By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 9, 2026
Serves 10
179 cal · 190 min
Banana Cream Pie III
Recipe GLPR9056966a52ea8a
A classic banana cream pie featuring a thick, creamy vanilla pudding filling studded with fresh banana slices, topped with a fluffy whipped cream layer. Make ahead friendly—chill for at least 3 hours for best flavor and texture.
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Ingredients
3 bananas, divided
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 (9 inch) baked pie crust, cooled
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions
Peel 2 of the bananas and slice them into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange the banana slices evenly across the bottom of the cooled, baked pie crust.
Pour the cold milk into a medium mixing bowl.
Sprinkle both packages of instant vanilla pudding mix over the milk. Using a whisk, beat for about 1–2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and thickened with no lumps.
Fold 1/2 cup of the thawed whipped topping gently into the pudding mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined.
Pour the pudding mixture evenly over the banana layer in the pie crust.
Spread or dollop the remaining 1 1/2 cups of whipped topping over the top of the pudding layer.
Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or up to 24 hours) before serving. If desired, peel and slice the remaining banana just before serving as a fresh garnish.
Comments
Every ingredient is a staple at any Charlotte chain—bananas, milk, and boxed pie crust are always on hand, and vanilla pudding mix and whipped topping (Cool Whip or store brand) cost under $1 each. The stated 190 minutes is honest only if you count chill time; actual hands-on work is about 20 minutes, making this a genuinely low-effort dessert for a crowd. At roughly $1.50 per serving, it is one of the cheapest pies you can make, and it reheats or sits at room temperature for days without degrading. The only caveat is that it is decidedly old-school—if your household skews toward fresh fruit or artisanal flavors, this lands as nostalgic comfort food rather than impressive.
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