Quick and easy banana cream pie recipe is an old-fashioned favorite done in minutes! Sliced bananas and instant banana pudding make this no bake dessert amazing.
If you love quick pie recipes that are easy to make other favorites include key lime pie, homemade coconut cream pie and chocolate banana cream pie.
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Banana Cream Pie with Pudding
One of my very favorite pies is banana cream pie. We make it for our Thanksgiving menu every year along with a buttermilk pie.
It’s so simple to make using a box instant banana pudding and 3-ingredient pie crust. It’s both a delicious holiday pie and great in the Spring just like my lemon icebox pie!
Easy Banana Cream Pie Ingredients
All you need are 6 simple ingredients to create the best banana cream pie. It’s light, fluffy and full of banana flavor.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Crust: You can use a baked store-bought or homemade pie crust. Try a graham cracker crust, vanilla wafer crumb crust, pretzel crust or gingersnap crust.
- Instant banana cream pudding: Adds the best banana cream flavor, instant vanilla pudding can be substituted.
- Milk: Whole milk or 2% milk thicken and help pudding set.
- Cool Whip: One tub that is thawed or try homemade cool whip or homemade whipped cream.
- Bananas: Ripe with a few brown spots add sweet flavor and make this the best banana pudding cream pie.
- Toppings (optional). Pipe on a design with stabilized whipped cream then add banana slices on top (or caramelized bananas). Sprinkle on toasted coconut.
How to Make Banana Cream Pie
Whisk the cornstarch into the milk until dissolved.
Stir together the pudding mix and milk mixture until thickened. Fold in the bananas and Cool Whip.
Pour the pudding mixture evenly in the baked pie crust. To prevent browning ensure the pudding covers the bananas.
Place the banana pie in the refrigerator to chill at least 2 hours then garnish with homemade whipped cream and fresh bananas before serving.
Storing Cream Pies
- To make ahead. This pie needs to chill for at least 3 hours before serving in order to set, so it’s even better set overnight! Make the recipe according to instructions (do not add toppings) and then cover and place in the refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream and fresh bananas.
- To store. Loosely cover the pie top with aluminum foil (or plastic wrap) and place in the fridge. It will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.
Love dessert recipes with bananas? You’ll also love my banana bars, banana bread and banana bread brownies.
More Easy No Bake Dessert Recipes
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Easy Banana Cream Pie
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk , cold
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 (5.1-ounce) box instant banana cream pudding mix
- 2 medium bananas , sliced into 1/4-inch slices
- 8 ounces Cool Whip , thawed, or whipped cream, divided
- 1 baked pie crust , premade or homemade
Optional toppings: Cool Whip or Whipped Cream, Sliced Bananas, or Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- Whisk milk with cornstarch. In small bowl, whisk together 2 cups milk and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch until dissolved.
- Make filling. In a large bowl, whisk the pudding mix and milk mixture for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it has thickened. Fold in 2 medium bananas and 4 ounces Cool Whip. Add more Cool Whip until there is enough filling to fill the crust. Save the remaining 4 ounces for topping.
- Spread filling. Spread the filling evenly into the baked pie crust.
- Chill. Chill at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Top with any remaining Cool Whip (or whipped cream) and fresh bananas. Slice and serve chilled.
Notes
- Recipe for homemade graham cracker crust
- Recipe for homemade pie crust
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
If you can only find cook and serve pudding, simply prepare as instructed on the package and let chill in the fridge until the pudding is set. Then mix in the Cool Whip and banana slices before folding into the pie crust.
Although bananas brown pretty quickly, it’s not too big of a concern in this recipe. Because they’re mixed in with the pudding, they aren’t exposed to air which usually keeps them from browning.
If you’re adding fresh banana slices on top of the pie, then I’d recommend adding those on right before serving, so they stay fresh.
Yes! To make this pie with as little as effort as possible, purchase a graham cracker pre-made crust that requires no baking at all. Place it in a pie pan for a more elegant look.
If you forgot to add cornstarch to the filling it may not set up properly. If you need to avoid cornstarch, you can add less milk around 1 1/2 cup to 1 3/4 cups. You can also replace the milk with heavy cream.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Christmas, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Fruit Desserts, Kid-Friendly, No-Bake, Nut-Free, Pies + Tarts, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Does it have to be 2% milk or can I use whole milk or another milk substitute like oat milk or almond milk? Or would that change the consistency of the pudding and not thicken properly? Thank you
Whole milk works great! I wouldn’t recommend using almond milk.
Pudding will not set up if you use almond milk, I know this from experience. I am thinking that oat milk won’t work either.
It will not set with Almond, Oat, or Soy milk. Unless you want to use it as a drink mix or frozen pudding pops.
Do you use ripe bananas?
I made this for my cousin’s birthday…. it’s his favorite dessert and we all loved it! Super easy recipe and fun to make. Thank you!
I’m so glad it was a hit! :)
I was wondering if I can make this without using the crust? just like regular banana pudding, the difference being having the Cool whip added the regular banana pudding. would it be too thick to serve as pudding?
Hi Verna! It will be a little thicker than pudding, but that should work just fine! :)
What size crust do u use for banana pie?
I use a 9.5″ pie pan!
What can I use instead of cool whip
Homemade whipped cream!
Can u freeze the banana cream pie
Hi Connie! It should be fine to freeze, but I would recommend making the pie according to the directions and then freezing after filling the crust. I wouldn’t add the whipped cream or sliced bananas to the top until you are ready to serve.
Your 5 ingredient banana creme pie is delicious!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great recipe, easy to follow, and tastes amazing!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Can I fold in fresh whipped cream instead of cool whip?
Definitely! :)
Very pleasantly surprised! Perfect & easy! Tastes great!
How much milk should I use if I’m using a 3.4 oz of pudding mic
I would probably do 1 cup of milk!
i added a box of pudding mix and 1 and 1/2 of milk. its all watery why aint it thickening. i stirred it for couple minutes. ?
Was it a large box of pudding? Make sure it is 5.1 oz.
Is there a trick when substituting with almond milk
I haven’t tried it before so I’m not sure. I think it should work the same! :)
What does one do to keep the bananas from turning dark, I always have that problem and I used to soak the slice in lemon juice,
Hi Mary Ann! I just add the bananas on top right before serving!
Hi I bought a cook and serve pudding mix can I use this instead of the instant?
Thank you
Hi Maria! That should be fine. I would just make the pudding according to the package and then stir in the 1 cup of cool whip. :)
Can you use instant banana cream pie instead of banana pudding?
That should be fine! :)
Can I make this the night before to eat the next day?
Yes, it can be made the night before :)
To make it lighter, can you substitute Light Cool Whip?
Yes, definitely :)
This pie is a must make on the Holidays! Have to add it to my dessert menu!
This looks totally awesome! This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Looks gorgeous! These are seriously mouth watering, this would disappear so quickly!