Banana Pudding Layered Bars are the perfect update to the old fashion banana pudding. Missing is the loose custard, the meringue topping, and vanilla wafers layered throughout the dessert. However, it has oodles of bananas peeking through a layer of light fluffy cream cheese filling, lying on a bed of crushed vanilla wafers, stacked on top of homemade vanilla custard, topped by a final layer of light delicious cool whip. Your taste buds will never be the same once you’ve indulged in this decadent dessert.
Banana Pudding Layered Bars Presents A Fresh Update
This dessert is fresh, light and is an excellent choice for feeding a crowd. In fact, it’s sure to become a fan favorite. As a result it’s a light fluffy dessert that everyone is sure to enjoy. Of course, the dessert doesn’t contain a lot of complex flavors. You’ve got your simple flavors that most folks like, vanilla and bananas. Simplicity is the key to deliciousness. Finally, all you need to do is throw some cool whip in the mix and you have yourself a party. Watch and see the dessert disappear.
I can remember when I was growing up, some Sundays we would have banana pudding for dessert. I loved eating banana pudding. However, I didn’t care for soft wafers in my dessert. Clearly, this results from the pudding in the dessert sitting too long on the wafers. It didn’t stop me from loving the taste of banana pudding. Eating the dessert while it was still warm seemed to cut down on soggy wafers. Unlike me, there were those in my family who preferred to eat their banana pudding cold. I solved the problem of the soggy wafers by creating the banana pudding layered bars. In addition adding gelatin to the pudding resulted in a stable custard that is both mouth-watering, and has stability. Finally it allows the dessert to be eaten while it’s cold.
The banana pudding layered bars maintains the rich flavor of the custard dessert. Let’s say it has all the nostalgic memories of banana pudding. In contrast, preventing the soft vanilla wafers layered throughout the pudding. Without a doubt it was a good idea to update an old recipe and bring in something fresh. So, check out the Smooth and Silky Key Lime Pie for another delicious dessert. Without a doubt, a new spin on an old recipe can be super delicious!
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- 40 Vanilla wafers, crushed into crumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 12-ounce can of evaporated milk (12 ounces whole milk)
- 1 cup water, cold
- 1 package unflavored gelatin
- 1 large container Cool Whip topping, divided
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 bananas, sliced into ½-inch circles
- Rectangle baking dish, 9"x13"
- Crush the wafer in a plastic storage bag. Then, add sugar and melted butter combining all the ingredients. Press the crust into the baking dish. Chill while preparing the filling.
- Bring a 1-1/2 cups of water to a rolling simmer in the bottom half of a double boiler. Next, place the top half of the double boiler on top of the bottom half. However, do not let the water touch the bottom of the pan. In the top of the double boiler whisk together the butter, and flour for 2 minutes until smooth. Add the evaporated milk, sugar, and salt continue to stir until smooth.
- Temper the beaten egg yolks by adding a small amount of the milk mixture to the egg yolk. Mainly, this prevents the yolks from scrambling. Mix thoroughly. Then add the egg yolks to the double boiler and whisk to prevent lumps from forming.
- Mix the gelatin into the cold water. Add the water to the double boiler, briskly whisking.
- Cook until the mixture thickens about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the vanilla extract once thicken, set aside and allow to cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Don't allow the pudding to become hard and lumpy.
- Beat cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Then, gradually add 1 cup Cool Whip topping, ½ cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract beating until fluffy.
- Pour over crumb crust then, gently smooth the cream cheese over the crust.
- Completely cover the cream cheese with the banana slices. Now, spread the cool custard pudding over the sliced bananas.
- The last step is to spread the remaining Cool Whip topping on the banana pudding layered bars. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Garnish with crush cookies, sprinkles, bananas or Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies Crisp. Enjoy!
