Description
Southern comfort meets creamy indulgence in this salty peanut banana pudding, where rich layers of silky custard and ripe bananas dance with crunchy peanut accents. Nostalgic flavors blend perfectly, inviting you to savor each spoonful of this classic Southern dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large bananas, sliced
- 2 cups salted peanuts, roughly chopped
- 1 box (11 ounces/311 grams) vanilla wafers or butter cookies
Dairy and Pudding Components:
- 1 package (3.4 ounces/96 grams) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish:
- Crushed peanuts
- Banana slices
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Combine instant pudding mix and cold milk in a medium bowl, whisking vigorously for 2 minutes until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract, creating a fluffy mixture with stiff, billowy peaks.
- Gently incorporate the whipped cream into the pudding base, folding carefully to maintain the airy texture.
- Chill the pudding mixture in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to enhance the consistency and flavor.
- Select a trifle dish, glass bowl, or individual serving cups for assembling the dessert.
- Create the first layer by spreading a generous portion of the chilled pudding across the bottom of the container.
- Arrange a uniform layer of thinly sliced ripe bananas directly over the pudding base.
- Carefully place vanilla wafers in a single layer, ensuring even coverage across the banana slices.
- Sprinkle a consistent layer of salted peanuts over the wafer layer, adding a crunchy texture.
- Repeat the layering process: pudding, bananas, wafers, and salted peanuts, creating multiple delicious strata.
- Finish with a final layer of pudding, creating a smooth and inviting top surface.
- Optionally, garnish with crushed peanuts, additional banana slices, and a delicate dollop of whipped cream.
- Refrigerate the dessert for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, or overnight for maximum taste development.
Notes
- Prevent banana browning by tossing sliced bananas in a bit of lemon juice before layering to maintain their fresh, vibrant color.
- Swap instant pudding mix for homemade custard to create a more sophisticated, less processed dessert with richer flavor depth.
- Toast peanuts briefly in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty taste and add a delightful crunch to the pudding layers.
- Make this dessert gluten-free by using almond flour cookies or gluten-free vanilla wafers instead of traditional vanilla wafers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg