This Pudding is Bananas

Let me just start off by saying that it's rare for me to write about a non-chocolate dessert; when I do, it's because it's absolutely worth it. I recently traveled to New York to visit my sister. Many of my favorite memories from that trip involve food (shocker), and one of my favorite places that we noshed was Magnolia Bakery. Magnolia Bakery is famous for their cupcakes, as well as many other "icebox desserts." Perhaps the most famous of the icebox desserts is their banana pudding. Every New Yorker I was with told me I had to try it. Yes, even though it wasn't chocolate.

I know I have a tendency to oversell things (I'm easily amused - what can I say?), but this was the best banana pudding I've ever had. It kind of made me sad because it was so good, and after this trip it would be several states away. Fortunately, I found the recipe on Pinterest. I tried it, and it's legit.

Magnolia Bakery's Banana Pudding (from Not Too Shabby / via Pinterest)


Ingredients:

• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups very cold water
• 1 (3.4 oz) package of Jell-O instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 (12 oz) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers
• 3-4 ripe (but not banana bread ripe) bananas, sliced

Directions

1. Beat together sweetened condensed milk and water for about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat for an additional two minutes. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to set for at least 4 hours (overnight is fine).
2. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Stir in pudding mixture once it's set.
3. Assemble the dessert in a large glass dish (so you can see the pretty layers!), preferably a trifle bowl. Place 1/3 of the Nilla Wafers in the dish, then cover with 1/3 of the banana slices, then 1/3 of the pudding mixture. Repeat with the two additional layers. Garnish with Nilla Wafer crumbs. Serve within the next day so that your bananas don't get too soggy!

What's your favorite dish you've discovered while on vacation?