Gingerbread Man Banana Pudding
If ever there was a time to stop what you’re doing and run to the kitchen to make something it would be NOW to make this Gingerbread Man Banana Pudding!
Gingerbread Man Banana Pudding is inspired by my mom’s church potluck banana pudding recipe that’s so good she’s found people actually licking her bowl clean in the church kitchen (that’s the actual truth).
Banana Pudding that’s Finger-Licking Good
This special, Christmas-themed dessert is so easy to assemble – making use of all the usual ingredients plus a few extras (for holiday flavor). And I especially love this recipe because it’s not only so easy – it’s so decadent {special thanks to a few of my mom’s special ingredients}.
Yes – to create a decadent banana pudding there are a tricks and I’m going to share them all with you right now!
- sweetened condensed milk (oh baby – this is some glorious stuff)
- sour cream (super important for breaking through the sweetness)
- instant vanilla pudding (NOT banana flavored instant pudding — leave all the glorious banana flavor to the actual bananas)
- perfectly ripe bananas (not green and not black — tap into your inner Goldilocks and get bananas that are “just right”)
Let’s Make this into Gingerbread Man Banana Pudding
There just are a couple of simple adjustments we’ll make to the classic recipe in order to get this Banana Pudding in the Christmas Spirit.
- Gingerbread Man Cookies — swap gingerbread man cookies in place of vanilla wafers
- Maple Sirup + Vanilla Extract — add some dark pure maple sirup and a splash of vanilla extract
- Gingerbread Spiced Salted Caramel — drizzle gingerbread spiced salted caramel over the top of the pudding
Once the pudding is mixed – the next step is assembly! And this step went by so quickly that I forget to photograph each layer. But look how cute they are with the little men peeping through the layers!
The key to good banana pudding (besides the secret ingredients) is time in the refrigerator. This really is one of those recipes that’s even better the next day, so make it the day before you plan on serving it. Right before serving, all that’s left is a drizzle of gingerbread salted caramel!
Oh baby – the subtle whisper of maple sirup mingled with the gingerbread spices and that glorious gingerbread salted caramel drizzle on top — I do believe this pudding is even better than the original banana pudding that inspired this recipe. It’s as if gingerbread and bananas were made for each other!
Gingerbread Man Banana Pudding
ingredients
- 1 large (5.1 oz) box of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 1/2 c whole milk
- 1 1/2 c sour cream
- 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
- 2 T dark maple sirup
- 1 (8 oz) small carton sweetened whipped topping, thawed
- 50-60 mini gingerbread man cookies (1 to 1 1/2 bags of cookies)
- 4-5 medium ripe bananas, sliced 1/4″ thick
- 1/2 c salted caramel sauce
- 2 T dark maple sirup
- 1 T molasses
- 1/2 t ground cinnamon
instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients, whisking until smooth. Fold in the thawed whipped topping (reserve 1 cup for garnish).
In individual 8 ounce wide-mouthed jars, layer (repeating the order until the jars are 1/2″ from full) ::
- 2-3 gingerbread man cookies
- a scoop of pudding
- 4-5 banana slices
Top each with a dollop of reserved whipped topping and 1-2 more gingerbread man cookies. Place the lid on each jar and refrigerate 1-2 hours or overnight*.
After refrigeration, remove lids, mix together the caramel topping ingredients in a small bowl and drizzle over each jarred pudding. Serve immediately.
Serves 8
NOTES
- *Overnight is preferred so that cookies can soften and all the flavors and spices can infuse the pudding.
- Pudding can last up to one week refrigerated.
