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Delicious Banana Pudding Dream Bars ready to be served.

Banana Pudding Dream Bars

A cozy dessert combining sweet banana slices, creamy vanilla pudding, and crunchy cookie crumbs into soft, scoopable bars, perfect for gatherings.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 8 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Dessert, Sweet Treat
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers or graham crumbs You can substitute with graham crackers if preferred.
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter Melted for mixing into the crust.
  • 2 tablespoons sugar Adds sweetness to the crust.
Filling
  • 8 ounces cream cheese Beat until smooth before mixing.
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk Add to cream cheese and mix well.
  • 1 cup cold milk Used to help thicken pudding mixture.
  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding Ensure it's instant for the right texture.
  • 1 cup whipped topping Fold in for a lighter texture.
  • 3 medium ripe bananas Sliced for layering.
Toppings
  • additional crushed cookies, extra banana slices, or whipped topping For a final layer before chilling.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment and spray lightly.
  2. In a bowl, mix 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers or graham crumbs with 6 tablespoons melted butter and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press into the bottom of the pan and bake for 8 minutes; then cool.
Filling
  1. Beat 8 ounces cream cheese until smooth, then add 1 can sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
  2. Stir in 1 cup cold milk and 1 package instant vanilla pudding, and beat until thick.
  3. Fold in 1 cup of whipped topping for a lighter filling texture.
  4. Layer sliced ripe bananas over the cooled crust in a single layer.
  5. Pour the pudding mixture over the bananas and spread evenly.
  6. Add a final layer of crushed cookies, extra banana slices, or whipped topping.
  7. Chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight for best results.
Serving
  1. Lift the foil from the pan and cut the bars into squares. Clean the knife between cuts for neat squares and serve cold.

Notes

Use ripe but firm bananas for best appearance. Chill the bars long enough to let the filling set. For less sweetness, use low sugar pudding or reduce the sweetened condensed milk. Add a thin layer of banana slices with a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning if chilling for a long time.