Instant pudding, milk, Cool Whip, bananas, marshmallows, and crushed Nilla wafers come together in this Easy Banana Pudding Fluff—your no-bake hero.

Okay, confession time.

I didn’t exactly plan to make Easy Banana Pudding Fluff. Honestly? It was one of those days. You know the kind — running behind, didn’t even shower yet, and somehow you’re supposed to show up to a family BBQ with “something sweet.” Right. Because time management? What’s that?

So I did what any desperate dessert lover would do. I opened my fridge and pantry, hoping for a miracle. And there they were — pudding mix, Cool Whip (thank you, freezer hoarding instincts), bananas that were juuust ripe enough, and Nilla wafers. Mini marshmallows too. It was like the dessert gods were saying, “You got this.”

Fifteen minutes later, this fluffy, creamy, sweet cloud was chilling in the fridge. Crisis averted.

The best part? People lost their minds over it. Someone actually said, “Wait, did you make this from scratch??” Bless them — I let them believe that for a hot second.

And that’s when I knew this recipe was a keeper. Easy Banana Pudding Fluff? Total lifesaver. Not only for me, but for literally anyone who’s ever been in the “I forgot to make dessert!” panic spiral.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Banana Pudding Fluff Recipe?

Let’s be real — some recipes are just vibe recipes. This is one of them. Here’s why:

No baking. Nope. None. Your oven can keep its cool.
Fast and easy. I mean, 15 minutes? That’s less time than it takes me to find matching socks.
Crowd favorite. Kids love it. Adults love it. I love it. No notes.
Texture heaven. Creamy pudding + fluffy whipped topping + chewy marshmallows + crunchy cookies = YES.
Perfect for parties or lazy Sundays. It’s low-maintenance but looks (and tastes) like you tried.

Honestly? It’s kinda the dessert version of sweatpants. Cozy, easy, makes you happy every single time.

Ingredient Notes:

Not only is this recipe simple to make, the ingredient list is pretty chill too. Nothing fancy or hard to find. Just the good stuff.

Instant vanilla pudding mix (5.1 oz box) → Thickens up fast. No cooking necessary.
Cold milk (1 1/2 cups) → Keeps the pudding nice and creamy.
Cool Whip (8 oz, thawed) → Makes everything fluffy and light.
Ripe bananas (3-4) → Not too green, not too brown. Goldilocks bananas.
Lemon juice (1 tbsp) → Keeps those bananas from going brown and sad.
Mini marshmallows (2 cups) → Adds fun texture and chewiness.
Nilla wafers (2 cups, crushed) → The classic crunch and nostalgic flavor.

How To Make Easy Banana Pudding Fluff?

Step 1: Whip up the pudding.
Grab a large bowl. Whisk the pudding mix and cold milk for about 2 minutes until smooth and thick. Pop it in the fridge to chill for about 5-10 minutes. Perfect time to clean up or… scroll your phone.

Step 2: Fold in the Cool Whip.
Take that chilled pudding out and fold in the Cool Whip gently. Gently is key — we’re after fluff here, not soup.

Step 3: Slice the bananas.
Cut ‘em into thin slices and toss them in lemon juice so they don’t turn that weird brown color. No one wants that.

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Step 4: Bring it all together.
Add the sliced bananas, marshmallows, and 1 1/2 cups of the crushed Nilla wafers to the pudding mixture. Stir gently. It should look kinda messy… but the good kind of messy.

Step 5: Chill and serve.
Spoon the fluff into a pretty bowl (or whatever you can find, honestly), cover it up, and chill for about an hour. Before serving, give it a stir and sprinkle the rest of the crushed wafers on top.

That’s it. Really. Grab a spoon.

Storage Options:

In the fridge: This keeps well for about 2 days. After that, the bananas start to get a little, uh… sketchy.
Freezing? Not the best idea. The texture will get weird, and honestly, this stuff’s too good to freeze anyway.

Pro tip? It’s best eaten the same day. But I won’t judge if you’re sneaking leftovers straight from the fridge the next morning.

Variations and Substitutions:

You know me — I can’t leave well enough alone. Here’s how to mix things up:

Swap vanilla pudding for banana pudding. Extra banana-y and honestly, kinda fun.
Add more fruit. Strawberries? Pineapple? Both work beautifully.
Use homemade whipped cream. If you wanna go extra fancy.
Add chopped nuts. Pecans or walnuts bring some crunch.
Try chocolate pudding instead. Trust me… it’s a whole vibe.

What to Serve with Easy Banana Pudding Fluff?

This fluff can be eaten solo (and often is), but if you want to go the extra mile:

Graham crackers or extra Nilla wafers: Perfect for scooping.
Fresh fruit: Like strawberries, for added color and freshness.
Coffee or iced tea: Balances the sweetness perfectly.
On top of brownies or cake: Yep, I went there. No regrets.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will the bananas turn brown?
Eventually, yes. But lemon juice helps slow that down.

Can I skip the marshmallows?
Of course. I like the chew, but it’s totally up to you.

Is homemade whipped cream okay instead of Cool Whip?
Definitely. Just make sure it’s whipped to stiff peaks so it holds up.

This Easy Banana Pudding Fluff is the definition of comfort food. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it saves your butt when you need a dessert now and baking is just not happening.

It’s also the kinda thing that makes people happy. Like, genuinely happy. I still get texts about “that banana fluff you made.” Which honestly? Makes me smile every time.

So what do you think — ready to whip up a bowl? If you do, tell me how it goes! Did you toss in extra marshmallows? Go tropical with pineapple? Or just keep it old-school classic? I wanna hear all about your version.

Drop a comment or tag me — because no one should enjoy banana pudding fluff alone.

<Remember it later>

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

<Remember it later>

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

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