Easy Banana Pudding Cookies Recipe

These soft banana pudding cookies are the white chocolate chip cookie version of Nilla wafer banana pudding! With a no-chill dough, they’re ready in 20 minutes!

These banana pudding cookies are the cookie form of the luscious Nilla banana pudding.

Imagine white chocolate chip cookies made from banana pudding-flavored cookie dough loaded with vanilla wafer cookies. These will surely hit the spot if you’ve been craving Nilla wafer banana pudding!

But that is not the only best thing about these banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers.

They’re also easy to make and can be a last-minute impressive dessert!

The dough goes from the mixing bowl right into the baking sheet; no chilling needed. Get delightfully soft cookies that taste just like the layered dessert in 20 minutes. 

What are Banana Pudding Cookies?

Banana pudding cookies are exactly what the name says: the cookie version of the layered dessert banana pudding.

They’re soft, studded with white chocolate chips, and to really nail the part of being the cookie form of banana pudding, the dough is also folded with vanilla wafer cookies. ? 

Don’t you appreciate unique cookies like these? Especially if they took inspiration from a classic dessert like banana pudding, there’s no doubt you’ll be popular if you bring these to a cookie swap!

The banana pudding flavor is spot on in these banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers.

But more than the taste, they will also remind you of the delicious textures that make banana pudding enjoyable.

They’re baked with a whole box of instant pudding mix, so the cookies will turn out soft even after a couple of days!

Pair that softness with white chocolate chips and Nilla wafers, and you might fall in love from the very first bite.

Why You’ll Love This Banana Pudding Cookie Recipe

• Basic Ingredients: These soft banana pudding cookies only require a few basic ingredients! If you often bake at home, you probably already have some of them in your pantry. 
• Fun Take On A Classic: These white chocolate chip banana pudding cookies are an exciting take on the luscious layered dessert. Enjoy the delightful banana pudding flavor in soft cookies that also offer a delicious harmony of textures from the Nilla wafers and white chocolate chips. 
• No-Chill Cookies: These banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers are the perfect quick dessert with their no-chill dough. If baking for a party, you can also make the cookies in advance!

What Do White Chocolate Chip Banana Pudding Cookies Taste Like?

Banana pudding cookies earn their name as they really taste like an actual banana pudding.

They taste rich with the sweet flavor of banana pudding from the dry pudding mix.

But more than the flavor of the layered treat, I bet you’ll love the surprise from the vanilla wafer cookies in the pudding cookies.

I know what you’re thinking—cookies on cookies???

Nilla wafers make these banana pudding cookies more enjoyable, taste-wise and texture-wise. 

They add that familiar crunch and taste of the layered treat to the soft banana pudding cookies. 

You’ll also get pockets of creamy, milky goodness from the white chocolate chips, complementing the banana flavor nicely. They’re like the whipped cream in the layers of banana pudding! ?

Ingredients For Banana Pudding Cookies with Nilla Wafers

• Unsalted butter – Creaming butter with sugars is the secret to soft, light pudding cookies!
• Light brown sugar – Using brown and white sugar creates a more complex flavor than with just one type.
• Granulated sugar – To sweeten our Nilla wafer banana pudding cookies.
• Eggs – To bind everything together.
• Banana cream instant pudding mix – For the creamy, rich banana pudding flavor and irresistibly soft texture on these cookies.
• Vanilla extract – Adds complexity to the banana pudding flavor of these white chocolate chip cookies.
• All-purpose flour – No need to overthink what flour to use. Good old all-purpose flour is perfect for the structure of these cookies. 
• Baking soda – Of course, these baked treats need a leavener to help them rise.
• Salt – To balance the sweetness of these banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers.
• Vanilla wafer cookies – We can’t have banana pudding cookies without the crunch of Nilla wafers! Chop them up and stir them into the dough as well.
• White chocolate chips – To further bring our pudding cookies to life, we’ll also load them with white chocolate chips. They replicate the cream between the layers of an actual pudding! 

Tools Needed To Prepare Banana Pudding Cookies with Vanilla Wafer Cookies

• Parchment paper for lining the baking sheet
• Baking sheet for baking the pudding cookies with vanilla wafers
• Hand mixer for mixing the dough
• Mixing bowl for creaming butter
• Cookie scoop for forming the dough balls
• Wire rack for cooling the baked pudding cookies

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Pudding Cookies

Can I use other flavors of pudding mix?

This pudding cookie recipe will also work with other pudding mix flavors.

Have a cookie party with different varieties! Some delicious flavors are cheesecake and vanilla.

Mix-ins

Customize these soft banana pudding cookies by stirring in nuts, chocolates, or fruits!

The banana pudding flavor will taste amazing with macadamias, butterscotch chips, and freeze-dried strawberries to give you some ideas.

Toppings

These banana pudding cookies are also perfect for gatherings! Make them extra special with vanilla frosting mixed with banana extract, or decorate them using banana split as an inspiration. 

For a banana split-inspired glaze, combine powdered sugar, heavy cream, butter, and vanilla extract.

Then, dip the cooled cookies into the glaze and top with cherries and colored sprinkles. This colorful take on banana pudding cookies is guaranteed to be kids-approved! 

How to Make Banana Pudding Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 pack banana cream instant pudding mix (3.4 oz box)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Tools you need:

• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
• Hand mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Cookie scoop
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for the banana pudding cookies. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 2: Cream the butter and sugars together, then add the eggs, instant pudding, and vanilla extract. Beat until blended and smooth.

STEP 3: In another bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the flour mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until combined.

STEP 4: Fold the vanilla wafer cookies and white chocolate chips into the banana pudding cookie dough.

STEP 5: Roll the cookie dough into balls, about a tablespoon each, then place them onto the lined baking sheet. Space the balls at least an inch apart.

STEP 6: Bake the banana pudding cookies for 9 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove them from the oven.

STEP 7: Cool the cookies on the sheet for around 2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack and cool completely.

What To Serve With Banana Pudding Cookies

You’ll be satisfied having these banana pudding cookies, even with just a glass of milk to wash them down.

They’re already sweet and rich, so pairing them with an indulgent drink is unnecessary.

You can also top the banana pudding cookies with salted caramel sauce and chopped pecans. ?

Or, for a more dessert feel, why not prepare the cookies A La Mode?

I think toffee or chocolate peanut butter ice cream will be fantastic for this role!

Planning a dessert table? Impress guests with unique cookies that go beyond chocolate chip.

Try our pumpkin cookies and Italian peach cookies.

Tips About Making Banana Pudding White Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Make sure your butter is soft and not melted, or the cookies might spread quickly in the oven. It’ll also be easier to cream room-temperature butter than chilled butter, so take it out of the fridge an hour before making the recipe. 
• Make these banana pudding white chocolate chip cookies ahead of time! You can refrigerate the dough for baking the next day or freeze dough balls for up to a month. You won’t need to thaw them, just extend the baking time for a few minutes.
• For indulgent banana pudding cookies, whip a cup of softened butter, 2 tablespoons of banana pudding mix, and 8 cups of powdered sugar until fluffy for a quick banana frosting.

How To Store Banana Pudding Cookies

• Room temperature: To maintain the flavor and texture of your banana pudding cookies, transfer them to an airtight container, and they’ll keep well for 3 days. 
• Fridge: If refrigerated, the baked banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers can last for about a week.
• Freezer: For an even longer storage option (up to 2 months), stack the cookies in a freezer bag with parchment paper between each layer. Just thaw them in the fridge overnight before serving. 
• Make-Ahead: Cover the baking sheet with the dough balls and freeze until solid. Then, store the cookie dough balls in a freezer bag for up to a month. You can also refrigerate the dough balls a day before baking. 

Can I Make These Banana Pudding Cookies With Real Bananas?

I recommend just using a banana pudding mix for these banana pudding cookies, as real bananas can add moisture to the dough and affect the resulting texture of the cookies. 

If you want more banana flavor, top the cookies with banana buttercream frosting or stir banana chips into the dough. 

What Cookies Do You Use for Banana Pudding?

Banana pudding can be made with layers of vanilla wafers or butter cookies.

The former is the most popular, which isn’t surprising since Nilla wafers are easy to find. But more importantly, their crunchy texture and vanilla flavor complement the creamy frosting and bananas in the pudding. 

If you want to try something besides Nilla wafer banana pudding, Chessmen butter cookies are also gaining attention in the banana pudding realm. 

They taste rich, and these butter cookies also soften nicely in the pudding. 

FAQ About Banana Pudding Cookies

Can you use cook-and-serve pudding for these banana pudding cookies?

No. It’s best to stick with instant banana cream pudding mix for the best texture on your banana pudding cookies. You also don’t need to prepare the dry banana pudding mix with anything. Just use it as is. 

Do you need to refrigerate banana pudding cookies?

No. These banana pudding cookies can stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days. But if you want to keep them longer, refrigerate or freeze them. 

Do banana pudding cookies freeze well?

Yes, they do! Just arrange them in freezer-safe containers and store the cookies for up to 2 months.

Can you make banana pudding the day before with cookies?

As for an actual banana pudding with cookies, you can assemble the dessert the day before you expect to serve it. Chilling the layered treat overnight is also fantastic for letting the flavors and textures develop.  

How long before cookies get soft in banana pudding?

If using vanilla wafer cookies, you should notice them softening after about 4 hours. However, it’s best to enjoy the banana pudding with Nilla wafers within 48 hours, so you can still appreciate the texture of the cookies in the dessert.

Conclusion

Looking for homemade cookies with the perfect banana flavor?

Grab an instant banana pudding mix and make these 20-minute banana pudding cookies!

You’ll get your banana pudding fix with these soft white chocolate chip banana pudding cookies with Nilla wafers. They taste just like the luscious layered treat, complete with crunchy vanilla wafer cookies!

The dough is made from simple ingredients and won’t need chilling. After mixing everything, just roll the dough into balls, and they’re ready to go straight into the oven!

Want more delicious cookie recipes? Get ready to bake year-round with these treats:

• Orange Crinkle Cookies
• TikTok Blueberry Cookies
• Apple Butter Cookies
• Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Ice Cream Sandwiches