Banana Pudding Whoopie Pies take the flavors of a Southern favorite and transform them into a portable dessert: soft, cake-like cookies sandwiching a rich, creamy banana pudding filling. Each bite is light, sweet, and full of nostalgic banana taste.
These whoopie pies capture everything you love about banana pudding but in an easy-to-eat format. The cookies are tender and cake-like, while the banana cream filling is smooth and velvety. Together they create a comforting, old-fashioned dessert that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or simply satisfying a sweet banana craving.
Light yet indulgent, they’re designed to be enjoyed right away but can also be prepared ahead with a few simple tips to keep texture and flavor at their best.
Banana Whoopie Pie Highlights
- Classic banana pudding flavor in a handheld treat – The familiar banana-cream taste is captured between soft, cake-like cookies for easy serving and sharing.
- Ultra-creamy, velvety filling – The banana pudding center is thick and smooth, providing a satisfying contrast to the tender cookie.
- Soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture – The cookies and filling combine to deliver a light, fluffy bite that isn’t heavy.
Ingredients for Homemade Whoopie Pies
Milk & cream (milk, heavy whipping cream) – These create a rich base for the banana pudding filling and help it set with a smooth, creamy texture.
Pudding mix (banana cream instant pudding mix) – Provides quick banana flavor and a stable, velvety consistency for the filling.
Sugars (granulated sugar, powdered sugar) – Granulated sugar sweetens the cookie dough and contributes to a tender texture; powdered sugar is used as a light dusting on finished whoopie pies.
Butter – Adds richness, moisture, and supports the soft, cake-like quality of the cookies.
Vanilla – Enhances and rounds out the overall flavor.
Eggs & milk – Eggs provide structure and binding; milk keeps the cookies moist and tender.
Dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda) – Flour gives structure, salt balances sweetness, and leaveners produce a light rise for the cookie rounds.
Tips for making these Banana Cream Whoopie Pies
Refer to the recipe card for full quantities and step-by-step directions. Key tips for best results:
- Chill the pudding until it’s very thick – The filling must be spoonable but firm enough to hold its shape when piped, otherwise it will slide out of the whoopie pies.
- Cool cookies completely before filling – Warm cookies will soften or melt the filling and make the sandwiches runny instead of structured and creamy.
- Watch bake time for a soft texture – Remove the cookies as soon as the bottoms show a light golden color; overbaking dries them out and ruins the tender, cake-like bite.
- Keep cookie sizes consistent – Use the same scoop for each portion so they bake evenly and pair easily when assembling sandwiches.
Banana Pudding Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup milk divided
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 3.4 oz banana cream instant pudding mix
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 TBSP butter room temp
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and the banana cream pudding mix with a hand mixer until very thick. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to set.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, beat the sugar, vanilla, and butter with a hand mixer for about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and 1/4 cup milk and mix until combined.
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Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
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Scoop about 1.5 TBSP of batter onto the prepared sheet, spacing cookies 2–3 inches apart. Bake 12–14 minutes until the bottoms are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool completely. You should have about 16 cookies total.
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Fill a piping bag with the chilled pudding and pipe onto the bottoms of half the cookies. Sandwich with the remaining cookies, dust with powdered sugar, and serve.
Notes
Freezing assembled pies is not recommended because the pudding filling can change texture after thawing. You can freeze the cookies separately and add fresh filling when ready to serve.
Nutrition
How long are these Banana Whoopie Pies good for?
Store assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2–3 days for the best texture and flavor. The filling remains creamy but will gradually soften the cookies.
Freezing assembled pies is not recommended because the pudding filling doesn’t hold up well after thawing. If you’d like to prepare ahead, freeze only the cookie portions and add the fresh filling when you’re ready to serve.
Can I make the filling ahead of time?
Yes. The banana pudding filling can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator to maintain thickness and prevent a skin from forming.
Why is my filling too runny?
Most often it needs more chilling time. The pudding should be very thick before assembling; if it’s still loose it won’t hold its shape between the cookies.
Can I use homemade pudding instead of instant?
You can substitute homemade pudding, but instant pudding is recommended here because it sets firmer and holds up better inside the whoopie pies.
How do I keep the cookies soft and cake-like?
Avoid overbaking. Remove the cookies as soon as the bottoms are lightly golden and let them cool completely before filling to preserve their tender, cake-like texture.
More banana-flavored recipe ideas
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars — sweet banana flavor combined with melty chocolate chips for an easy bake suitable for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.
- Apple Banana Bread — ripe bananas and juicy apple chunks in a moist loaf topped with cinnamon streusel for extra richness.
- White Chocolate Chip Banana Bread — a soft, moist banana loaf with white chocolate for a sweeter, indulgent twist.
- Banana Cream Cheesecake Bars — no-bake bars with creamy banana flavor and a quick, crowd-pleasing finish.
- Banana Cream Cookies — classic cookies updated with banana pudding flavor for a nostalgic treat.
- Double Chocolate Banana Bars — rich, fudgy bars with banana and chocolate combined for an indulgent snack or dessert.
Banana Pudding Whoopie Pies turn a Southern favorite into a soft, handheld treat with fluffy cake-like cookies and a rich banana pudding center. They’re sweet, nostalgic, and easy to love—perfect for sharing or enjoying one (or two) yourself.