Banana Cream Parfaits
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Banana Cream Parfaits are one of my favorite easy desserts. They’re layered with homemade vanilla pudding, fluffy whipped topping, and a little sprinkle of chocolate on top. So simple, but they feel kinda fancy.
My boys go wild for these. I love that I can make them ahead of time, stash them in the fridge, and pull them out like I’m winning dessert night. Total mom win.
They’re creamy, dreamy, and packed with banana flavor in every bite.
Love individual desserts? You’ll love my Oreo dirt pudding cups, my Baileys Chocolate Mousse or my Pineapple Coconut Cheesecakes too!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
- Cornstarch. This is used for thickening the pudding
- Sugar. Plain white sugar.
- Salt. I use kosher salt. Salt intensifies food’s other flavors. it’s not just for savory dishes!
- Milk. Whole milk or 2% work just fine
- Eggs. Large ones!
- Butter. I use salted butter
- Vanilla Extract. Use a good quality one. this is a key flavor in the pudding
- Cream Cheese. Use full fat, the reduced fat one will work, but won’t taste as good.
- Whipped Topping. Also known as “Cool Whip”, but there are several off brand products that are just as good
- Bananas. bananas should be bright yellow and still firm. Bananas with too many brown spots are too sweet, and don’t taste great (to me, anyway)
Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead
How to make this recipe
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
JumpMake the pudding. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, and salt, then whisk in the milk. Add the eggs, and butter. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until ingredients begin to boil. Reduce to low and stir until thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Cover with plastic wrap placing the wrap directly onto the surface of the filling. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
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Make the cream layer. In a separate bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy then, beat in the vanilla and about ¼ cup of cool whip to cream cheese mix until well mixed. Fold in remaining cool whip. Cover with plastic wrap placing the wrap directly onto the surface of the filling. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Assembly. Add 2-3 tablespoons filling to the bottom of a parfait glass. Top with the cream layer, and repeat. Top with fresh banana slices and grate chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until needed.
Kylee’s Notes
- Freshly whipped cream can be substituted for whipped topping!
- Vary up your chocolate – I use dark, but milk and white are also really good!
- Use banana chips instead of fresh bananas.
Want more dessert recipes? Of course you do!
- Slutty Brownies Make this decadent dessert from scratch! With cookie dough on the base, oreos in the middle and brownie batter poured over the top, these are the ultimate dessert!
- Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie. Flaky pie crust filled with a custard-like filling, that will invoke memories of times gone by.
- Apple Dumplings. Tart apples wrapped in a flaky biscuit and smothered in a buttery vanilla sauce. Topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar, this is a super easy recipe that delivers on taste!
- Blondies. A super easy recipe for a classic, this Blondie Recipe mixes up fast, contains only 7 ingredients, and tastes amazing!
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Banana Cream Parfait Recipe
Ingredients
Pudding
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream layer
- 2 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup whipped topping such as cool whip
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish
- sliced bananas
- grated chocolate
Instructions
Make the pudding
- In a medium saucepan whisk together the cornstarch, sugar and salt.1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Gradually whisk in the milk, then add the eggs and butter.1 cup milk, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon butter
- Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until ingredients begin to boil. Reduce to low and stir until thick.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Cool completely.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cover with plastic wrap placing the wrap directly onto the surface of the mixture. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Make the cream cheese layer
- In a separate bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy then, beat in the vanilla, and about ¼ cup of cool whip to cream cheese mix until well mixed. Fold in remaining cool whip.2 ounces cream cheese, 1 1/2 cup whipped topping, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cover with plastic wrap placing the wrap directly onto the surface of the mixture. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Assembly
- Add 2-3 tablespoons pudding to the bottom of a parfait glass. Top with the cream layer, and repeat. Top with fresh banana slices and grate chocolate over the top.sliced bananas, grated chocolate
- Refrigerate until needed.
- Devour.
Notes
- Freshly whipped cream can be substituted for whipped topping!
- Vary up your chocolate – I use dark, but milk and white are also really good!
- Use banana chips instead of fresh bananas.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!Source: Adapted from Sandra at The Foodie Affair.
About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
My goodness, do these parfaits look amazing! My daughter and husband–who are both HUGE banana fans–are gonna adore these! And what fun to be able to prepare them in advance and pull them out of the fridge for dessert. You can’t beat something like that!
This sounds so up my alley! I think I might have to make these parfaits for a snack tonight!
These parfaits are so pretty! I know they are so delicious too!
Those parfaits are perfect! I love individual treats like this too and am sure your boys thought they were special indeed!
These were so cute and a fun project for when I had the neighbor kids over on Sunday! They loved sculpting their own layers and I loved that they are eating something homemade ~~