What’s your go-to quick dessert for busy nights or surprise guests? This vegan banana pudding is ideal when you want something sweet without turning on the oven. It uses just a few ingredients and comes together fast if you have vegan vanilla wafers and a chilled can of coconut whipping cream. The secret shortcut is ready-made coconut custard, which gives the pudding a creamy, custardy base without any stovetop work.
What makes this banana pudding so quick and easy to make?
A pre-made coconut custard saves a lot of time. It’s rich and smooth and blends beautifully with whipped coconut cream for the traditional pudding texture without cooking. If you prefer a sweeter dessert, add a little maple syrup or powdered sugar to the chilled coconut whipping cream before whipping.
The combination of creamy custard, airy whipped cream, ripe bananas and crisp vegan wafers provides a classic, satisfying texture contrast. Assemble and serve right away for a slightly crunchy cookie layer, or chill for a few hours so the wafers soften and meld with the custard.
You can enjoy this dessert immediately after assembling, when the wafers are still crisp, or refrigerate it to achieve a softer, creamier texture. Either way, it’s delicious and makes an impressive no-bake treat.
Vegan Banana Pudding
Course: Dessert | Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings | Calories: 454 kcal per serving
This vegan banana pudding is super quick and easy to make, thanks to pre-made coconut custard and a chilled can of coconut whipping cream. It’s perfect for last-minute guests and busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 18 vegan vanilla wafers (or as many as you like)
- 14 oz coconut custard (store-bought or homemade)
- 13.5 fl oz coconut whipping cream, chilled overnight
- Sweetener of choice, optional (maple syrup or powdered sugar)
- 4 bananas, sliced
- 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Chill a mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10–15 minutes for best results. Pour the chilled coconut whipping cream into the cold bowl and whip until it becomes creamy. Add sweetener to taste, then continue whipping until soft-to-medium peaks form.
- Slice the bananas and toss them with the lemon juice to slow browning.
- In each serving jar or dish, spoon about a tablespoon of coconut custard, followed by a tablespoon of whipped cream.
- Add a layer of lightly crushed vegan wafers (about 1½ wafers per layer) and then a layer of sliced bananas.
- Repeat the layers once more: custard, whipped cream, wafers, banana. Finish with a final layer of custard and a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with a whole wafer and a banana slice.
- Repeat the assembly with the remaining jars or dishes. Serve immediately for a crunchy texture, or refrigerate for a few hours for a softer, creamier result.
Tips and Variations
- If you prefer a sweeter pudding, sweeten the whipped coconut cream with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or another sweetener before folding it into the custard layers.
- For an extra banana-forward dessert, mash a few banana slices into the custard layer for creamier banana flavor.
- Substitute cookies: if you cannot find vegan vanilla wafers, use any neutral vegan cookie, graham cracker alternative, or make a quick homemade vanilla wafer.
- Add texture: sprinkle chopped toasted nuts, shredded coconut, or a dusting of cinnamon on the top layer for contrast.
- Make it ahead: assemble and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. The flavors meld and the cookies soften into a cake-like layer.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 454 kcal | Carbohydrates: 47 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 29 g | Sodium: 131 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 19 g
Are Nilla wafers vegan?
Classic Nilla wafers from major brands typically contain dairy and eggs, so they aren’t vegan. Many commercial wafers also include high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. If you want a fully vegan pudding, look for vegan-labeled vanilla wafers, choose a neutral vegan cookie, or make a simple homemade vegan vanilla wafer using common pantry ingredients.
More Vegan Desserts
If you enjoy no-bake treats, try other easy vegan desserts such as salted caramel chocolate cupcakes, a custardy vegan bread pudding, icebox cakes, or no-bake cheesecake bites. These options are indulgent, creamy, and often simple to prepare when you don’t want to bake.
Disclosure: Thank you to Nature’s Charm for sponsoring this post. Some ingredients mentioned are available as ready-made vegan coconut custard and whipping cream, which make this recipe especially quick to put together. Links in the original post have been removed from this version.