Banana Cream Lush

This no-bake banana cream lush with a buttery graham cracker crust and layers of luscious banana pudding, rich creamy cheesecake, and fluffy whipped topping is an absolute crowd favorite!

Why this recipe works

Banana cream lush is light and fluffy, with a crumbly graham cracker crust, a cheesecake-like center topped with creamy banana pudding, and whipped cream. This dreamy no bake wonder is the love child between banana cream pie and banana cream icebox cake, an actual delight, one might say. The crust softens as it sits, soaking up the layers above it. You truly have to try it for yourself to see what I mean!

Desserts lasagnas, lushs, and icebox cakes are my favorite for servin’ up sweets to a crowd. Most, if not all, are no-bake, which is a no-brainer when it comes to summertime treats. Twelve large slices of silky banana sweetness that quite literally melt in your mouth... I can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t love it!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CRUST – Two 5-ounce packages of graham crackers will do the trick for the crust. You can use regular, vanilla, or honey graham crackers. Whichever you prefer the most! Your melted butter should be cooled slightly before combining it with the crackers. If you’re in a pinch, pop it in the freezer for a couple of minutes, but don’t let it harden.

PUDDING – You’ll want to use two 3.4 ounce boxes of instant banana cream pudding mix, for a total of 6.8 ounces. If you can’t find the correct ounces, purchase two boxes and weigh out the mixture on a kitchen scale.

WHIPPED TOPPING – Cool Whip is a lush dessert’s best friend, as it’s already stabilized and won’t degrade or become watery as it sits. Plus, it’s downright convenient. You can substitute with homemade stabilized whipped cream if preferred. I would avoid regular whipped cream as it breaks down rather quickly, especially for a dessert you’ll likely want to make in advance.

GARNISH – Crushed graham crackers and sliced bananas are our go-to toppings for banana cream lush. Chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans also add a nice touch of texture! You can submerge your banana slices in some water with a squeeze of lemon juice for about 10 minutes to help prevent them from browning. Alternatively, you can also toss them in lemon juice before placing them on top.

How to Make Banana Cream Lush

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. In a medium-large bowl, mix melted and cooled butter with finely ground, processed graham crackers. Press into the bottom of a 13×9 pan. Cover and chill until the next layer is ready.
2. Using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (2 tablespoons works best for me). The mixture should be even and smooth. Spread evenly on top of the graham cracker crust.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk and instant banana cream pudding mix until set. It may take 4-5 minutes to thicken. Spread evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Spread thawed whipped topping on top of the banana cream pudding layer. Optionally, you can freeze the dessert overnight for more defined slices. Do not freeze if you substitute homemade whipped cream because it might not hold up like frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip) would.
5. Optionally top with freshly sliced banana right before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Yes, absolutely. This dessert keeps really well in the refrigerator, or even freezer, so long as you use Cool Whip or homemade stabilized whipped cream as the top layer. Garnish with sliced bananas just before serving as they tend to brown when exposed to air. I wouldn’t suggest prepping it more than two days ahead of time because the crust tends to get overly soft at that point.

Store leftovers in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Yes, you can freeze it, though the texture does slightly change when frozen and thawed. The pudding often becomes slightly grainy after doing so. To freeze, prepare the dessert as normal, minus the garnish of bananas and graham crackers. Wrap the dish well in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

Garnish your banana cream lush with freshly sliced bananas and a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers. It’s also great with chopped nuts, so long as there are no allergies around. Keep this dessert chilled before serving, and enjoy!

More No Bake Dessert Recipes

• Pistachio Lush
• Chocolate Lasagna
• Coconut Cream Lush
• Lemon Icebox Cake

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