Last minute super easy Thanksgiving/ Easter/ other get-together dessert needed? Look no further, this very Easy Banana Cream Pie can be made the same day with a few basic ingredients! It takes about 10 minutes to make, then it needs time to set up in the fridge for a few hours. This pie is always a crowd-pleaser. It's made with delicious vanilla pudding. No gross fake banana flavored pudding in this one. It's banana-y and vanilla-y and creamy and delicious and will be eaten so quickly!
How To Make Easy Banana Cream Pie
First, thaw the frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip) in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. Make the graham cracker crust. You can crush the graham crackers in a variety of ways. Put in a ziploc bag and roll a glass over them. Pulse them in a food processor. Crush them by hand with the bottom of glass in the pie pan. My favorite way is actually rolling a glass over them. In my opinion, it produces the best texture of crumb. However, I usually just end up pulsing them in the food processor. If you pulse them, do it carefully so as not to end up with a graham cracker powder!
Mix the crushed graham crackers in the bottom of the pie plate with the melted butter. I don't recommend adding any sugar to the crust. The pie is plenty sweet already! Next, make the vanilla pudding! The box calls for 3 cups of cold milk, but by lowering it to 2 ½ cups the pie will be a little more firm. Whisk the milk and pudding mix together in a bowl for 4-5 minutes until thickened. Fold half the container of cool whip into the pudding. Spread a layer of sliced banana rounds onto the crust. If not using bananas on the top of the pie for decoration, use the rest of the bananas here. Then spread pudding mixture over the top. Refrigerate for 3 or more hours. Finally, decorate the top. You can use a can of whipped cream and the rest of the bananas. If decorating with bananas on top paint them with a light layer of lemon juice to keep from browning.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
This can be made ahead of time and frozen, if desired. Thaw for about an hour in the refrigerator before serving. Don't thaw too long or the pie will begin to weep.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator (3 days) or the freezer (2 months).
More Pies
White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake
Easy Banana Cream Pie
Equipment
- 1 pie tin
Ingredients
Graham cracker crust:
- 1 package graham crackers crushed
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- No sugar in this crust! The pie is sweet enough already
Filling:
- 5.1 oz package vanilla pudding
- 2 ½ cups cold milk
- 4 oz. half of an 8 oz. container Cool Whip, thawed in the fridge for two hours
Other:
- 3 Bananas
- Canned whip cream for decorating if desired
Instructions
- Mix the crushed graham crackers in the bottom of the pie plate with the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the pie plate and up the sides.
- Make the vanilla pudding. Whisk the milk and pudding mix together in a bowl for 4-5 minutes until thickened.
- Fold half the container of cool whip into the pudding.
- Spread a layer of sliced banana rounds onto the crust. If not using bananas on the top of the pie for decoration, use the rest of the bananas here.
- Then spread pudding mixture over the top.
- Refrigerate for 3 or more hours.
- Finally, decorate the top. You can use a can of whipped cream and the rest of the bananas. If decorating with bananas on top paint them with a light layer of lemon juice to keep from browning.
- Serve and Enjoy!
JC
Easy easy easy. I needed a last minute pie, and this one was perfect. Everyone loved it too.
Jed
I have never like banana cream pie until this recipe!
Nicole
Our family loves this banana cream pie recipe with pudding. It's so fast and easy to make. Perfect for any last minute gathering.
Angel
This is so good! Great last minute dessert! My kids devoured it. And so simple to make too! My go-to Banana Cream Pie recipe from now on!
Beth
This is so easy and my family gobbled it up in one day. Thanks!
Jen
Banana cream pie is one of my favorite pies. This recipe was perfect and I loved how fast it was!
Andrea
Holy cow! This is super easy to make. This will definitely be a go-to when I need a dessert in a pinch. Yummy!
Gail Montero
Love your stunning presentation of this delicious classic! You just made my family very happy with this! They gobbled it up and the recipe was so easy and fast. My new go to recipe.
Anjali
My husband loves banana cream pie - I made this for him recently and he said it was one of the best he’s ever tasted!
Tara
We devoured this pie!! So creamy and flavorful.
Katy
This was great I used Banana Pudding the added whipped cream really gave it lightness.
Nicole
Yum, that sounds great, we'll have to try it that way too!