Picture yourself dipping a spoon into these creamy and dreamy banana split pudding cups. This is a no-bake dessert that combines the scrumptious flavors of a classic banana split with the convenience of individual pudding cups.
Perfect for any occasion, these heavenly treats save you time and energy since they don’t require an oven or any baking skills. Whether you’re a dessert connoisseur or a busy parent looking for a quick and tasty treat, these pudding cups are sure to become a household favorite in no time!
Four banana split pudding cups with bananas in the background.
No-Bake Banana Split Pudding Parfaits
If you love a good old banana split dessert, get ready to be smitten by these velvety and delectable banana split pudding cups. With layers of rich and creamy pudding, fresh banana slices, strawberries, and more, this dessert is a must-try for people who love banana splits.
Two of the most visited recipes on this site are the banana split cookies and the banana split ice box cake, so I have a feeling these pudding cups will fit right in. Just in time for summer BBQ parties and warm weather celebrations, give these banana split parfaits a save, so you can whip them up the next time a sweet treat is in order.
Reasons to Love this Banana Split Pudding Parfait Cup Recipe
- Easy: This is a quick, easy, and no-bake dessert that can be ready quite quickly.
- Crowd-pleaser: You can’t really go wrong with this flavor combo and people love layered desserts.
- Versatile: It’s easy to tweak this recipe to fit your tastes and dietary needs. Add, remove, or replace ingredients, switch up the toppings, and get creative to make it your own.
- Party perfect: The individual serving cups make it ideal for parties, barbecues, and gatherings. Guests can just grab a cup and enjoy.
- Light and refreshing: The combo of fresh fruit, creamy pudding, and fluffy whipped topping makes a dessert that’s super tasty but not overly heavy.
- Pretty: Just like with our trifles, the colorful layers are pretty to look at and sure to impress.
- Make-ahead friendly: These pudding cups can be made the day before you need them so you can cross one thing off the list and prep ahead.
Bananas, sprinkles, cherries, pudding mixes, and other ingredients.
Banana Split Pudding Cups Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this no-bake dessert recipe. The exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Banana pudding mix
- Chocolate pudding mix
- Cold milk
- Cool Whip
- Diced strawberries
- Sliced bananas
- Crushed pineapple, drained
- Maraschino cherries
- Crushed peanuts
- Sprinkles
Banana Split Pudding Parfait Directions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the banana pudding mix with 1 cup of cold milk until smooth and free of lumps.
In another separate bowl, whisk the chocolate pudding mix with the remaining milk until well combined.
Chocolate pudding mix in a mixing bowl.
Place both pudding mixtures in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to thicken.
Reserve 1 cup of Cool Whip, then blend half of the remaining Cool Whip with the banana pudding until just combined.
Banana pudding and whipped topping.
Cool Whip in with chocolate pudding mixture.
Mix the remaining half of Cool Whip into the chocolate pudding.
Layered banana split parfaits in cups.
Evenly distribute the banana pudding among the 8 cups.
Layer the diced strawberries on top of the banana pudding in each cup.
Divide the chocolate pudding between the cups, creating a layer on top of the strawberries.
Add a layer of sliced bananas to each cup, followed by a generous spoonful of crushed pineapple.
Banana split pudding cups topped with whipped cream and cherries.
Top each pudding cup with a dollop of the reserved whipped cream.
Refrigerate the cups until ready to serve.
Banana split pudding parfait cups topped with whipped cream, cherries, and crushed peanuts.
Just before serving, top each pudding cup with crushed peanuts, sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry.
What to Serve with Pudding Cups
If you are planning a pool party or outdoor bash, here are so more light and refreshing things to serve.
Fruit kabobs: Skewer up some bite-sized pieces of fruits for an easy-to-eat and light treat.
Granita: Another easy way to enjoy fresh watermelon is to make a watermelon lime granita and serve it to guests.
Shortbread cookies: These fairy shortbread bites are so small and fun to pop into your mouth for a light and buttery treat.
Punch: Adding a punch bowl to the table is such an easy way to make it look fancy. This orange sherbet punch is criminally easy to make, but loved by all.
Fun co*cktail dessert: For the of-age adults, you can serve these RumChata pudding shots for a dessert co*cktail option.
Four banana split pudding cups with whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherries.
Recipe Swaps and Variations
Here are some substitutions you can make if you need to tweak the banana split pudding cups at all.
Dairy-free: Replace the milk with your favorite plant-based milk that sets well with instant pudding mix. Swap the Cool Whip with a dairy-free whipped topping or coconut whipped cream.
Sugar-free: Use sugar-free pudding mixes and sugar-free whipped topping if you want to reduce the sugar in the recipe.
Pudding flavors: Experiment with different flavors of pudding like white chocolate, pistachio, etc. It won’t really be a banana split creation at some point, but playing with flavor combos is fun!
Add crunch: If you want to add a crunchy layer for texture, you can crush up graham crackers or cookies and add them to the bottom of the cup before layering.
Nut-free: If you are worried about allergies or don’t like nuts, skip the crushed peanuts and use a different garnish like chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or crushed cookies.
Cups with layered pudding and fruit for banana split parfaits.
How to Store
To store the banana split parfait cups before you need them or if you have leftovers, cover each individual cup with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate the covered cups for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes and FAQ
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned crushed pineapple?
Yes, you can use fresh pineapple as an alternative to canned crushed pineapple. Simply chop the fresh pineapple into small pieces and measure out the required amount.
What if I don’t have banana pudding?
If you don’t have banana pudding mix on hand, you can substitute it with vanilla pudding mixed with a bit of banana extract or a small mashed banana. This will give the pudding a similar banana flavor in a pinch!
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Banana pudding cups and all the ingredients to make them.
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