Banana Pudding Cookies
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Banana pudding cookies are buttery and chewy, topped with creamy white chocolate chips for a delicious easy cookie recipe that will knock your socks off. These cookies taste just like banana pudding and are heaven in every bite!
Table of Contents
Why We Love Banana Pudding Cookies
- Sweet Banana Pudding Flavor – Take a second when you take a bite, the sweet buttery cookie combined with the delicious banana pudding flavor hits your taste buds and makes them sing in these cookies. The instant banana pudding brings all the banana flavor in these homemade cookies.
- Easy To Make – These cookies are so easy, my kid can make them with me no problem.
- Soft, Chewy Cookie – I am a big fan of cookies that have that perfect chewy but soft bite. These cookies with their creamy white chocolate chips don’t disappoint, they have chewy texture while still being soft cookies.
Ingredients For Banana Pudding Cookies
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.
- unsalted butter softened, 2 sticks
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- banana instant pudding mix must be instant, and you only need the dry pudding mix.
- flour – all purpose flour
- baking soda
- salt
- white chocolate chips– plus extra for decorating
How To Make Banana Pudding Cookies
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar with an electric mixer or hand mixer until well mixed and fluffy.
- Add two eggs, the extra egg yolk, vanilla extract to the large bowl and mix until combined. Pour in the banana instant pudding and mix until fully mixed in.
- In a separate bowl add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix to combine. Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix with an electric mixer until a dough forms.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips and mix into the dough. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- With a medium cookie scoop. portion the dough into two tablespoon dough balls. Leave two inches between cookies when placing on the prepared cookie sheet. Top each cookie dough ball with several extra chocolate chips for a prettier finished cookie.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until they set at the edges and lightly golden brown on top. You don’t want to overcook these, it’s better to underbake in the middle slightly.
- Let the cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the pan, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Enjoy!
What Is Banana Pudding?
Banana pudding is often found in the south, and usually is a banana cream pudding or vanilla pudding, a layer of crunchy vanilla wafer cookies like Nilla Wafers (a shortbread cookie can also be used,) and fresh banana slices and sometimes topped with whipped cream.
It’s usually served more like a parfait or a trifle layered in a clear cup or bowl. Learn a little more about how banana pudding became popular in the south here.
Both Paula Dean and the infamous Magnolia Bakery are both known for their banana pudding. I had my first taste of banana pudding when I was living in Georgia, and southerners don’t mess around! The taste of these cookies take me back under the magnolia trees, and if you are a fan of this classic dessert you will love these cookies. Try this banana pudding poke cake for another great twist on banana pudding,
Variation Ideas
- Add Chopped Nilla Wafers Or Chessman cookies– Banana pudding in the south typically has some kind of vanilla crunchy cookie with it, either Nilla Wafers or Chessman cookies if you are making Paula Dean’s version. You can chop up a 1/2 cup and add it to the batter when you add the chocolate chips if you prefer the added crunch. I think the cookie base has enough buttery flavor as they are, but they are delicious both ways.
- Make Into Ice Cream Sandwiches– Layer some vanilla ice cream, cool whip or whipped cream between the cookies and freeze for the best banana pudding ice cream sandwiches you have ever had! I pop them back in the freezer to harden up a little before enjoying.
- Sprinkle Pecans– Now I know adding nuts to banana pudding isn’t traditional, but if ever there was a nut to add it would be pecans, yum!
How Long Will Banana Pudding Cookies Last?
Store any extra cookies in an airtight container on the counter. They will last 4-5 days but expect them to taste their best within 3 days of baking them.
Can I Freeze The Cookie Dough?
Yes this banana pudding cookie dough freezes beautifully. I recommend portioning the cookie dough into dough balls with a cookie scoop. Then freeze the dough balls on a pan and bake the cookie dough balls from frozen. You can then place the dough balls in a freezer zip-top bag or other freezer-safe container.
Frozen cookie dough will need an extra minute or two in the oven compared to unfrozen dough.
Alternatively, you could freeze the cookie dough into long logs and wrap in saran wrap and aluminum foil.
The cookie dough will taste best if used within 2-3 monthes.
Can I Freeze The Cookies?
Yes, you can freeze the cookies too in a freezer safe zip-top bag. The cookies will taste best if eaten within 2 months.
More Cookie Recipes
M&M Brownie Mix Cookies
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Cups (Fruit Pizza!)
Banana Pudding Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened, 2 sticks
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3.4 ounces banana instant pudding mix one box, must be instant
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups white chocolate chips- plus extra for decorating
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar with an electric mixer until well mixed and fluffy.
- Add two eggs, extra egg yolk, vanilla extract to the large bowl and mix until combined. Pour in the banana instant pudding and mix until fully mixed in.
- In a separate bowl add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix to combine. Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix with an electric mixer until a dough forms.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips and mix into the dough. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- With a medium cookie scoop. portion the dough into two tablespoon dough balls. Leave two inches between cookies when placing on the prepared cookie sheet. Top each cookie dough ball with several extra chocolate chips for a prettier finished cookie.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until they set at the edges and lightly browned on top. You don’t want to overcook these, it’s better to underbake in the middle slightly.
- Let the cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the pan, then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
