CONNIE’S BANANA PUDDING (PATTI’S FAVE)!

What a treat to have my nieces, Mary Lu & Ruth, visit from Arizona.  Mary Lu, Ruth and their brother, Sam, are so special to Bill & me.  We had the best time together.  Please scroll down to watch the 3 of us make their late mom’s & my sister’s favorite dessert.  I know Patti was watching us and smiling every minute. I am sure she was also impressed I made this gluten free!

Love,
connie

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 block cream cheese (8 oz)
• 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
• 1 small box Jello vanilla instant pudding
• ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups whipping cream, whipped with powdered sugar & vanilla (to taste)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 bananas, sliced (squirt with a little lemon juice if you have some on hand)
• 2-3 dozen (approx) gluten free cookies or good ole “Nilla Wafers”

HOW TO MAKE IT:

• In a large bowl, whip cream with powdered sugar & vanilla to taste
• Put whipped cream in frig while preparing the pudding mixture
• In large bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the cream cheese
• Slowly add Eagle Brand
• Add vanilla pudding mix
• Slowly pour in cream while mixing, scrape down sides as you go
• Add vanilla; blend until smooth & creamy
• Reserve some whipped cream for topping
• Fold in remaining whipped cream into pudding mixture

HOW TO ASSEMBLE IN DISH:

• You can use a trifle dish, glass bowl with straight sides or a shallow casserole pan
• Line bottom with cookies
• Layer some of the pudding mixture
• Next layer banana slices to cover mixture
• Finally, layer whipped cream over bananas…repeat layers 2-3 times
• Between layers, line cookies against side of pan
• Spread remaining whipped cream on top of final layer

Chill thoroughly.   Garnish with crushed cookies, if you like.   Another great way to top off this delicious dessert is drizzle Connie’s Caramel Sauce on top.

VARIATIONS:

• Add white chocolate melted with cream to the cream cheese and Eagle Brand mixture
• To take this delicious treat to the next level, add some Connie’s Caramel Sauce to the mix. I love tasting (with clean spoons, LOL), as I go.
• If you love peanut butter, add a little bit of creamy p.b. to the mix (In memory of Elvis)

JUST A REMINDER:

This dessert needs to be eaten within a day or two.  The bananas will begin to brown and become a bit mushy, so try not to make it too far ahead of serving.   It will still taste great with slightly brown bananas, the presentation just won’t be quite as pretty.  

ENJOY A LITTLE TASTE OF HEAVEN RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS!