Homemade Banana Pudding with Chessman Cookies (lighter version)

My Homemade Banana Pudding with Chessman Cookies is a Southern essential dessert made lighter and served up as parfaits.  Perfect for all your spring and summer celebrations!

Homemade Banana Pudding with Chessman Cookies 

(lighter version)

Banana pudding is such a favorite southern dessert, I don't know anyone who doesn't love it.  I've taken my mom's recipe and made a lighter version and then changed the presentation by serving it as cute little parfaits.  I've also swapped out the typical vanilla wafers for these cute shortbread Chessman cookies from Pepperidge Farms to elevate it just a little bit.

This easy to make homemade recipe is the perfect dish for upcoming celebrations like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and all types of picnics and BBQs all summer long.  It's definitely a dessert you will be wanting more.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• 2% milk
• unsalted butter
• sugar
• cornstarch
• pure vanilla extract
• bananas - you will want ripe bananas
• Pepperidge Farm Chessman Butter Cookies
• (Optional) whipped cream

Substitutions and Variations

• Use any shortbread of vanilla wafer cookie.

• Change of the flavor of pudding, try chocolate by adding 1/4 cup of cocoa powder of for white chocolate pudding add 4oz of white chocolate.

• This dessert can be layered in an 8x8 square pan instead of individual parfaits.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Since there are so few ingredients you want to use the best quality ingredients available to end up with a quality product.

• Pudding will last in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

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Homemade Banana Pudding with Chessman Cookies (lighter version)

serves 4-6


2 cups 2% milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 medium bananas
1 pkg Pepperidge Farm Chessman Butter Cookies

(Optional) whipped cream

Combine the milk and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to melt the butter.

Mix together 5 tablespoons of sugar and the cornstarch in a small bowl.   Add 2 tablespoons water and mix to create a paste.   Whisk into the milk mixture.   Turn the heat up to medium and cook until thick and bubbly, about 6 to 10 minutes.   Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap (make sure the plastic is touching the pudding to prevent a skin from forming) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

To make parfaits:  Place 1 cookie on the bottom of each parfait glass.  Then add a layer of bananas and a layer of pudding. Repeat to make a second layer. Top with whipped cream if using and place a cookie standing up on the side of the glass in the pudding.  Serve.

Dessert To Go: S'mores in a Jar

Hi there, I'm back!

I've been having computer problems and have decided it time to retire my laptop and upgrade to something new.  I've been looking at Chromebooks lately.  Anyone have one and want to share their likes or dislikes? As such with my current laptop it takes me about 2 hours to complete one post!  So, I'm sorry that the posts slowed down, but I'm working around that with an interim fix.

Last time I brought you Dinner To Go.  This was a wonderful Asian Pasta Salad dish that we took to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.  It was the perfect dish in every way; taste, and ease of transport.  I hope you enjoyed this and if you haven't made it...do so right away!

Today I wanted to bring you the perfect Dessert To Go. Again, this was born out the need to create a comforting yet delicious dessert that was easy to transport.  I could have made a cake and cut it into pieces, but I wanted something a little more special.  This is my take on S'mores in a Jar!

I love putting desserts in a jar so that each person have their own individual serving.  I use these jars which you can get here.  I love the design but any regular jar or container will do.  These Peach Raspberry Crisps were baked straight in the jar and we took these to a concert several years ago. 

Peach Raspberry Crisps

As chocolate was on my mind I wanted to get on the S'mores train and create a portable dish.  I wouldn't have a fire to roast marshmallows so I improvised and used the flavor of S'mores and built a wonderful layered dessert.  Using chocolate fudge pudding, graham cracker crumbs and small marshmallows worked perfectly.

Layering these ingredients in a jar, makes it cute!  It also allows you to get all the flavors in one bite.  The desserts were easy to pack and totally hit the spot during the concert intermission.  We even got comments from our neighbors on how pretty the dessert was, and what a great idea to use the jars.

Enjoy!



S'mores in a Jar

serves 4

1 3.9 oz box of Jello instant pudding, chocolate fudge flavored
2 cups 2% milk
2 sheets of graham crackers, crushed
1/2 cup of miniature marshmallows
4 mason or other canning jars - 8 oz.

Make the pudding according to the directions on the box and refrigerate until set and ready for use.

To assemble jars:  Evenly distribute half of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of 4 mason jars.  Divide half of the pudding among the four jars layering on top of the crumbs. Divide all of the marshmallows on top of the pudding.  Follow with the remaining pudding divided equally and topping with the remaining crumbs.

Secure lid and keep cold until ready to serve.  NOTE:  if packing these for travel make sure that they are packed with ice packs and that they stay upright.

Chai Chocolate Pudding

Sometimes we need a little something sweet after dinner.  Do you?

Both MGG and I are ice cream freaks and usually go for a scrumptious ice cream cone.  I think it reminds of of being kids.  I just keeps saying it's portion control...

But last night I was craving chocolate and chai.  I got this craving from a recent trip earlier in the day to my favorite coffee house, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.  Love that place!  I had a wonderful Chai Tea Latte.  Yum Yum...my favorite.  And the fact that they have a "no sugar added" option is tops in my book.  

So I guess I hadn't had my fill of chai flavoring and twirled around with the idea of making us a Chai Hot Chocolate.  Then I spotted a chocolate pudding mix I had just waiting for me to make it.  Bingo...Chai Chocolate Pudding was born. 

Doesn't get much easier than this.  You don't really even need a recipe.  All you do need is some Chai Tea Latte concentrate.  Something like the Oregon Chai or Tazo brand works great.  

Simple, quick, chai pudding.

Love it!

What's your go to sweet after dinner?


Chai Chocolate Pudding

serves 4

1 1/2 cups cold low fat milk
1/2 cup chai liquid drink concentrate (like Oregon chai)
1 package (1.4 ounces) sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Additional whipped topping and mini chocolate chips, optional

In a large bowl, combine the milk, chai concentrate, pudding mix, and cinnamon. Whisk until thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes. 

Spoon into serving dishes and allow to set about 5 minutes.  Garnish with whipped topping and mini chocolate chips if desired.