
I have a deep philosophical question for you that Dustin presented to me while we were devouring this? Do you like the cookies in your banana pudding mushy or hard? Well if you like them to retain their crunchy texture, then this recipe is for you!

Personally I like them both ways. There's something about Nilla Wafers getting all mushy at the bottom of the pudding after sitting there for awhile that will always get me, but at the same time I like adding fresh cookies on top. I think banana pudding with soggy Nilla wafers will always be one of my childhood comfort foods. But that's no reason not to try a grown-up version as well!

My biggest requirement for banana pudding is that you can taste the banana in the actual pudding part. Too many "banana puddings" are just vanilla puddings with bananas in them. Don't get me wrong, that's a great dessert too. But it's not, I repeat, NOT banana pudding. It's vanilla pudding with bananas.

This recipe features layers of [homemade vanilla cookies](http://www.ezrapoundcake.com/archives/3545) from Ezra Poundcake that taste similar, but not exactly like Nilla Wafers, as well as a cinnamon sugary crumble made with these cookies. I'm not sure it's really possible to copycat a processed food like Nilla Wafers exactly, but according to Dustin these taste a lot better.

![](/photos/2012/05/DSC_1463-584x377.jpg "DSC_1463")

The banana flavoring in this [pudding](http://www.ezrapoundcake.com/archives/12648) recipe, also from Ezra Poundcake, comes from a banana liqueur, hence the use of the word adult in the title. We used 99 Bananas which tastes significantly better than Creme de Banana. We can personally vouch for that. Don't buy Creme de Banana.

The only homemade pudding I'd ever made before this experience came from an instant Jell-O box, so I was taken aback by the texture. It was really thick and slightly unappealing to look at rather than smooth and creamy like its Jell-O counterpart. I'm not sure if I did something slightly wrong in the cooking process, or that's just another difference in real versus processed food. Since we've been eating significantly less processed food, I'm beginning to notice just how many things companies must do and put into their foods to make them look/taste like they do. Scary stuff.

![](/photos/2012/05/DSC_1461-584x386.jpg "DSC_1461")

However this pudding tasted delicious. I added a little more banana liqueur than the original recipe called for because I really wanted to make sure the banana flavor came through. It did, perfectly.

![](/photos/2012/05/DSC_1469-432x584.jpg "DSC_1469")

We layered the cool pudding with slices of fresh banana, the vanilla cookies, and topped off with warm, freshly baked crumble. As much as I love banana pudding, the crumble might have been my favorite part. After I ate it off the top, I maaaay have gone back and added another layer.


Adult Banana Pudding Parfait + Homemade Nilla Wafers

adult-banana-pudding-parfait-homemade-nilla-wafers


I made Dustin a special dessert one day while he was at work. After dinner that night, he asked where it was. I told him not to look, went to the kitchen and prepared everything. I returned carrying a ramekin filled with chocolate pudding. The following is how our conversation went down.

Dustin: "Ooh, what's that?"

Erin: "Chocolate pudding"

Dustin: "You made chocolate pudding? Oh yum!" \*takes a big bite\* "Oh my god, that is the best chocolate pudding I have ever had! What did you put in there? It's so creamy!"

Erin (smiling coyly): "Avocado..."

Dustin (surprised): "No way! You couldn't have! Why doesn't it taste like avocado? Where did the avocado flavor go? What else did you put in here? No way!"

![](/photos/2012/03/DSC_0561-584x391.jpg "DSC_0561")



The truth is I'd seen lots recipes for chocolate puddings and mousses using avocado for months now and finally decided to try it out. I chose to follow this simple [recipe](http://www.forgivingmartha.com/2011/06/avocado-chocolate-pudding.html) from forgiving martha. All you have to do is combine one ripe avocado, 1/4 cup of cocoa powder, 1/4 cup of almond milk, 1/4 cup of agave nectar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a food processor and process until you have the most perfect, smooth, pudding texture.

Dustin was in disbelief, saying he never would have thought to try making chocolate avocado even if he had read about it, but I think he is enjoying becoming a more adventurous eater with me. I know I've been having lots of fun trying new and unusual things out in the kitchen, like this raw pudding. Just think of how much fiber you are getting by simply eating dessert!

Dustin did inform me I wasn't allowed to call this pudding. Then he asked if I had any more.


#pudding

Adult Banana Pudding Parfait + Homemade Nilla Wafers

Chocolate "Pudding"