Whether making pudding from scratch or using an instant mix, you easily can whip up a dessert that looks complex in less than 30 minutes. If you’re worried that using instant pudding is cheating, don’t be! If it’s good enough for Magnolia Bakery, it’s good enough for anyone. Wondering how you can use that pistachio pudding mix you bought on a whim? Check out this list of 15 amazing pudding desserts that are easy and always impressive.
Quick Instant Pudding Dessert Recipes and More!
1. Quick and Easy Banana Pudding Recipe
This banana pudding dessert is my favorite, and it’s insanely easy to put together. With just 7 ingredients, you can have a family favorite that will leave people fighting to lick the bowl. It comes together in just 30 minutes! Best served in a trifle bowl so you can see the layers, it’s just a matter of mixing up some instant vanilla pudding with condensed milk, and layering with fresh banana slices, vanilla wafers and some light whipped topping. Looking to take it up a notch? Try drizzling in a little caramel or topping with chocolate shavings.
2. No-bake Chocolate Lasagna
Lasagna is a staple in most households since it is easy to put together and always delicious. But what about lasagna for dessert? This recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream, with a crunchy Oreo base, layers of whipped cream, no-bake cheesecake, and chocolate pudding. The best part? No baking. Top with some little chocolate chips or more crushed Oreos for an easy crowd-pleaser.
3. Reese’s Peanut Butter Fluff
In charge of chips ‘n’ dip for the next BBQ? Why not shake things up with this sinful alternative? Mix your vanilla pudding with cream cheese, Cool Whip, and peanut butter for a pudding dessert that is ready to go in 5 minutes flat. This sweet dip will look amazing in a dish dotted with Reese’s Pieces and chopped up Reese’s Cups. Serve it with anything from apple slices to chocolate chip cookies, but be prepared to make a double batch next time because it will not last.
4. Sex in a Pan
Speaking of naughty alternatives… This recipe is made up of crunchy pecans, chocolate and vanilla pudding, and a creamy cheesecake layer. Top it off with some whipped cream and chocolate shavings for six perfect layers. Not a pecan lover? Try out crushed pistachios for a wonderful color and flavor combination your guests won’t see coming.
5. Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake
S’mores are a quintessential summer dessert. Crunchy graham crackers with melted chocolate and gooey marshmallows? What’s not to love? With this dessert, you can have your s’mores fix year-round. The graham cracker crust will give you a little stability and crunch to go along with the super-moist chocolate poke cake. As if that’s not decadent enough, it all gets topped with Marshmallow Fluff and Cool Whip for a sweet and sticky throwback to those summer nights.
6. Caramel Banana Pudding Parfaits
There’s something about a mason jar that makes food and drink just better. Cocktails look cuter and desserts look rustic yet so appealing. This recipe combines some of the best flavors – banana, caramel and vanilla – and layers them in individual portions for an easy to transport and hard to resist pudding dessert. The beauty of these little parfaits is that you can change them up so easily with a different cookie or pudding flavor, like with these Mini Chocolate Banana Pudding Parfaits. And though I may be a little obsessed with banana, you can just as easily use a lemon pudding with fresh raspberries for a fresh, springtime treat.
7. Classic Pudding Pops
This recipe really could not be easier. In just 5 minutes you can have the pudding mix in your popsicle molds, allowing you to get on with your day. For a fun twist, try adding some chopped strawberries, or even gummy worms, for something a little different.
8. Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding Dessert
Lemon and cheesecake go hand in hand. But you don’t always have the time to whip up a cheesecake. Luckily, this no-bake pudding dessert has just 8 ingredients that layer into a simple, silky-smooth faux-cheesecake. The lemon is sweet and a little tart, and compliments the flavors of the graham cracker crust so well. If you want to add a pop of color, top with fresh raspberries.
9. Butterscotch Lush
Butterscotch isn’t just for your grandma anymore. Made with brown sugar instead of white, this caramel concoction is sweet and has a real depth of flavor. In this recipe, butterscotch pudding is paired with melt-in-your-mouth Pecan Sandies and a tangy cream cheese layer. You do have to bake this recipe, but it will still be ready to chill in around 25 minutes.
10. Easy Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a coffee-infused, creamy dessert that most people indulge in when eating out. But the truth is, it’s so easy to put together and always looks far more complicated than it really is. Start by soaking your ladyfingers in strong coffee, so none of that amazing flavor gets lost in the mix. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding a little rum or Tia Maria to the coffee for a grown-up-only dessert. Then it’s just a matter of layering your ladyfingers with your instant pudding and cream cheese mixture. Once it’s put together, you’ll be watching the clock, waiting for it to set.
11. Easy Strawberry Trifle with Pound Cake
Trifle is about as British as it gets and is something I was raised on. Lovely layers of cake, custard, and fruit come together for a fresh and sweet dessert that is a real show-stopper. This dessert is easy to make and a wonderful homage to your childhood. Store-bought pound cake, instant vanilla pudding, and sliced strawberries are all it takes to make this pudding dessert. Though it’s not essential, using a trifle dish (large glass bowl) will give your guests a truly Instagram-worthy picture.
12. Chocolate Pudding
This kid-approved, grown-up guilty pleasure really is easy to make at home. Keep your pot over medium heat so you don’t burn the bottom, and be sure to keep the mix moving. I promise it will thicken into a silky-smooth, chocolate delight in no time. Serve solo or as a side to fresh fruit salad. Either way, I’m sure the adults will be just as thrilled as the kids to dive in.
13. The Best Chocolate Cupcakes Ever
Have you ever looked at a chocolate cupcake recipe and panicked at the sheer number of ingredients? Buttermilk, oil, egg white and yolks separated, hot coffee? And then, after all that, they come out dry and lacking in flavor. All that is behind you now. Trust me. This recipe is foolproof and will leave you with the moistest chocolate cupcakes you’ve ever had. The combination of pudding mix and sour cream makes these babies come out soft, rich, and bursting with chocolate flavor every time. Try topping with fresh strawberry buttercream for a wonderful color and flavor contrast everyone will love.
14. The Best Watergate Salad
You didn’t think I forgot about that pistachio pudding mix, did you? Watergate Salad is a lot like pistachio fluff. It combines subtle flavors from the instant pudding along with crushed pineapple, marshmallows, pecans and whipped topping. Five ingredients and 5 minutes are all it takes to whip this little recipe together, and it’s a sure-fire favorite.
15. Pistachio and White Chocolate Pudding Cookies
Pistachio and white chocolate are a match made in heaven. And who doesn’t love a soft and chewy cookie? By adding pistachio pudding into this cookie dough, you will be left with a delicious nutty cookie that is pale green, tender, and irresistible. I suggest making them pretty small so you can have more than 1… or 3. Top with chopped pistachios for a little extra color and some crunch. Click on a star to rate it!
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