Banana Pudding Cupcakes are a Fusion of Two Favorites
We love cupcakes at our house! What's not to love, right? The versatility of flavor combinations and fillings is only limited by your imagination. They don't require forks or spoons and... they're portable! I often make not only frosted but, filled cupcakes and have for many many years. Long before there was a show on TV highlighting creative cupcakes in all flavors. They're fun to make and it's hard not to smile when you're holding a cupcake.
My Obsession with Banana Pudding
My lifelong obsession with banana pudding brought this particular cupcake to life, and it remains one of my most downloaded recipes to date. I've had brides who loved these banana pudding goodies so much they served them at their wedding reception. Now, that's true cupcake love. My dream for this banana pudding cupcake was to combine two desserts to make one delectable handheld treat and that's exactly what it does.
- If you prefer to bake completely from scratch, you may prefer to use my recipe for Old Fashioned Butter Cake in place of the cake mix. My family refers to these cupcakes as "portable banana pudding." It doesn't get any better than that.
- Other fun banana pudding recipes you might like to take a peek at is this reboot called Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding from Princess Pinky Girl.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Banana Pudding Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix plus ingredients to prepare (Use whole milk or buttermilk in place of water)
- 1 8 oz container spreadable light cream cheese softened
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 16 oz container frozen whipped topping thawed & divided
- 3 bananas
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup crushed vanilla wafer crumbs for garnishing
Instructions
- To prepare the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two 12 cup muffin tins with liners.
- Prepare the cake mix per the instructions on the box using milk or buttermilk in place of the water. Use the same quantity of eggs recommended by the package directions. Bake the cupcakes per the directions then set aside to cool. (From scratch Old Fashioned Butter Cake)
- To prepare the filling: In a mixing bowl, whip together the softened cream cheese and the sweetened condensed milk for around 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the milk, vanilla and instant vanilla pudding mix.
- Whip the ingredients together on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens. Fold in 1 cup of whipped topping by hand.
- Slice and quarter the bananas just before adding to the custard, so, they won't brown. Fold the chunks of chopped banana into the custard.
- To assemble: Using a sharp knife, cut the middle out of each cupcake leaving a ½ inch border around the edge.
- Sprinkle half of the crushed vanilla wafer crumbs into the bottom of the cupcake shells reserving the other half for garnishing the tops.
- Divide the filling between the cupcakes.
- To finish the cupcakes, pipe a dollop of whipped topping on top and sprinkle the tops with the remaining crushed vanilla wafer crumbs.
- Chill thoroughly before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
My name is Melissa and I'm the Creator of Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen. Cooking, baking, developing recipes and kitchen tips is my passion. I love sharing my dishes and connecting with people through the food that I create.
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Jane
Can anyone tell me if you remove the cupcake liners for these cupcakes.
Melissa
Do you mean to eat? Yes, of course.
Jenny
These are great! I handed out to some neighbor kids and they loved them. When I hit up their lemonade stand they wouldn’t let me pay because I gave them my delicious cupcakes 😜 (I tipped them instead) I made banana pudding pops with the extra filling and it was a hit with adults and kids. I may try to make it into an ice cream cake for summer vanilla wafer crust 👍
Melissa
How nice of you! I'm delighted you loved these as much as we do, thank you!
Chimere
I made these for a party I was invited to and they were a hit! This recipe is awesome!
Melissa
Awesome, thank you!
Toni
My kids really enjoyed this! Taste SO good!
Sommer
I make these for every special occasion! Everybody loves them.
Katie
How would this differ using homemade pudding? I won't use instant.
Melissa
You can adapt it however you wish.
Patti Jo
Do you have any recipes that use the inside of the cake that got cut out so as to not waste it? Thank you!
Melissa
Please search the recipe index I have many cakes.
Judy
that was my first thought when i saw they werent used on the cupcake top, since you got no answer about the cut out wasted part of the cupcakes, my thought was maybe freeze for another day and make small layered parfaits with pudding, cream cheese/cool whip mixture ..or do that instead of the cupcakes...layer the cut up cupcakes into individual cups :).
Melissa
Trust me, NO part of these cupcakes ever go to waste. The small amount of cake that gets removed is always eaten. While we enjoy parfaits, that has no relation to this filled cupcake recipe at all. Eat the middle, no waste.
Theresa
Why would you waste the middle. Use it for cake pops or make a trifle or parfaits. The recipes and ideas are endless
Hilary
Has anyone tried this with banana pudding instead of vanilla?
Melissa
Sure you can, I recommend using one vanilla and one banana for the best flavor.
tanaja
what is the icing ingredients on top and the stuff on the bottom of it
Melissa
It's all in the recipe, if you'll scroll to the bottom of the page.
Melanie
Hi can you forward me any news letters I just discovered in from South Wales United Kingdom x
Melissa
You can subscribe to updates here, welcome!
Kimberly D
I absolutely cannot stand cream cheese. There's not enough flavoring or sugar in the world to mask the taste of it for me. Would the recipe work without the cream cheese, or is there a substitute that would work?
Melissa
The cream cheese in this stabilizes the pudding mixture. You could try it without the cream cheese, perhaps be mindful about how full you fill each cupcake.
Julie
Made these a couple of days ago to share with coworkers. They absolutely LOVED them. I got 24 standard cupcakes from a white cake mix using buttermilk in place of the water. The only thing I question about this recipe is the filling. I had about twice as much as I needed. I think it could easily be halved as I wasn't skimpy with it at all. Will definitely make these again! Thanks for sharing!
Melissa
Hi Julie, so happy you enjoyed these we love them! It could be that you could make a larger cut into the cupcake to provide a larger pocket to hold the filling using more of it.
Colette
These look wonderful...can't wait to try them! How long will the whipped cream top hold up in the fridge?
Melissa
Hi Colette, I recommend topping with fresh whipped cream a couple of hours before serving. If using Cool-Whip it will hold up much longer.
Melissa
Graham crackers wouldn't give the same flavor. A sugar or vanilla cookie would be more in keeping with banana pudding.
Anonymous
How about using Graham crackers instead of vanilla wafers, if you don't have vanilla wafers in your area?
Cassi Crane
I want these so bad but I dont think our family of 5 (3 kids. 2 adults and one of those being allergic to banana) should eat 24 cupcakes in a day. 🙁
Amanda
Cut the recipe In half or a fourth
Melissa
Hi Cassi, while these cupcakes are over-the-top good, they obviously shouldn't be eaten by anyone who is allergic to bananas for sure. Perhaps you can make a batch for a picnic or special family gathering. They will keep for more than 1 day, but the bananas will begin to turn as with any dessert that includes fresh bananas.
Sylvia
This is the second time I am making these! They are delicious even the next day and the bananas did not turn brown! This time I am freezing 1/2 of the cupcakes and will only make 1/2 of the filling because the recipe is too much for our family.Everyone loved them!Thanks for posting he recipe!
Melissa
I am delighted your family loved these as much as we do, thanks!
Melissa
Thank you so much, I'm delighted you are enjoying them! Happy cupcake baking!
paradice Williams
Im baking these tomorrow. ...just one more of your many AWSOME recipes ...Thank You for shareing
Melissa
Frozen whipped topping is whipped cream. Thanks so much for visiting from Australia!
Tj66
What is frozen whipped topping? I'm in australa is whipped cream ok or is it ice cream?
Melissa
Hello Cheryl Clair,any vanilla shortbread cookie would be a great substitute. The true flavor for these cupcakes is in the filling. Thanks for visiting from Ireland!
Melissa
Hi Meki, I sure hope he does! Animal cookies are a great substitute, happy baking.
Meki Etuale
I am making these today my husband's homecoming... he is going to LOVE them. And I'm using animal cookies instead of vanilla wafers 🙂
Melissa
Hello Konfena, best wishes for the wedding, enjoy!
Konfena Simpson
I cant wait to taste these they will be one of my desserts at my wedding this year thanks for sharing
Cheryl Clair
Any body got a good substitute for Nilla Wafers? I live in Ireland and we don't have them here. Thanks
K Brasher
yum! looks sooo good!
Tina Willett
Where the butter milk it calls for in the ingredients needed? Is it the whole milk??
Melissa
I think you must be referring to my suggestion to use buttermilk in place of the water called for on the cake mix. It enhances the flavor when using a cake mix, but, you could use whole milk if you prefer. I didn't give an exact amount due to the fact it varies by brand. However, the filling calls for whole milk not buttermilk.
Chris Ng
What is the recipe for 1-2-3-4 cake batter? Please share with me.
I don't usually go for premix. Thanks.
Melissa
Sure, check out my French Vanilla Cupcakes with a Dreamsicle Filling.
The sky is the limit when it comes to variations on filled cupcakes. ~ Melissa
Anonymous
can this recipe be made in other flavors? love the banana creme but with summer here there are flavors to love.
Charisse Bowen
CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE THESE!
Melissa
Hi Charisse, these cupcakes are so simple to make, and simply delectable! One of my most popular recipes on my blog. Portable banana pudding, it just doesn't get any better than that! 🙂 Happy baking, Melissa
Melissa
LOL, then you better start baking! ☺ Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy. ☺
Kalamity Kelli
My husband will clean the kitchen for a week if I make these! And so I will!