Exploring traditional cookbooks always inspires me to put a low-carb, high-fat spin on classic favorites. This time, I’ve taken a beloved Southern dessert and transformed it into something that’s not only delicious and satisfying but also fits beautifully into a lower-carb lifestyle.
A Simple and Satisfying Low-Carb Banana Pudding
This no-bake banana pudding is the perfect dessert for anyone craving something creamy, cool, and sweet—without spending hours in the kitchen. With just 5 ingredients and only 15 minutes of prep, it’s a fast and easy treat to whip up, especially on warm days or when you’re short on time.
What Inspired This Recipe
When we received a box of low-carb vanilla wafers in this month’s keto snack crate, I immediately knew I wanted to recreate a banana pudding recipe I had bookmarked in one of my old cookbooks. The timing was perfect—and the result was even better than expected.
A Closer Look at This No-Bake Delight
This dessert doesn’t require any cooking or complicated steps. It’s semi-homemade, making use of simple ingredients like sugar-free instant pudding mix, a small amount of ripe banana, and freshly whipped cream. You won’t need to make a custard from scratch or fuss over a meringue topping. Everything comes together in one bowl before being layered into your serving dish.
Ingredients Overview
To make this easy low-carb banana pudding, you’ll need:
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Sugar-free banana (or vanilla) pudding mix
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Cold unsweetened milk or milk substitute for preparing the pudding
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Low-carb vanilla wafers or almond flour cookie alternatives
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A few slices of ripe banana (optional and minimal)
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Fresh homemade whipped cream
Assembly is Quick and Effortless
Once all your ingredients are prepped, the process of assembling this dessert is straightforward. Layer the pudding, wafers, banana slices, and whipped cream. Repeat the layers as needed, and then pop the dish into the refrigerator to chill. That’s it! In no time, you have a light, cool, and flavorful dessert ready to go.
Let’s Talk About Bananas
Some may wonder whether bananas belong in a low-carb dessert. In this case, less than half a banana is used across four servings. That tiny amount provides just the right hint of banana flavor without adding many carbs. Still, if you prefer to avoid banana entirely, you can omit it and use sugar-free vanilla pudding with banana extract for a similar flavor experience. Just note, this recipe is low carb—not strictly keto—due to the banana.
Easy Ingredient Substitutions
If you can’t find sugar-free banana pudding, swap in sugar-free vanilla pudding and add banana extract to achieve that same nostalgic taste. For the cookie layer, almond flour crumbs toasted in a dry skillet make a great alternative if you don’t have low-carb wafers on hand. Feel free to experiment with other flavors or textures, depending on your preferences and what you have available.
Why This Recipe Works
This dessert is a lovely blend of convenience and indulgence. The combination of cool pudding, soft banana notes, fluffy whipped cream, and crunchy cookie bits delivers a refreshing, satisfying bite every time. It’s the kind of dessert that brings back memories—but with a low-carb twist that makes it more accessible for those watching their sugar intake.
Personal Notes and Final Thoughts
This recipe brought me genuine joy to recreate. Banana pudding has always held a special place in my heart, and being able to enjoy a lower-carb version that doesn’t require hours of effort was incredibly satisfying. The simplicity of the recipe, along with its delicious payoff, makes it one of those desserts you’ll want to keep in your rotation.
Taste Test Reflections
As a quick follow-up, this low-carb banana pudding was the perfect treat for a special occasion. It’s not something I’d make every day, but it’s ideal when you’re looking for a dessert that’s a little different. The instructions were easy to follow, and I appreciated all the flexibility with substitutions. It was especially enjoyable since I hadn’t had banana pudding in so long—and this version didn’t disappoint.
Enjoy this comforting, easy dessert the next time you’re in the mood for something cool and nostalgic.
This rich, no-bake banana pudding is a sugar-free treat that’s both indulgent and diabetic-friendly. A quick and easy dessert perfect for anyone on a low-carb or Atkins diet.
Course: Dessert, Diabetic-Friendly, Low Carb, No-Bake, Sugar-Free
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4 Ingredients, Diabetic Safe Recipes, Low Carb Desserts, Low Carb Diet Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 274 kcal
Ingredients
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1 package sugar-free instant banana pudding
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2 cups half and half
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1/2 banana, sliced
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1 package High Key vanilla wafers, crumbled
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1/2 cup heavy cream (optional, for garnish)
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1 teaspoon natural sweetener
Instructions
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Prepare the instant banana pudding by mixing it with the half and half. Set aside.
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In small dessert dishes, layer the pudding with crumbled vanilla wafers and top with five banana slices per dish.
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Whip the heavy cream with the sweetener until stiff peaks form, then add it as a garnish on top of each pudding.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 274
Total Carbohydrates: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Net Carbs: 4g
Fat: 23g
Protein: 2g
