Banana Cream Pie has three layers of banana pudding, cheesecake, and cheesecake whipped topping inside a shortbread crust. This no bake pie takes just minutes to prepare and it's the best banana cream pie because it has no browned, mushy bananas in it!
BANANA CREAM PIE RECIPE
This banana cream pie is slightly different than the classic. I am not a fan of browned, mushy bananas in my banana cream pie which is why I created this recipe!
No browned bananas in sight! Just 3 layers of banana cream pudding, creamy banana pudding cheesecake layer, and topped with cheesecake whipped topping. Garnish the top with sliced bananas or Nilla Wafers.
Even with the shortcuts like Cool Whip and instant pudding mix this banana cream pie tastes so fresh, light, and fluffy.
This lemon cheesecake pie and pistachio cheesecake pie are other no bake favorites.
HOW TO MAKE BANANA CREAM PIE WITH PUDDING
Shortbread Crust - This is a store bought crust. You can also use a graham cracker crust as well.
Banana Cream Instant Pudding Mix - Do not prepare the pudding according to the box instructions. The box instructions are different than the recipe below. Follow the recipe below.
Half & Half - This is half and half cream. You want the higher fat when making this recipe so it will help thicken up the pudding.
Cream Cheese - For best taste and creamy texture use the real, full-fat cream cheese.
Granulated Sugar
Cool Whip - See recipe notes in the recipe card below for substituting the Cool Whip.
TIPS AND HELPFUL HINTS
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Can I make this ahead of time?
- Yes! It needs at least 6-8 hours of refrigeration so it's the perfect thing to make the day before you need it.
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Can I make my own crust?
- Yes you can. I prefer the store bought crusts because they hold their shape when you cut into the pie. Whenever I have attempted to make my own crust, it crumbles all over the place when I cut the pie. I prefer to use the Shortbread crust which you can find in the baking aisle next to the graham cracker crusts. If you make your own make sure that it is a 9-inch pie.
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Can I substitute the half & half?
- I would recommend not using a different milk. You want the higher fat of the half and half milk to help thicken pie and help it set up while it's refrigerating. If you must use something different than whole milk would be the next best choice.
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Will the sugar make the pie grainy?
- I get asked this question all the time with this recipe. The answer is no it does not. If you are still worried than feel free to use powdered sugar.
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Can I add bananas to the pie?
- I prefer my banana cream pie to have no browned, mushy bananas which is why I created this recipe. If you like the bananas then feel free to add a layer of sliced bananas on the bottom of the pie crust and then start layering your pudding mix and cheesecake into the pie as called for in the recipe.
YOU WILL LOVE THESE OTHER BANANA RECIPES
Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting - The best banana cake that is super moist and topped with the best cream cheese frosting.
Chocolate Chip Banana Snack Bars - A great way to use up leftover bananas is in these snack bars that are dotted with milk chocolate chips and use yogurt.
Cinnamon Banana Bread Muffins - One of the most popular recipes on my site! The best way to use up old browned bananas and you should see all the 5 star reviews!
Lemon Blueberry Banana Bread - Fresh lemon, blueberries, and bananas with a simple glaze on top.
Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (6 oz) ready-to-use shortbread or graham cracker crumb crust
- 2 small boxes (3.4 oz each) banana cream instant pudding
- 2 cups half & half
- 1 bar (8 oz) cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 carton (8 oz) Cool Whip thawed
- sliced bananas & mini Nilla wafers for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the dry pudding mix and half & half. Stir with a wire whisk for about 1-2 minutes or until the pudding mix is completely dissolved. Let it sit for a few minutes in the bowl so it can thicken up.
- Spread 1½ cups of the banana pudding into the bottom of the pie crust. Set aside the remaining half of pudding mix.
- In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar. Beat until combined and creamy. Add the Cool Whip and mix until combined.
- Add half of the Cool Whip mixture into the remaining half of banana pudding mix. Stir together. Spread this evenly over the 1st layer in the pie crust.
- Spread the remaining Cool Whip mixture on top of the pie for the 3rd layer. * If wanted, save the 3rd layer in the fridge and then you can pipe it on top of the pie before serving (as pictured in the post).
- Cover the pie with the enclosed plastic lid from the crust. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
Want to make people return to your site? Don't have 800 pics of the pie (and ads) before the recipe, I'm done here.
Thank you for your suggestion Faith! Sorry to see you go 🙂
Really? Exaggerate much? There were 8 pictures before the recipe. How exhausting! Have people become so lazy that they cannot scroll for an extra 4 seconds to receive a FREE recipe that someone else did all of the work for?
I find it hilarious that you counted the pictures and even funnier is that I counted them too before replying lol! The pictures are what makes a recipe enticing so the more the merrier in my opinion lol
Thanks Liza ?
Has any one tried using sugar free banana pudding? Which I don't even know if such a product exists.
I love her pictures!! You sound like you just need to gripe like a old banana about something
Really? You that unhappy that u feel annoyed so much by having to look at a few extra pics of a beautiful pie.That I really feel sorry for you. Please don't put a pic of a cake she might go midievel. Faith stop and smell the banana pie Is it really that awful the images you had to see? Without my glasses I wouldn't even be able to see these pics.
I'm wondering whether the pie is freezable?
I've never frozen it but I am guessing it is not freezable. With all the cream cheese and Cool whip, I am pretty sure it would end up separating once it thawed. But I am not positive on that, as I've never tried it.
Looks delish! My hubby would LOVE this. And the pics? Awesome - makes me want to make the pie!
Thank you so much! I love this pie so I got a little excited with all the pics, haha. I actually just finished making this pie for Thanksgiving. Can't wait. Enjoy!
Would you think banana creme pudding mix would taste just fine?
Hey Nina. The recipe does call for the banana cream pudding mix 🙂 I hope you enjoy this pie. Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help!
I'm making this, but I don't understand what "cover with the enclosed lid" means -- ? What lid???
Thanks!
When you buy a store bought crust there is a plastic lid in the crust (it usually has the brand sticker on it). That is the lid I'm referring to ☺️.
Thank you for sharing this impressive bananlicious recipe! It will be on our Thanksgiving table today. I took the liberty of making a couple of tweaks. I made a Nilla wafer pie crust instead of buying a graham one, and I cheated and used a mixer instead of a whisk. I know it’s a no-no with Cool Whip, but it came out silky smooth and the pie is still a mile high.
It sounds amazing! I made this yesterday for our Thanksgiving too. I truly hope you enjoy it ?
I normally don't comment on recipes that I try but I had to for this one. OMG! This was the BEST banana pie recipe that I have ever made! It was so good that my 93 year old grandma, who hates bananas, ate half of the pie. Delicious!!!!!!
I LOVE IT!! I'm with your grandma..... I can't stand bananas which is why I love this pie! No yucky browned bananas. Thank you for coming back to comment. Your comment seriously made my day. And I am happy your grandma loved it so much. And wow, 93, that is incredible. Lucky lady 🙂
Can you use 2% milk instead of half and half?
Yes you can ☺️ Enjoy!
Could you use a springform pan - or does it not get that high and fluffy?
Thank you.
It's no bake so it would not get any higher than when it's spread into the crust. You could use a springform pan but I don't think it would ne necessary as you could buy the graham cracker crust and just put it inside the crust. If you want to use the springform then you'd have to make your own crust and then fill it with the banana cream pie. Let it refrigerate so it comes together and then serve and cut. I hope that helps 🙂
We have dinner with friends later, totally stumped on what to bring for dessert... Just bought all the ingredients and I'm hoping it's a hit. My fiance wanted to take banana cream pie.. I hate bananas lolol, this should be a yummy compromise... ?
I hope it's a hit! I am kind of the same way as I don't like bananas in my banana cream pie (sounds crazy, right hahah 🙂 ) which is why this is one of my favorite desserts.
Could I make my own crust instead of using pre made ?
Yes, of course you could!
This looks delicious! I was wondering if you could substitute homemade whipping cream for the cool whip? I'm trying to avoid HFCS. Thank you!
Yes, for sure. A carton of Cool Whip is about 2 cups of whipped cream. So 1 cup heavy whipping cream + sweetener (if you want it) will yield 2 cups once whipped.
Recipe is delish! Ignore the stupid touchy idiots on here who get pissed over" too many pictures " of your pie recipe..i think it just shows your passion for cooking and that's totally ok!??
You’re the best! I do love cooking. I actually went through and deleted a couple pics.... at the time of posting I was just so excited cause I love this pie so much, haha. So glad you love it!
I just made this for tomorrows Thanksgiving dinner and I can't wait to cut into it! I can already tell its gonna taste great (i might have licked to spatula after spreading each layer!)! I will let you know how the rest of the family feels tomorrow.
I made this as well yesterday! I hope everyone loves it. Happy Thanksgiving!
I made mine with hazelnut biscuits from Aldi, also I would crumb them.. as you would do with a cheesecake.. if you like use any sort of biscuits you wish...
Made this exactly as written, except did add bananas. Everyone loves it! Thanks!
Could you replace the cool whip with whipping cream. We have allergies to cool whip.
Yes you can. A tub of cool whip is about 2 cups, so you would need to whip 1 cup of whipping cream. I would suggest sweetening it with 2-4 tablespoons of powdered sugar, depending on how sweet you want it.
This pie was a big hit with my family! So easy to make and they loved it so much they are requesting it again!
I like the recipe and all the pictures!
Does this make 1 or 2 pies?
It makes one high pie. I love it that way, but if you want smaller pies that are not as thick/high, then go ahead and make two pies out of this recipe.
Just to clarify, it says 2 3.4 ounce boxes of pudding mix but only 2 cups half and half which I know one box is 2 cups milk so does the half and half make it different? Thanks!
You are making a pie that needs to thicken and set so you can slice it, which is why less milk is called for. Yes, the 2 cups of milk is correct (regardless of what the box says). Just follow the recipe as is with the two boxes of pudding mix and only 2 cups of milk. Hope that helps.
Been making this for over 40 years never use half and half any type of milk works perfectly fine to set up the pudding even skim milk. Save the calories use milk!
dear family this is great pie been cooking and baking forever just turned 89 years young still baking of cours e not as much as i did years ago so i love the easy ones keep up the good work and have a blessed day.
Hi, could not fine instant banana pudding, so can you use the heat and serve pudding? Thank you, Pam
No you can't. The heat and serve requires heat in order for it to set properly. Since this is a cold, no bake pie that sets in the fridge, the heat and serve will not work. So sorry! I would recommend just waiting until you can find the banana cream instant pudding.