Name: Banana Cream Dessert
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 11 ounce box vanilla wafers (crushed); 1/2 cup butter (melted); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1 cup powdered sugar; 6.8 ounces instant banana cream pudding (2 small boxes); 3 cups milk; 8 ounces whipped topping (thawed); chopped nuts (optional for garnish); maraschino cherries (optional for garnish)

A sweet vanilla wafer crust topped with layers of cream cheese, banana pudding and Cool Whip create this wonderful Banana Cream Dessert.

Wide view of a square piece of refreshing and creamy banana delight on a white plate with a fork and the full dish in the background sitting on a blue and green napkin.

Also Known As Banana Cream Pie Bars

The main flavor is banana cream pudding. Sandwiched between layers of cream cheese and whipped topping this Banana Delight is easy to make and looks attractive.

Made in a 9 x 13″ pan this recipe tastes like pie, but makes a bigger batch with very little effort.

Similar to our Banana Pudding, this dessert features pudding and cream cheese that’s sweetened with powdered sugar to create the main flavors. These center layers are enhanced by a light Cool Whip on top and crunchy vanilla wafers on the bottom.

9 x 13 pan with banana cream pie bars with a few pieces missing to reveal the layers of a rich cream cheese filling with banana cream pudding and Cool Whip on top sitting on a colorful napkin.

If you love this recipe you’ll also enjoy the similar Butterscotch Delight or Chocolate Delight made with different types of pudding and crusts.

Banana Cream Delight Recipe

The banana pudding dessert ensures a light, consistent taste every time you make it.

When using real bananas the taste can vary quite a bit based on the ripeness of the bananas. So, this dessert is easy, uses non-perishable ingredients that you commonly have on hand and tastes great! Recipes that can be whipped up for last minute company or an impromptu party are great to have handy.

I love the variety of pudding flavors available and how they create economical desserts. My mom shared this recipe with lemon pudding, but we wanted to try another twist. The banana cream pudding is perfect for this light and easy dessert idea!

Piece of banana cream pie bars with three layers of Cool Whip, pudding and cream cheese sitting on a vanilla wafer crust on a stack of white plates.

These Banana Cream Pie Bars taste great with basic ingredients, but chopped nuts and maraschino cherries can make it even more delightful.

Why This Recipe Works:

The layers create a very eye appealing banana dessert that is easy to make.
Great banana flavor, yet it is made without fresh bananas.
An easy recipe to make a day ahead of time – so just grab and go when you’re ready to share at a party.
This triple layer cream dessert uses easy ingredients that are not highly perishable and can easily be kept on hand for up to a month ahead of preparing.

Ingredients Needed:

Vanilla Wafers
Butter
Powdered Sugar
Cream Cheese
Banana Cream instant pudding
Milk
Whipped Topping, also known as Cool Whip

Substitute Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies for Vanilla Wafers

My favorite pudding dessert crust is in our Candy Land Dessert and has Lorna Doone cookies in it. The cookies hold together well and taste great, but are fairly expensive and can be difficult to find. Vanilla wafers are a cheap and easy alternative!

I’ve made this a couple of times and struggled to get the crust to hold together perfectly. Be sure to use finely crushed cookies and press them firmly in the bottom of the pan.

How to Make Banana Delight

Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large plastic bag that has an opening for air to escape. Crush vanilla wafers finely.

Coarse pieces won’t stick together as well as finely crushed pieces.

Put crushed wafers in a bowl and mix with one stick of melted butter.

Baked vanilla wafer and butter crust in a 9 x 13" glass dish on a white counter.

Press firmly into the bottom of the pan and bake for 5 minutes.

Allow to cool completely.

Using an electric mixer beat softened cream cheese and sugar until mixed well.

Spatula in a white bowl with powdered sugar poured on top of softened cream cheese.

Stir in 1 cup of whipped topping.

A scoop of whipped topping poured on top of cream cheese mixture.

Spread over cooled crust.

Cream cheese layer spread over top of vanilla wafer crust in a glass 9 x 13 pan to make a banana layer dessert.

Using a whisk, mix pudding and milk.

Instant banana cream pudding poured over top of a cream cheese layer and a baked crust with vanilla wafers to make a banana cream dessert.

Spread over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate until pudding is set.

Thick layer of banana cream pudding spread over a cream cheese layer and cookie crust.

Spread remaining whipped topping over dish. Garnish with chopped nuts and chopped maraschino cherries if desired. Keep refrigerated.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Refrigerate for a few hours before cutting so the layers remain separate and visible.
Banana Cream Layer Dessert can be made and chilled up to two days ahead.
Can get creative making a pretty pattern with the top layer of whipped topping.