. Garnish pie however you’d like. Drizzle with hot fudge sauce, sprinkle with grated chocolate, add chocolate curls, or use fun colored sprinkles. You could also garnish with extra banana slices. Cut in slices and serve.
I got hunger pangs looking at that pie-yummy!
Could I use a prepared graham cracker pie crust and would it need baked before filling it?
If you say I can do this then I would make two pies by doubling the recipe. I confess Im lazy at making an easy graham crust! Keebler has a larger size crust that I would use. Its bigger than their original size. Thank you so much for posting this!
If you are want a quick and yummy dessert you are in the right place! I think all of us busy girls use store bought graham cracker crusts! Doubling the recipe will make two pies, even with the bigger crusts. Baking homemade graham cracker crusts for a few minutes helps set them up a little so they aren’t so crumbly. Store bought graham cracker crusts are already nice and firm so skip the baking! Enjoy!
Hi, Just wondering if you can freeze this for a month or so after making it? I am making things for a grooms dinner and I am trying to get a head of the game with desserts and this sounds and looks amazing. Thanks for any info.
Hi Carolyn! I wouldn’t recommend freezing this particular dessert. I’m pretty sure freezing it would alter the consisteny and texture of the pudding as well as the bananas. It is easy to make though so maybe it would still work. Good luck with your dinner!
Was there a mistake in your recipe for banana cream pie as it did not call for instant pudding and it was really runny when I poured it into the shell. Will it firm up after a few hours.
Hmmm! I wonder why it is runny? The recipe does actually list pudding as one of the ingredients and it should be instant since it doesn’t get cooked. Did you use sweetened condensed milk and not regualar milk? That would make it more runny?
I am actually in the middle of making this now. I had the fudge sauce, but before I had a chance to make the pie, my husband broke into the fudge. I was wanting to make my own at another time and was wondering if you ever posted the recipe you used for the fudge sauce? ATTACHED WAS YOUR COMMENT: Warm hot fudge sauce just until you can spread it. Use a good quality sauce, or homemade. I really need to get the recipe I used posted. It’s the best!! Carefully spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until hot fudge is set.
This really looks like a good one…oh, and what I will do in the mean time, is put carob raisins slightly over instead of the fudge sense that’s all I have now. But would much rather use the fudge sauce. .Thanks~~
You have to hide all the yummy things like hot fudge sauce from those husbands! I still haven’t shared my hot fudge sauce recipe yet. I still make it all the time but completely forgot that I haven’t added it to my site yet! Thanks for the reminder! Can’t wait for you to try this pie!
I am now eating a piece of the Banana Cream Cheese pit……..OH MY GOD!! I am not much for Banana Cream pies, but the Choc. fudge sold me on this, and I was making it for my husbands birthday request……he said it was the BEST he has ever had. I also would not skip out on making the crust from scratch. It was like eating candy…..an added bonus!! I mentioned earlier that my husband got into the fudge sauce, so I had to forfeit that, but will definitely make it with it next time. Remember, requesting your recipe with the home made fudge sauce………..2 thumbs up on this great pie!!
Your recipe said to crush Graham crackers, but your ingredients call for 24 vanilla wafers not Graham crackers. ” ? “
Oops! Vanilla wafer crumbs and graham cracker crumbs are interchangeable so either will work just fine! I prefer vanilla wafers and my boys prefer graham crackers. I’ve tried both and it’s tasty regardless! Have a great day!