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This chessmen banana pudding is stacked with bananas, a pudding cheesecake filling, and crunchy cookies. This Paula Deen recipe is one of our favorite desserts and we’re so excited to share it with you.
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This mind-blowingly layered chessmen banana pudding recipe first came into my life years ago, when my friend made it for a party. She got the recipe from the one and only Paula Deen, so I knew it had to be good. Its original name was “Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding Recipe” and that’s the truth!
Crunchy cookies and sliced bananas sandwich a creamy layer of banana cheesecake filling. Every bite has a savory and sweet flavor with a thick creamy and crunchy texture. This dessert serves a crowd, so it is perfect for your next potluck or family dinner.
Ingredients
This is known to be similar to Paula Deen banana pudding recipe with all the same ingredients! Each ingredient is used to help enhance the banana flavor.
- Pepperidge Farms Chessmen Cookies – Technically, you could get by with two packages, but go ahead and buy three to ensure you have enough whole cookies for the layers. Usually, I find that there are several broken pieces in most packages. You can use broken pieces on the first layer to fill in the bottom and sides, or you can also eat the broken pieces!
- Bananas – It is best to have ripe bananas that are sliced into even sections.
- Milk – Whole milk gives a rich and creamy flavor and texture. You can use any milk that you have on hand. Just know it may alter the texture and flavor.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix – You can use French Vanilla pudding or plain Vanilla instant pudding mix for this Banana Pudding recipe.
- Cream Cheese – To ensure a smooth final product, make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – This sweetens the pudding but also gives extra creaminess to the pudding.
- Whipped Topping – For convenience, we use thawed Cool Whip, but you could absolutely use homemade whipped cream. You can make homemade whipped cream by mixing heavy cream, a little bit of sugar, and some vanilla extract in a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until stiff peaks form.
Steps to Making Chessmen Banana Pudding
Combine the ingredients together for a delicious banana flavor! Layer this chessmen banana pudding in a 9×13 baking dish. The layers will show through the glass and give a uniform design with the chessmen cookies.
- Stir – In a large mixing bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
- Mix – In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Stir until smooth. For best results, use a handheld electric mixer. Fold in whipped topping.
- Combine – Add the two mixtures together and stir until well combined.
- Assemble – Line the bottom layer of a 9×13 pan with one layer of Chessmen cookies. Place sliced bananas on top of the cookie layer. Pour the pudding mixture over the banana layer. Top with another layer of Chessmen cookies.
- Chill – Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serving Variations
We think this banana pudding recipe is pretty much perfect, but if you want to change it up, we do have a few variations!
- Cookies – You can use Nilla Wafers, other vanilla wafers cookies, or shortbread cookies instead of the bag of Chessmen cookies.
- Crush cookies – Instead of placing the cookies whole on the top layer, you can crush them up and sprinkle the crumbs over the top.
- Trifle dish – You can also serve this dessert in a large trifle dish. Start with a layer of cookies, then a layer of banana slices, then a layer of pudding mixture, and repeat until the dish is full.
“This is an easy and delicious recipe–I have made this for years for my family!! One of their favorites!! I have used chocolate and caramel flavored pudding for different flavors–always turns out good!! A variety of cookies wil work esp oreos!!”
-Lee
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanilla wafers are usually the next best thing to Chessmen cookies. Chessmen cookies are buttery and the best options. They come in a rectangular shape in a small bag.
Using vinegar or lemon juice will give the bananas the citric acid to help keep the bananas from browning.
Banana pudding is a Southern dessert and is usually displayed in a glass dish to show off the layers.
Laura Kerley invented banana pudding back in 1921. She is from Bloomington, Illinois where she published the recipe in the Pantagraph.
Storing and Refrigerating Chessmen Banana Pudding
Store this dessert in the fridge in an airtight container, or covered with plastic wrap. Leftover banana pudding is my absolute favorite! The cookies soften a little on the second day and the flavors all blend together deliciously. It will be kept in the refrigerator for about a week.
More Dreamy No-Bake Desserts
If you have tried this chessmen banana pudding recipe, you know that there’s no need to heat up the house for tasty treats! Try a few more and see for yourself.
How to Make Chessmen Banana Pudding
Chessmen Banana Pudding
Video
Ingredients
- 3 bags Pepperidge Farms Chessmen cookies You really only need two bags, but a lot of times there are broken cookies in each bag.
- 6 bananas sliced
- 2 cups milk
- 5 ounces instant pudding vanilla
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 12 ounces whipped topping thawed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Stir until smooth. For best results, use an electric mixer. Fold in whipped topping.
- Add the two mixtures together and stir until well combined.
- Line the bottom of a 9×13 pan with one layer of Chessmen cookies.
- Place sliced bananas on top of the cookie layer.
- Pour the pudding mixture over the banana layer.
- Top with another layer of Chessmen cookies.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
I haven’t made this recipe yet I rated it 5 stars for looks. However, I do plan to make it for Easter. Well lets say I plan to make it for Easter If people have left any food on the shelves at grocery stores. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a big hit. Thanks for the easy recipe!
Can’t wait to try recipe
This is an easy and delicious recipe–I have made this for years for my family!! One of their favorites!! I have used chocolate and caramel flavored pudding for different flavors–always turns out good!! A variety of cookies wil work esp oreos!!
Since I don’t care for bananas, I would use some other fruit…..or even maybe a can of Cherry Pie filling or other flavor…..and instead of using the sweetened condensed milk, just use a 12 oz. thawed cool whip……this is how I am going to make it…..just another idea……but the recipe sounds good for people who love bananas……but it is not for me 🙂
Love this recipe – will have to try it.
Love your recipes!
Thank you so much Erna! 😀 WE will do our best to keep the good recipes coming your way 🙂
This recipe looks great – is there an alternative biscuit that can be used. I am in Australia and we do not have the biscuits you have used in the recipe. Thanks.
You can use Nilla wafers as an alternative– are those available?
Is it too much to use both shortbread and vanilla wafers I really love the taste of the cookie when it gets soft in the pudding
If it’s not too much for you, it’s not too much! 🙂
You could layer the wafers in by adding half of the pudding on top of the bananas, then the layer of vanilla wafers, and then top it with the second half of the pudding. Thanks for asking!
Any shortbread cookie will work.
Ain’t this recipe called not your mamas banana pudding by Paula Deen. I have been using this recipe for many years now.
Yes, so it says, read d intro maam
Looks like Paula Deen’s Not Yo Momma’s Bannana Pudding we’ve used for years. Love it!
It’s exactly the same as Paula Deans original recipe!
I’ve made this and let me just say it was ALL GONE AFTER LIKE 30 MIN ON MY KITCHEN ISLAND ! RITE NXT TO MY ENCHILADA CASSEROLE LOL .THAT WAS GONE TOO 🙂
I USED VANILLA WAFERS THO N LESS BANANAS BUT WOW IT WAS SOOO DELISH !!!!! IVE ALSO MADE IT AS A TRIFLE AND ALSO USED STRAWBERRIES N BANANAS CAME OUT AWESOME 🙂
So glad you and your family liked this recipe! Great idea using Nilla Wafers, YUM!
WHAT IF YOU DONT EAT CHEESE WHAT CAN YOU USE TO MAKE IT BETTER
I know there is now a Greek Yogurt option for cream cheese. It comes in a block just like cream cheese and is sold next to the cream cheese in grocery stores. I’ve used it in recipes and it works great. You may want to check the ingredients to make sure it is something you can eat. Thanks for asking!
I have high cholesterol ( thankfully its down now ) can I use low fat ingredients in this pudding? Thx
Yes, you can. I believe Jell-O makes a sugar-free version of their vanilla pudding. You can also use a lower-fat milk. It will make the pudding less thick, but it will taste just as delicious. Thank you for asking!
I made this. It is absolutely delicious. Omg I will definitely tuck this recipe in my box. Because I will definitely make it again.
One of my kids is allergic to bananas. Would it be good with any other fruit?
You can just leave the bananas out. The cookies and pudding would still be good!
Try strawberries. I’ve used them in similar recipes. Or fresh sliced peaches would be good, too.
You can use pineapple instead of bananas never used this recipe before but you can use pineapple and make pineapple pudding.
love it when its easy…..
I make this banana pudding with same pepperidge farm cookies,but no cream cheeses,instead I use sour cream to offset sweetened condensed milk. Of course everyone loves it and I have given out recipe to those who ask. I’ll have to try it with cream cheese next time.
I would try this with graham crackers ….
How can I get this four layer banana pudding recip
what can you use instead of the cookies as they are not available in Australia
Some people have said they use Nilla Wafers… are those available in Australia?
Also, Lorna Doones may work well
No Nilla wafers in Oz or Lorna Doones but I’ve found recipes for copies of both. Does seem time-consuming to make the cookies and then the pudding though. I’m thinking of using a shortbread type cookie.
I think any type of flat, shortbread cookie will work fine in this recipe. I agree that making the cookies and then everything else would take a lot of time. Let us know what you find so we can share it on the recipe for others who can’t find the cookies. Thank you!
A shortbread cookie would weork really well. That’s basically what a Chressman cookie actually is.
In case you haven’t tried it yet. I would think any type of shortbread cookie would work. Could add an additional flavor using “Pecan Sandies”, not sure if Australia has something similar.
I used malt biscuits & chocolate chip yummy
Tha best banana pudding I have ever eaten !!!!
Keep those recipes coming.
Thanks, we plan on it. 🙂
Sounds really good and I know really fattening, but I want to try it. Happy Easter ladies.
It is absolutely delicious.