Description
A light and creamy no-bake strawberry banana cream dessert featuring layers of instant vanilla pudding, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and a graham cracker crust. Perfect for a refreshing summer treat or an easy-to-make dessert that requires minimal preparation and no oven time.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cream Mixture
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 1/2 cups cold milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or 1 tub whipped topping)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional, for sweetening cream)
For the Fruit Layers
- 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 cup sliced bananas
For the Crust
- 1 prepared graham cracker crust or 8 crushed graham crackers with 3 tablespoons melted butter (for homemade base)
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk for about 2 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Whip the cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with vanilla extract and powdered sugar (if using) until soft peaks form, creating a light and fluffy texture.
- Combine pudding and cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the thickened pudding mixture until well combined and smooth to form a creamy filling.
- Make the crust (if using homemade): Mix crushed graham crackers with melted butter and press the mixture firmly into the bottom of an 8×8-inch dish or pie pan to create the crust base.
- Assemble the first layer: Spread half of the pudding mixture evenly over the prepared graham cracker crust.
- Add the fruit layer: Evenly layer the sliced bananas and fresh strawberries over the pudding layer.
- Add the final pudding layer: Spread the remaining pudding mixture evenly over the fruit layer to seal in the layers.
- Chill before serving: Cover the dessert with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow it to set fully and develop flavor.
- Garnish and serve: Optionally, garnish with extra fresh fruit or additional whipped cream before serving for an appealing presentation.
Notes
- To prevent bananas from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice before layering.
- This dessert is best served within 24 hours for peak freshness.
- For a frozen version, freeze the assembled dessert for 2–3 hours and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing.
