• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Salted Plains
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Breads & Muffins
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Pies, Cakes, & Tarts
    • Ice Cream & Sorbet
    • Treats & Confections
    • Custards & Puddings
    • Drinks & Cocktails
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Entrees
    • Dairy-Free
    • Vegan
    • Savory
    • Travel Adventures
  • #14092 (no title)
  • Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Winter Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Winter Recipes
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Salted Plains » Recipes » Custards & Puddings

    Vegan Banana Pudding Jars

    Published: Apr 10, 2022 by Tessa · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Make your own Vegan Banana Pudding Jars from scratch! A fun layered no-bake dessert that uses gluten-free vanilla wafers and homemade dairy-free pudding. Perfect gluten-free self-serve treats!

    banana pudding, vanilla wafers, and banana slices layered in a glass jar topped with whipped cream.

    Banana pudding is much more than humble pudding. It's become well-known as a layered Southern dessert. Pudding, vanilla wafers, and fresh bananas round out this no-bake treat.

    Jump to:
    • Why Make This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make Banana Pudding
    • Tips
    • FAQs
    • More No-Bake Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why Make This Recipe

    • Traditional Southern banana pudding contains gluten, dairy, and eggs. This recipe keeps that delicious flavor profile but with homemade vegan pudding and gluten-free vanilla wafers.
    • The vanilla pudding can be made a day ahead, cutting down on assembly time.
    • Often made in a trifle dish, this recipe utilizes mason jars or jelly jars for single-serve desserts!
    bananas, vanilla cookies, coconut milk, maple syrup, starch, and vanilla ingredients on blue background.

    Ingredient Notes

    To make four 8-ounce vegan banana pudding jars, you'll need just 8 major ingredients, a saucepan, two glass mixing bowls. and mason jars or jelly jars.

    • Coconut milk - full-fat coconut milk makes the vanilla pudding rich and creamy. It also serves as the base of the coconut whipped cream.
    • Arrowroot starch - this simple ingredient thickens the mixture without the need for eggs.
    • Vanilla wafers - you can buy this old-fashioned cookie gluten-free and vegan! Homefree makes a wafer that fits both categories.
    • Turmeric - did you know many banana pudding recipes use vanilla-flavored pudding? Use a pinch or two of this bright spice to add that classic yellow pudding color.

    How to Make Banana Pudding

    Step 1: Whisk the coconut milk and almond milk in an unheated saucepan with the arrowroot starch. Place over medium heat and whisk in salt and turmeric. Whisk often just until the mixture comes to a boil.

    Step 2: Remove mixture from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Transfer the mixture to a glass mixing bowl and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding to seal it. Refrigerate for two hours.

    a side by side photo of coconut milk and turmeric in a saucepan and in a glass bowl.

    Step 3: Scoop white solid from 1 can of chilled coconut milk into a medium mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until it becomes a whipped, fluffier consistency.

    Step 4: Add maple syrup and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Transfer the bowl of coconut whipped cream to the refrigerator to chill until ready to assemble the banana pudding cups.

    Assemble: In a mason jar, layer 3-4 broken vegan vanilla wafer cookies, 3-4 slices of banana, and two tablespoons of pudding. Repeat once more and then top with the vegan whipped cream and vanilla wafer crumbles.

    banana pudding, vanilla wafers, and banana slices layered in a glass jar.

    Tips

    • In preparation for whipping up some dreamy southern-style vegan banana dessert, make sure you refrigerate 1 of the cans of coconut milk overnight prior to serving. This is to solidify the coconut milk for making coconut whipped cream.
    • Want to save time? Use store-bought non-dairy whipped cream instead of making your own. When in a pinch, I use the SoDelicious brand CocoWhip.
    • The dairy-free pudding will need to have time to chill and set up. Plan for at least two hours of chilling time.

    FAQs

    Can I make this in advance?

    Yes! You can make the homemade vanilla pudding up to a day ahead of time. The assembled banana pudding jars can rest in the refrigerator for up to 5 hours before serving, otherwise, the bananas and vanilla wafers can start to soften.

    If making early in the day and serving later in the day, wait to top jars with coconut whipped cream and cookie pieces until right before serving.

    What if I don't have gluten-free vanilla wafers?


    Gluten-free graham crackers make an excellent substitute or any gluten-free vanilla-flavored cookie. Make sure to check ingredients if you are in need of a dairy-free or vegan gluten-free cookie as well.

    How do I make my banana pudding yellow?

    Adding a yellow hue is totally optional, but there are a couple of ways to get that signature yellow color. A few pinches of turmeric (careful not to add too much or it will alter flavor) work great or natural food coloring.

    More No-Bake Recipes

    • No-Bake Berry Tart (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
    • No-Bake Brownies with Hemp Seeds
    • No-Bake Coconut Cream Pie (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
    • No Bake Honey Almond Bites (Gluten-Free)

    Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!

    📖 Recipe

    yellow pudding layered with vanilla cookies and banana slices in a glass jar.

    Vegan Banana Pudding Jars

    Make your own Vegan Banana Pudding Jars from scratch! A fun layered no-bake dessert that uses gluten-free vanilla wafers and homemade dairy-free pudding. Perfect gluten-free self-serve treats!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Chilling Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 444kcal
    Author: Tessa

    Equipment

    • 1 2-Quart Saucepan
    • 2 Glass Mixing Bowl (non-glass is fine too)
    • 4 8 oz Mason Jars
    • 1 Whisk
    • 1 Glass Measuring Cup
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Electric Mixer

    Ingredients

    Coconut Whipped Cream

    • 1 13.5oz can full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or organic powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Banana Pudding

    • 1 13.5oz can full-fat coconut milk
    • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
    • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon arrowroot starch
    • 2-3 pinches of ground turmeric or yellow natural food coloring optional
    • pinch of salt
    • 4 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 cups gluten-free vegan vanilla wafers
    • 2 large bananas, sliced

    Instructions

    • Make pudding: Whisk the coconut milk and almond milk in an unheated saucepan with the arrowroot starch until all lumps have dissolved.
      Place saucepan over medium heat and whisk in salt, turmeric and maple syrup. Whisk almost constantly just until mixture reaches a boil. This will ensure the pudding is smooth and not lumpy.
    • Remove mixture from heat immediately once pudding reaches a boil. Whisk in vanilla extract. Transfer pudding to a glass mixing bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding and up the edges to seal. Refrigerate for two hours.
    • Prepare Coconut Whipped Cream: (If using store-bought whipped cream, skip this step.) Scoop white solid from 1 can of chilled coconut milk into another medium mixing bowl. You will not be utilizing liquid at the bottom. Beat with an electric mixer for about 1 minute until it becomes a whipped, fluffier consistency.
      Add maple syrup and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Transfer bowl to the refrigerator to chill until ready to assemble banana pudding jars.
    • Assemble Banana Pudding: In a mason jar, layer 3 to 4 broken-in-half vanilla wafer cookies, 3 to 4 slices of banana, and two heaping tablespoons of pudding. Repeat once more. Chill in the refrigerator for 45 minutes to an hour before serving.
    • Right before serving, top each jar with coconut whipped cream and vanilla wafer pieces.
    • Store any leftover jars in the refrigerator for 2-3 days topped with a lid or plastic wrap.

    Notes

    • In preparation for making this recipe, make sure you refrigerate 1 of the cans of coconut milk overnight prior to serving. This is to solidify the coconut milk for making coconut whipped cream.Want to save time? Use any store-bought non-dairy whipped cream instead of making your own.
    • The dairy-free pudding will need to have time to chill and set up prior to assembling in jars. Plan for at least two hours of chilling time.
    • Adding a yellow hue is totally optional, but there are a couple of ways to get that signature yellow color. A few pinches of turmeric (careful not to add too much or it will alter flavor) works great or you can use natural food coloring.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1jar | Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SaltedPlains or tag #saltedplains!
    « Homemade Vegan Cosmic Brownies
    Gluten-Free Lemon Biscotti »

    Share this post:

    Share on PinterestShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ein Dekoherzal in Bergen

      April 24, 2022 at 7:14 am

      ICH LIEBE ALLES MIT BANANEN:::: TOLL

      WÜNSCHE NOCH EINEN SCHÖNEN TAG
      BIS BALD DIE BIRGIT AUS TIROL

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      April 11, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      This looks amazing and such an elevated take on my grandmother’s recipe.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tessa! I create gluten-free, real food recipes that are approachable and delicious.

    More about me →

    Winter Recipes

    • Curried Broccoli Cauliflower Soup (with Coconut Milk)
    • Healthy Vegan Hot Chocolate
    • Dairy-Free Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake
    • Healthy Gluten-Free Banana Bread

    Popular Recipes

    • Corn Flour Pancakes with Strawberry Compote
    • Healthy Chewy Granola Bars (Gluten-Free)
    • How to Make Berry Infused Vodka
    • Gluten-Free Brownies (Dairy-Free)
    • Vegan Brazilian Cheese Bread (Gluten-Free)
    • Old Fashioned Bourbon Thyme Cocktail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    Services

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

    Copyright © 2022 Salted Plains