Old Fasioned Banana Pudding with Candied Graham Crakcers

*Updated Recipe*

Once a young man asked me to go to dinner with him; he took me to one of my favorite places to eat~ Artie's. It is owned and operated by a group that also runs Sweet Water restaurants but Artie's is the only one. Even though their dishes are not particularly fancy, they do offer two of my favorites, roasted chicken salad and old fashioned banana pudding.

I know, what sounds so wonderful about those? Well it is the way they make them and serve them. The chicken salad has the crispest and freshest lettuce, corn off the cob and creamy goat cheese aside juicy roasted chicken all tossed in a delightful champagne vinaigrette. That one I can almost duplicate at home.

The pudding is another beast entirely. It doesn't have an overwhelming banana flavor and is more like mousse than pudding. Instead of vanilla wafers or a pie crust, the pudding is served over a bed of candied graham cracker crumbs. It is a taste of heaven. And I have been trying to make it for a couple of years now. Last night, I did it!


I stumbled across a banana pudding recipe from Paula Dean with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. I was a little skeptical but once I made it, with some alterations, I realized THIS WAS THE PUDDING I have been enjoying at Artie's! So I would like to share with you this wonderful dessert.

*I updated this recipe after finding this one at Blue Eyed Baker. The only thing that made me skeptical about Paula Dean's recipe was the cream cheese.  I really did not taste it in my favorite banana pudding from Artie's but the texture was it.

I made omitted the cream cheese and altered the quantities of the ingredients and have now updated the recipe.  My original recipe is still at the bottom of this post for those who may have made it before and want it as it was.

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding with Candied Graham Crackers

Ingredients
3 3.4 oz boxes instant vanilla pudding mix
2 1/2 cups milk
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups whipping cream

1 stick butter
1/4 c sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs

bananas {3-6, depending on personal taste}
chocolate syrup {for drizzling}

Directions
1. Combine the pudding mix, cold milk, and sweetened condensed milk; whisk til smooth but thickened. Set aside. Whip cream beginning on low speed gradually moving to medium high; whip till fluffy and holds shape.


2. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Chill in refrigerator for at least two hours.


3. In saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Continue to heat while stirring constantly for about five minutes until crumbs begin to lump together and harden. Allow to cool thoroughly. The crumbs will become crunchy as they cool.


4. Place some graham cracker crumbs on a dessert plate or in a bowl. Add desired amount of banana slices. Top with two scoops of pudding {using an ice cream scoop makes this easy}. Drizzle with chocolate syrup {caramel syrup would be wonderful, too}.


Serves between 12-16; or if you are me, about 6 servings!

By the way, the man became my husband. Wasn't he smart?

This is the original adaption of this recipe I cam up with.
  Ingredients
1 5 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups milk
2 cups whipping cream
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 stick butter
1/4 c sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
bananas {3-6, depending on personal taste}
chocolate syrup {for drizzling}

Whisk pudding mix and milk together.  Set aside.  Whip cream til fluffy and holds shape.  Blend whipped cream til smooth; stir into pudding.  Fold whipped cream into pudding.  Refrigerate at least two hours.  Continue with recipe as above.