Banana Cream Bars – A Delicious Indulgence
Top a buttery shortbread crust with a creamy pudding filling, layers of bananas, and whipped topping for these easy and delicious banana cream bars.

I absolutely adore a cool, creamy dessert in warm weather. Treats like strawberry pretzel salad, layered pistachio pudding dessert, and brownie trifle are not only sweet and delightful but also perfect for hot days.
These banana cream bars fit the bill perfectly! They encapsulate the flavor profile of homemade banana pudding while presenting it in a more portable format.
Whip these bars up for Mother’s Day, a graduation celebration, or your next potluck; I’m confident they’ll be a hit!
What Are Banana Cream Bars?
Banana cream bars offer a wonderful banana twist on my favorite coconut cream bars!
While I adore banana cream pie, I sometimes prefer to bypass the pie-making process. Plus, bar desserts are so much easier to share with a crowd!
By combining the shortbread crust from my pecan bars and drawing inspiration from Magnolia Bakery’s famous banana pudding, I created these banana cream bars. They are cool, creamy, and bursting with banana flavor.
In essence, they are the perfect summer dessert.

How to Make Banana Cream Bars
Making these bars is incredibly easy, and the flavors are simply divine. You get a big payoff with minimal effort!
Since they require a few hours in the refrigerator to set, they are perfect for making in advance for parties or cookouts.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients you’ll need for these delightful bars are quite straightforward:
- Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the base for the shortbread crust. Accurate measuring is crucial for a perfect crust.
- Cold Unsalted Butter: Cold butter is essential for achieving that classic shortbread texture.
- Powdered Sugar: This ingredient helps create the soft, crumbly texture of the crust. If you run out, you can easily make your own powdered sugar at home.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor of the crust.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk & Whole Milk: This combination makes the filling creamy and indulgent while tasting homemade.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: Be sure to use an instant mix for the best results.
- Ripe Bananas: Use just ripe bananas for the filling, avoiding overly mushy ones.
- Thawed Whipped Topping: Depending on your preference, you can use 1 or 2 containers of whipped topping for the perfect finish.
Making This Recipe
The only baking you’ll need to do for this recipe is for the crust. Begin by lining a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang to make removing the bars later easier.
In a food processor, pulse together the flour, butter, powdered sugar, and salt until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of the lined pan and bake for about 20 minutes. Allow the crust to cool completely.

Once the crust has cooled, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and whole milk, then add the pudding mix. Whisk for two minutes until well-combined.
Pour half of the pudding mixture over the cooled crust, then evenly layer the banana slices. Spread the remaining pudding mixture over the top.
Cover and refrigerate the bars for at least 2-3 hours. When ready to serve, spread the thawed whipped topping over the bars. You can use one container for a thin layer or two for a thicker, more indulgent topping.
For an added touch, garnish with more banana slices right before serving. Slice and enjoy!
More Great Banana Recipes
If you have a fondness for bananas, you might also enjoy these wonderful recipes: