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.
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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.
I followed the recipe exactly and after 3 hours I tasted it. It tasted alright but it was almost soupy. Not set at all. When I cut a slice, it slid onto my plate. Good thing I didn’t make it for company. Way to flimsy. Even the next day.
Hi Jill! I’m sorry it did not set for you. Did you use whole or low-fat milk? It will not set as properly with low-fat milk.
A family favorite at Thanksgiving. I’ll definitely be making this recipe, again! Thank you!
It is time to start planning our menus for Thanksgiving dinner and pie is definitely the most important part! Thanks for sharing, Glenda.
My husband’s favorite pie! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
You are so welcome! Glad your husband loves it :)
Great, easy pie! Would have never made my own banana cream pie at home, but with this recipe we will definitely make it many more times.
So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Dana! Thanks for your comment and review :)
Best Banana cream ever !!!! Super easy and my family loves it !!
So glad to hear your family loved it! Thanks for the review Jone :)
I used the cooked vanilla pudding instead cooled it and it’s awesome! Thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed :)
Best banana cream pie I have ever made.
Yay so glad to hear that! :)
This is a great pie, I did see it was kinda soupy. But I threw the mitered in the fridge for an hour and it stiffened. Spooned it into the pie crust, let it set. This was awesome.
Lindsay H.
*mixture
I’m happy you enjoyed the recipe, Lindsay!
I make the banana and chocolate cream pies every year for the holidays, and I was curious as to how y’all did your cream pies! Turns out EXACTLY AS I DO!! LOL
They are “ALWAYS” a hit a never any leftover!!
Great minds think alike, lol
Thank You and Merry Christmas
Yes, great minds definitely think alike :) It’s always a hit when we make it too! Happy holidays, Kelly!
I used just almond milk and it turned out awesome!
Yay, so glad the substitution worked out great!
The reason every one is having trouble with it being runny is that your using to much milk I did it the 1st time too. Use only 2 cups. Don’t follow the pudding recipe. 🤪Follow this recipe
Everyone at my house enjoyed this pie! It is so good and delicious!
This was a huge hit with my friends over the weekend! Super delicious, thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad everyone loved it :)
My daughter asked for this for her birthday instead of cake. Such a creamy and rich pie. The whole family loved it.
A girl after my own heart :) I hope she had an amazing birthday!
The best banana cream pie I ever are…And soon easy!!!
Can you use 1%milk?
That should be fine. It may be a little thinner.
I get compliments on this Banana Cream pie recipe every time I ma ke it! Its now my favorite! It ‘s so easy to make too!!!
Love to hear this! Glad it’s such a hit :)
CAn you use cooked banana cream pie filling/pudding for this – can’t get instant
That should be fine. I would just cook according to the package and then mix with the cool whip.
Hi! Can a make a day ahead of time? I am saving the topping for right before serving but with the bananas in the pudding be ok? Thanks!
Yes, that should be fine if you add the topping right before serving. :)
My family as well as myself really enjoyed this pie.i made one for my brother but we ate it instead of him getting it. Lol.
Easy to make bvb and very good tasting.