Food and Recipes Desserts Bars Banana Pudding Brownies 4.3 (3) 2 Reviews Banana pudding brownies are for when you need to totally impress with dessert. By Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee is an Assistant Digital Food Editor at Southern Living. She is a writer, recipe tester, and recipe developer with a passion for Appalachian foodways, culture, and history. Prior to joining the Southern Living, Catherine tested and developed recipes for print and digital publications like EatingWell, Food & Wine, Real Simple, Serious Eats, Southern Living, and more. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 31, 2024 Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more about the Southern Living Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 55 mins Servings: 24 If you've been dreaming of a new way to enjoy banana pudding, banana pudding brownies might just be the answer. Dense, chewy, and layered with a creamy banana filling, they have all the flavors of classic banana pudding in an unexpected format. Fresh banana gives these brownies the vibe of warm, aromatic banana bread, but with a slightly chewy, buttery crunch. A top layer, sprinkled with vanilla wafers, renders a slightly crisp brownie layer on top of a super creamy, cheesecake-like banana filling. The mix of fresh banana and banana cream pudding mix creates the perfect balance of flavors without needing any artificial banana flavor. Learn how to make banana pudding brownies. You won't need bowls and spoons for this version of banana pudding; it's the perfect slice-and-serve treat. What Are Banana Pudding Brownies? These dessert bars call in all the classic flavors of beloved banana pudding, in a handheld form. The brownie—or blondie—layers are made by combining light brown sugar with melted butter, mashed banana, vanilla, eggs, flour, baking soda, banana cream pudding mix, and salt for a chewy base with rich notes of caramel and banana. These layers surround a filling of cream cheese, eggs, banana cream pudding mix, and salt, for a creamy cross between cheesecake filling and banana pudding. The bars are topped with a mix of vanilla wafers and butter that add a toasty, crunchy touch to the brownies after baking. It's a delicious and unique combination. Ingredients for Banana Pudding Brownies Banana cream instant pudding and mashed ripe banana infuse these brownies with intense banana flavor for an unexpected twist on traditional banana pudding. To make banana pudding brownies, you'll need: Cooking spray: To prevent the brownies from sticking to the pan.Light brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture to the brownies along with light notes of caramel.Unsalted butter: Provides a rich and dense texture.Mashed ripe banana: Adds a natural sweetness and moisture to the brownies, along with deep banana flavor.Vanilla extract: For depth of flavor.Large eggs: Binds the batter, giving the layers their structure.All-purpose flour: Provides structure and gives the brownies their chewy texture.Baking soda: A leavening agent to give the brownie layers some lift.Banana cream instant pudding and pie filling: For a rich banana cream pudding flavor and texture.Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor.Cream cheese: Adds richness, tanginess, and creaminess.Vanilla wafers: Sprinkled over the brownies for a crunchy texture and nostalgic banana pudding touch. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle How To Make Banana Pudding Brownies These layered brownies might look difficult to put together, but in fact, they whip up in under 20 minutes of active time. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Prepare pan: Spray to coat a 13- x 9-inch baking pan. Whisk brown sugar and melted butter until smooth. Whisk in banana, vanilla, and 2 eggs.Step 2. Mix batter: Whisk together flour, baking soda, 1 package of the pudding filling, and salt. Whisk into sugar mixture.Step 3. Add batter to pan: Pour half of the batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.Step 4. Beat cream cheese: Beat cream cheese until smooth.Step 5. Add remaining ingredients: Beat in remaining eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed. Beat in remaining pudding filling and salt until smooth.Step 6. Transfer to pan: Spread evenly over batter in baking pan.Step 7. Top with batter: Top evenly with remaining batter.Step 8. Top with wafers: Stir together wafers and remaining butter in a bowl. Sprinkle over batter.Step 9. Bake: Bake until set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Banana Pudding Brownies Variations To give these banana pudding brownies a customized flavor and finish, consider these variation ideas: Brownie layer: Fold in white or dark chocolate chips, chopped pecans or walnuts, toffee bits, or coconut flakes for a unique touch.Pudding layer: Layer in sliced bananas for extra banana flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warming spice, or a hint of lemon or orange extract for a citrusy addition.Toppings: Sprinkle the bars with flaky sea salt or crushed banana chips before baking, dust with powdered sugar after they cool, or drizzle with melted white chocolate for a decorative finish. You can also garnish each bar with a rosette of whipped cream and an additional vanilla wafer to bring it all together. Can I Make Banana Pudding Brownies Ahead? While these brownies can be baked ahead, they're at their freshest when baked close to serving. To make them in advance, store the cooled brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator, stacked between layers of parchment if needed, up to one day before serving. How To Store Leftover Banana Pudding Brownies Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days, or freeze for up to two months for longer storage. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, if frozen, before serving. More Banana Pudding-Inspired Recipes You'll Love The creamy, comforting flavor of banana pudding gives these cake, pudding, and trifle recipes a nostalgic touch: Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars Banana Pudding Cheesecake Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake Banana Pudding Trifle Salted Caramel Banana Pudding Banana Pudding Cake Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse. Ingredients Cooking spray 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.), plus 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, divided 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana (from 1 [5-oz.] banana) 2 tsp. vanilla extract 5 large eggs, at room temperature 3 cups (about 12 3/4 oz.) all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 (3.4-oz.) pkg. banana cream instant pudding and pie filling, divided 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 16 oz. cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup coarsely crumbled vanilla wafers (from about 14 vanilla wafers) Directions Make brown sugar mixture: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Vigorously whisk together brown sugar and 1 1/2 cups of the melted butter in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in banana, vanilla, and 2 of the eggs until combined. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Make batter: Whisk together flour, baking soda, 1 package of the pudding and pie filling, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl; add to sugar mixture, whisking until fully combined. (Batter will be very thick.) Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Spread batter in pan: Transfer half (about 2 heaping cups) of batter to prepared baking pan. Using a silicone spatula, spread batter in an even layer, touching all edges of baking pan. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Make cream cheese filling: Beat cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Reduce mixer speed to low; add remaining 3 eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just combined after each addition and stopping to scrape sides of bowl as needed. Add remaining 1 package pudding and pie filling and 1/4 teaspoon salt; increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until combined and smooth, about 2 minutes. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Add cream cheese mixture to pan: Spread cream cheese mixture over batter in baking pan in an even layer. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Add top layer of batter: Scoop remaining batter evenly over cream cheese mixture; using hands or an offset spatula, gently spread and press into an even layer, covering most of cream cheese layer. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Sprinkle vanilla wafers: Stir together vanilla wafers and remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a bowl. Sprinkle evenly over top of batter. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Bake: Bake in preheated oven until set, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven; transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours. Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Frequently Asked Questions Do banana pudding brownies need to be refrigerated? Because of the pudding center, these brownies should be left out for no more than two hours while serving. Can I add other ingredients to banana pudding brownies? You can fold chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or other desired mix-ins to the brownie batter before layering into the pan. Why are my banana pudding brownies underbaked? Note that the type of pan you use to bake these brownies can affect their baking time. Glass and ceramic pans take longer to heat up in the oven compared to metal pans, and may need extended baking times. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Katie Rosenhouse Katie Rosenhouse Follow us Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a culinary instructor, and as a recipe developer. learn more