Dreamy Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Cookie Crumbs Recipe

Southern kitchens buzz with excitement when a classic banana pudding with peanut butter cookie crumbs hits the dessert table.

Layers of creamy sweetness and crunchy textures dance together in this irresistible treat.

Generations have savored this decadent dessert that blends rich, smooth pudding with the nutty crunch of peanut butter cookies.

The combination of ripe bananas and crumbly cookie base creates a symphony of flavors that instantly transports you to comfortable summer gatherings.

Soft, luscious pudding nestles between crisp cookie layers, promising a delightful contrast in every single bite.

Each spoonful offers a nostalgic journey through Southern comfort and culinary creativity.

Let’s find out this crowd-pleasing dessert that’s sure to become your new favorite sweet indulgence.

Tools for Banana Pudding with Cookie Crumbs

• Immersion Blender/Stand Blender/Food Processor: Essential for creating smooth banana purée.
• Large Saucepan: Perfect for cooking pudding mixture and achieving creamy consistency.
• Wire Strainer: Helps create extra smooth pudding by removing any lumps.
• Electric Mixer: Crucial for blending peanut butter cookie dough ingredients.
• Baking Sheets: Needed for creating crispy peanut butter cookies.
• Parchment Paper/Silicone Mats: Prevents cookies from sticking during baking.
• Fork: Used for creating crisscross patterns on cookie tops.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly after baking.
• Dessert Dish/Ramekins: Serves as the final presentation vessel for the pudding.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.

How to Assemble Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Crumbs

• Banana Blend

Grab ripe bananas and transform them into silky smooth goodness using your favorite blending tool. The goal is creating a velvety banana base that whispers sweet promises of deliciousness.

• Creamy Custard Foundation

Combine milk, cream, sugar, and a touch of cornstarch in a saucepan. Gently coax the mixture into a warm, thickening dance over medium heat until it starts to bubble and tell its own delectable story.

• Flavor Fusion

Pull the pan from heat’s embrace and welcome banana purée, butter, and egg yolks into the mix. Return to heat, whirling and stirring until everything harmonizes into a dreamy, luxurious pudding.

• Cooling Technique

Strain the pudding through a fine mesh, then nestle it into an ice bath. This magic trick ensures a supremely smooth texture that will make taste buds dance with joy.

• Cookie Creation

Whip up peanut butter cookies by blending ingredients into a delightful dough. Shape into playful rounds, press with a fork, and bake until golden and fragrant.

• Dessert Assembly

Layer your masterpiece in gorgeous glasses or a stunning dish. Start with crumbled cookies, then pudding, then banana slices. Repeat until you’ve built a dessert that looks as incredible as it tastes.

• Final Flourish

Crown your creation with extra cookie crumbs and perhaps a cloud of whipped cream if you’re feeling extra indulgent. Chill and prepare for pure bliss.

Flavor Tips for Banana Pudding with Cookie Layers

• Toast the peanut butter cookie crumbs in the oven for 3-4 minutes before crushing to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the pudding layers.
• For extra silky pudding, use a fine-mesh strainer when transferring the mixture, ensuring a supremely smooth consistency that melts perfectly in your mouth.
• Experiment with different nut butter cookies like almond or cashew to create unique variations that complement the banana's natural sweetness.
• Prepare the pudding and cookies a day in advance, storing them separately in airtight containers to save time and let flavors develop overnight.
• Sprinkle additional toppings like toasted coconut flakes, chocolate shavings, or a light dusting of cinnamon to elevate the dessert's visual appeal and taste profile.

Serving Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Crumbs

• Sweet Banana Comfort: Create a cozy dessert experience by layering the pudding in clear glass mason jars, allowing guests to see the beautiful banana and cookie crumb layers.
• Brunch Showstopper: Serve individual portions in elegant ramekins, perfect for weekend gatherings or special brunches where presentation matters as much as taste.
• Picnic Perfect Treat: Pack the pudding in portable sealed containers with tight-fitting lids, making this dessert an ideal make-ahead option for outdoor adventures and family gatherings.
• Gourmet Garnish Twist: Top each serving with extra crushed peanut butter cookies, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a small dollop of whipped cream to elevate the dessert's visual and flavor profile.

Storing Banana Pudding with Cookie Crumbs Properly

• Quick Chilling Technique: Place hot pudding mixture over an ice bath to rapidly cool and prevent bacterial growth, ensuring food safety and smooth texture.
• Refrigeration Window: Store completed banana pudding in sealed containers for up to 3-4 days, keeping it fresh and maintaining optimal taste and consistency.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie crumbs and pudding base separately up to 2 days before assembling, saving time and streamlining kitchen workflow.
• Smart Serving Strategy: Layer dessert components just before serving to prevent cookie crumbs from becoming soggy, preserving delightful crunch and textural contrast.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 407 kcal

Servings: 9

Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Cookie Crumbs Ingredients

• Whole Milk, Heavy Whipping Cream: Provides rich, silky foundation for pudding, choose highest fat content for maximum creaminess.
• Egg Yolks: Delivers luxurious texture and natural thickening power, select fresh, room temperature eggs for smooth incorporation.
• Cornstarch: Ensures perfect pudding consistency, look for finely ground variety without clumping.

• Bananas: Core ingredient offering natural sweetness and intense banana profile, select fully ripe fruits with dark speckles for deepest flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances sweetness and caramelizes slightly, opt for fine-grain sugar for seamless blending.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic undertone, choose pure extract over artificial for genuine depth.
• Salt: Elevates and harmonizes all flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Creamy Peanut Butter: Provides nutty, rich base for cookies, select smooth, stabilized brand for consistent texture.
• Egg: Binds cookie ingredients together, ensure fresh and at room temperature.
• Granulated Sugar: Creates crisp cookie texture, use fine sugar for smooth mixing.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps create tender cookie crumb, select high-quality butter with good fat content.
• Vanilla Extract: Complements peanut butter's flavor, use pure extract for authentic taste.

Creamy Banana Pudding With Peanut Butter Cookie Crumbs Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Southern banana pudding elevates classic dessert comfort with creamy layers of homemade pudding, fresh bananas, and crumbled peanut butter cookies. Delightful spoons of nostalgia invite home cooks to savor each rich, indulgent bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 7 large very ripe bananas (lightly speckled)
• 3 cups (710 ml/24 fl oz) whole milk
• 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) heavy whipping cream
• 6 large egg yolks
• ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsps (45 g/1.6 oz) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (240 g/8.5 oz) creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup (200 g/7 oz) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Banana Purée Preparation: Pulverize ripe bananas using an immersion blender, stand blender, or food processor until achieving a velvety smooth texture.
2. Pudding Base Creation: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk until the mixture simmers and slightly thickens.
3. Flavor Infusion: Remove from heat, gently fold in banana purée, unsalted butter, and egg yolks. Return to heat, continuously whisking until reaching a gentle simmer and cooking for 3-5 minutes.
4. Texture Refinement: Strain the mixture through a fine wire mesh strainer into an ice bath-nestled bowl, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency and rapid cooling.
5. Final Pudding Preparation: Incorporate vanilla extract, whisking thoroughly. Cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until completely chilled.
6. Cookie Crafting: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Cream peanut butter and sugar using an electric mixer until fully integrated.
7. Cookie Mixing: Blend in egg and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes uniform and smooth. Shape dough into tablespoon-sized balls, placing them one inch apart on prepared sheets.
8. Baking Process: Create distinctive crisscross patterns using fork tines. Bake for 10-11 minutes, cooling on baking sheets for five minutes before transferring to wire racks.
9. Crumb Preparation: Crush three-quarters of the cookies manually or using a food processor to achieve desired crumb texture. Slice remaining bananas into uniform pieces.
10. Layering and Assembly: Select a trifle dish or individual dessert cups. Create layers by sprinkling cookie crumbs, adding pudding and banana slices. Repeat layering, finishing with a generous topping of cookie crumbs and whole cookies.
11. Finishing Touch: Optional: Enhance with freshly whipped cream between layers or as a decorative topping for added richness and visual appeal.

Notes

• Banana Selection: Choose ripe, soft bananas with brown speckles for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor.
• Pudding Consistency: Strain mixture through fine mesh to eliminate any potential lumps, creating ultra-smooth texture.
• Cooling Technique: Use ice bath when chilling pudding to rapidly reduce temperature and prevent bacterial growth.
• Cookie Crumb Tip: Pulse cookies in food processor for uniform, fine crumbs that distribute evenly throughout dessert layers.

• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Blending, Simmering, Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 407
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 155 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 98 mg