Chocolate Banana Pudding

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Summer is the season for banana pudding! And every once in a while, a classic deserves a little bit of fun. This chocolate banana pudding takes our popular New York-style banana pudding and gives it a rich, chocolatey twist that’s playful, nostalgic, and surprisingly irresistible (even if you aren’t a chocolate-lover).

Digging through the layers is the best part! This pudding starts with silky whipped chocolate pudding, which is layered with fresh banana slices, soft chocolate cake, and crunchy chocolate Oreo cookies before the process repeats. As the pudding chills, the layers settle together into the perfect chilled dessert. The combination of creamy, soft, and crunchy textures makes each bite a surprise. 

Even though this pudding is packed with chocolate from top to bottom, it never feels overwhelmingly rich or overly sweet. The addition of fresh bananas and whipped cream folded into the pudding keeps it refreshing and light. It makes the perfect chilled dessert for cookouts, summer gatherings, family dinners, or whenever you’re craving something chocolatey.

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Banana Pudding

• Each bite is an adventure! There are so many layers and textures in this chocolate banana pudding that make it so memorable. The creamy, rich pudding, crumbles of cake, Oreo, and soft banana slices.
• Perfect recipe for cookouts or family gatherings. If you’re looking for a recipe that will feed a lot of people, this chocolate banana pudding is a perfect option. It’s also super easy to serve. Have everyone scoop their own portions to serve.
• Indulgent summer dessert! It’s chilled, creamy, and decadent…aka the perfect treat for a warm evening!

How to Make Chocolate Banana Pudding, Step by Step

Step 1. Mix together the pudding mix and chill for at least 2 hours.

Start by making the chocolate pudding. It will take a couple of hours to thicken and chill in the fridge, so you want to do this first. 

First, whisk together condensed milk and water. The water will help to dilute the condensed milk. Once the condensed milk is thoroughly blended, mix in the chocolate pudding mix. We used instant Jello Chocolate Pudding Mix for this recipe. 

Once blended, pour into an airtight container, seal, and chill the pudding in the fridge for at least 2 hours. It will become very dense and thick as it chills. Don’t panic, that is how it’s supposed to be! You will fold in whipped cream later on to make it light and fluffy. 

Step 2. Make a chocolate boxed cake and let it cool completely. 

Cake in banana pudding?? ABSOLUTELY! Trust us, it is the ingredient you didn’t know you needed in your banana pudding. It adds a delicious, crumbly texture to the pudding. 

While the pudding is setting in the fridge, make the chocolate cake. We’re keeping things simple and using a boxed chocolate fudge mix. Follow the package instructions to make the cake, then let it cool completely before assembling the pudding layers. 

Tip: Cool the cake completely before assembling the banana pudding. Warm cake may melt the pudding. 

Step 3. Whip the heavy cream into whipped cream. Fold into the chocolate pudding. 

In an electric stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream on high speed until soft peaks form. 

Add the firm chocolate pudding to a large bowl and fold the whipped cream into the pudding until it is evenly blended and fluffy.

Tip: Soft peaks should be firm and curl like a wave when you pull the beater out. 

Step 4. Assemble pudding in a trifle dish. Let it chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

The fun part – assembling the layers! Here’s how we recommend assembling the pudding. 

1. Layer of chocolate pudding
2. Chocolate cake crumbles
3. Slices of banana
4. Chocolate Oreo cookies
5. Repeat with pudding and the rest of the layers.

You should be able to create two full layers plus a topping of pudding. Finish the trifle with extra whipped cream, cake crumbles, Oreo cookies, and slices of bananas.

Let the pudding chill and set in the fridge for 1-2 hours. It needs this extra time to set so that the Oreo cookies will soften. 

Use a large spoon to scoop through all the yummy layers!

Serving suggestions: Scoop through all the layers and serve in small cups to make individual portions. 

Tips for Making Chocolate Banana Pudding

• Let the cake cool completely before cutting it. If the cake is too warm, it can melt the pudding. It could also crumble too much. Cooling it completely gives you clean, sturdy cubes that layer beautifully. That way, when it’s scooped, you also get chunks of cake rather than soggy crumbles.
• Make the pudding ahead of time. For the thickest, creamiest texture, let the pudding chill for at least 1–2 hours, or overnight, before folding it into the whipped cream.
• Use ripe—but not overripe—bananas. Look for bananas that are bright yellow with a few brown speckles. This way, they will still be firm, sweet, and flavorful. If they are too green, they will be too tart. Bananas with a lot of brown marks will be too mushy. 
• Chill before serving. For the best flavor and texture, refrigerate the trifle for 1-2 hours after assembling. This gives the cookies time to soften slightly and all of the flavors in the layers time to meld together. 

Serving suggestions for banana pudding: 

No matter how you present this banana pudding, it will be a hit! Here are some of our favorite ways to serve banana pudding.

• Layer pudding in a trifile dish 
• Assemble trifle layers in a deep casserole dish
• Scoop into paper cups for easy grab-and-go dessert – great party option!
• Assemble individual trifles in small parfait dishes or ramikens. 

How to Store Banana Pudding

If you have leftovers or are prepping to serve at a later time, cover the trifle dish in plastic wrap. Keep it chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cookies will continue to soften, making the dessert even more cake-like over time.

Can I freeze leftover banana pudding? 

We do not recommend freezing the pudding and is best enjoyed fresh from the fridge. After thawing, the whipped cream, pudding and bananas can change texture.  isn’t recommended. The whipped cream, pudding, and bananas can change texture after thawing, so this dessert is best enjoyed fresh from the refrigerator.

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