Name: Banana Split Pudding
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 3.4 oz. package of instant vanilla pudding mix; 2 cups cold milk; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; 1-2 bananas; 1 1/2 cups cool whip; 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles; 3 maraschino cherries

If you’re looking for a simple, no-bake dessert that feels nostalgic, these banana split pudding cups are exactly that. They come together in just minutes! They are made with only a handful of ingredients and are easy to portion out for individual servings.

Not only are they great for summer gatherings, birthday parties, or weeknight treats, but they’re also a fun recipe to make with kids.

Even better, these pudding cups take all the classic flavors of a banana split and turn them into a creamy, layered dessert that’s easy to serve and enjoy. No melting ice cream required.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

To start, this recipe is incredibly quick and beginner-friendly. With only about 10 minutes of prep time, you can have a dessert ready to chill and serve.

In addition, there’s no baking involved, which makes it perfect for hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

Another reason to love these pudding cups is how easy they are to customize. You can easily switch up the toppings, adjust the sweetness, or make them a little lighter depending on your preferences.

Plus, because they’re served in individual cups, they’re easy to grab and enjoy. Perfect for kids or parties!

Banana Split Pudding Ingredients

1 (3.4 oz.) package of instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1–2 bananas, sliced
1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles
3 maraschino cherries

Instructions

Prepare the pudding:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and cold milk until smooth and thickened.

2. Start layering:
Divide half of the pudding mixture evenly among 3 dessert cups (about 9 oz each).

3. Add bananas:
Slice the bananas and place a layer of banana slices into each cup.

4. Add crunch:
Sprinkle chopped walnuts evenly over the banana layer.

5. Finish the pudding layer:
Divide the remaining pudding mixture evenly between the cups.

6. Top with whipped topping:
Transfer the Cool Whip to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a swirl on top of each cup.

7. Decorate:
Add rainbow sprinkles and top each cup with a maraschino cherry.

8. Serve and enjoy:
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.

Easy Ways to Customize

One of the best things about these banana split pudding cups is how easy they are to customize based on what you have on hand or your personal preferences.

For example, if walnuts aren’t your favorite, you can easily swap them for other nuts, like chopped pecans, almonds, or even peanuts, for a more classic banana split flavor.

On the other hand, if you’d rather skip the nuts altogether, crumbled graham crackers make a great substitute.

They add a subtle sweetness and a soft crunch that works perfectly with the creamy pudding and bananas.

You could even mix and match toppings to create a fun “build-your-own” dessert bar, especially if you’re serving a group.

How to Make Them a Little Lighter

In addition, these pudding cups can be made a bit lighter with a few simple swaps. Using sugar-free pudding mix and light or sugar-free whipped topping is an easy way to reduce the sugar without sacrificing too much flavor.

You can also experiment with different pudding flavors, like chocolate, banana cream, or cheesecake, to switch things up and create new variations of this dessert.

This makes it easy to adapt the recipe to your taste while still keeping it simple and fun.

A Fun Recipe to Make with Kids

Finally, this recipe is a great one to make with kids. Since it involves simple steps like mixing, layering, and decorating, little hands can easily help assemble each cup.

Kids can add the banana slices, sprinkle the toppings, and even help pipe the whipped topping (with a little guidance).

Not only does this make the process more fun, but it also turns dessert into a hands-on activity everyone can enjoy. It’s a great way to spend time together while creating something sweet and memorable.