Frozen banana pudding bars are the ideal summer treat because they're a refreshing and light take on classic banana pudding. The creamy vanilla or banana pudding and sliced fresh bananas turn into an ice cream-like consistency when frozen between two crunchy graham crackers.
This banana pudding bars recipe is extremely easy to make and only requires 5 simple ingredients. They're great for any summer cookout, poolside, or as an afternoon snack to cool off in the summer heat, along with frozen chocolate banana sandwiches or frozen Greek yogurt bars!
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Equipment
- Medium-sized bowl or liquid measuring cup (that fits at least 2 cups) - this is used to make the pudding.
- Whisk - for mixing the pudding!
- Parchment paper - lining the baking sheet with parchment paper prevents anything from sticking.
- Medium or large baking sheet - be sure whatever size you use will fit in the freezer! A large plate will work as well, just be aware of needing to use multiple plates to fit the sandwiches.
- Spoon - any eating-sized spoon will work to spread the pudding onto the graham crackers.
- Knife - a regular kitchen butter knife is perfect for slicing the bananas.
Ingredients for this recipe
- Instant vanilla or banana pudding - this is the easiest option because it's quick (like the name says). You can totally use the cook and serve pudding or even make homemade pudding or custard! You can also use any flavor of pudding you'd like - chocolate, butterscotch, banana, etc.!
- Bananas - you can't make frozen banana pudding bars without bananas! In my opinion, the best time to use bananas is when they're yellow but not spotted yet. The more yellow and spotted a banana is, the sweeter it is. So use whatever shade of yellow (or green) you prefer to eat your bananas!
- Graham crackers - the flavor and texture of the graham crackers makes these frozen banana pudding bars taste as great as they do. I love using classic honey graham crackers but you can use cinnamon, chocolate, etc.
- Powdered sugar - this is optional but adds a nice sweetness to the banana pudding bars!
How to Make Frozen Banana Pudding Bars
1: Whisk milk and pudding mix in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside to let set.
3: Spread 2 Tablespoons of pudding onto graham cracker halves.
5: Place the second graham cracker on top to make a sandwich. Freeze for 2 hours.
2: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then graham cracker halves.
*Note: Be sure to only lay out half of the crackers! Save some for the tops.
4: Slice bananas into ¼" thickness and place 2-3 slices on top of the pudding.
Variations & Substitutions
- You can use any flavor pudding you'd like: vanilla, banana, chocolate, butterscotch, etc.
- Cinnamon or chocolate graham crackers would be a tasty alternative to honey!
- Any milk and/or pudding will work for this recipe (if you want to use almond milk or a plant-based pudding, for example).
Make Ahead, Storage, & Serving
- MAKING AHEAD: These banana pudding bars are so easy to make ahead of time! They last in the freezer for up to 1 month and are easy to pull out and thaw. The bananas may start to brown but should be safe to eat.
- STORAGE: Store these bars in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- SERVING: Allow these bars to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before eating. You can eat them sooner but they may be pretty frozen still!
Recipe FAQ
They will last in the freezer for up to 1 month, although the bananas may start to brown after 4 days or so. I recommend keeping them in an air-tight container to prevent this as much as possible.
If your bananas are too green to use, there are a couple of tricks you can try. You can seal them in a paper or plastic bag with an apple or two to speed up the ripening process. You can also bake them at 250 degrees for 10-15 minutes to get them nice and ripe!
You should be able to use your favorite milk alternative but the color and texture may turn out slightly different than if you used cow's milk. I recommend using a milk with some fat in it, like soy or coconut, to give it that creamy texture.
Layer graham cracker squares onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Generously spoon ~2 Tablespoons of vanilla pudding onto each graham cracker. Add 2-3 banana slices on top of the pudding. Spoon a little more vanilla pudding on top of the banana slices (this will act like a glue) and top with another graham cracker square. Freeze for at least 2 hours. After thawing for 30 minutes, dust with powdered sugar before eating and enjoy! 🙂
You can eat them straight out of the freezer but you may get a brain freeze! I like to let them thaw on the counter at room temperature for ~30 minutes before eating. You can also pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds or so.
Other Recipes You May Like
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Frozen Banana Pudding Bars
Frozen banana pudding bars are the ideal summer treat because they're a refreshing and light take on classic banana pudding. The creamy vanilla or banana pudding and sliced fresh bananas turn into an ice cream-like consistency when frozen between two crunchy graham crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 bars 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Frozen
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 10 sheets (rectangles) graham crackers (or 20 squares)
- 1-3.4 ounce package instant vanilla or banana pudding
- 2 cups cold 2% milk, or any milk of choice
- 2-3 large ripe bananas
Instructions
- Whisk instant pudding mix and milk in a medium bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Break graham cracker rectangles/sheets in half so they're squares. Layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Generously scoop ~2 Tablespoons of pudding onto each graham cracker square.
- Slice bananas and place 2-3 slices on the pudding.
- Spread ½ Tablespoon pudding on another graham cracker and plate it on top of the bananas to make a sandwich.
- Freeze for 2 hours or overnight.
- When ready to eat, let thaw at room temp for ~30 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an air-tight container for up to 1 month.
- Bananas may start to brown after a few days but are still okay to eat within that timeframe!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 67
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 54
- Fat: 2
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 2
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