Banana Pudding With Graham-Cracker Crunch

gailanng's Note:

A different take on banana pudding.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips, melted
• 4 bananas, sliced
• 5 1/8 ounces instant vanilla pudding, prepared and chilled (can sub 1 Large Sized Box of Cook & Serve or Your Own Recipe)
• 1 cup cold heavy cream, whipped to firm peaks with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, stir the graham-cracker crumbs and melted butter together. Press the crumb mixture onto the baking sheet in a circle that is approximately 8 inches in diameter. Bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. Use a small spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate chips thickly over the baked crumbs on the baking sheet. Let the crunch sit until the chocolate is firm. [The chocolate holds the crunch together in large pieces so it does not crumble when it is transferred to the pudding. I always have a problem with this step, but if it crumbles it doesn't alter the flavor :-)].
3. In the bottom of a 2-quart serving bowl, spread 1/2 of the banana slices. Spread about 1/2 of the pudding over the bananas and sprinkle about 1/3 of the graham crunch (breaking it up with a spatula as you transfer it) over the pudding. Repeat the layering once.
4. Spread the whipped cream over the crunch and sprinkle with the remaining crunch. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight and serve cold.

Reviews

[Chef Buggsy Mate]

Made this for dessert the other day. I heard from one DD "Mom, you know I don't like banana pudding" however; one bite and she quickly changed her mind. Everyone in the family loved the graham cracker crunch...we all felt it took the recipe to a whole new level. Thanks for posting this tasty treat. Made and reviewed for the 40th AUS/NZ Recipe Swap.

[Realtor by day, Chef by night]

Yummy! We loved this rich, creamy pudding dessert! The graham cracker crunch part made it really special. My little girl just loved it! I used sugar-free pudding and nobody seemed to notice. Thanks, GailAnn! Made for alphabet chefs tag.