Monkey See Monkey Do...

There are very few "sweets" that I won't eat. I LOVE chocolate, I fully enjoy cobblers, I could eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I'm not terribly picky about pies. I will, however, send back anything with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, mulberries....pretty much any kind of berry except for a strawberry. If it's straight up milk chocolate...I'm game.

You can imagine my love affair with Magnolia Bakery. Every time I go to NYC it's a must. And as evident by my latest trip, it's a must the minute our feet hit NYC soil....oooor...pavement. The first night, I got white on white. A Vanilla cupcake with their dreamy Magnolia icing. The second night I got the banana pudding. My sister picks the pudding over the cupcakes in a taste test although it is a tough call.

I've been home an entire 7 days now, and I was going through some serious withdrawals. It's like I just need a piping bag of that icing to take a shot of every once in a while. Thank the Lord for the Internet...a searching I went and what did I find?? I found the recipe for the cupcakes, the icing AND the banana pudding! I tell you what, find a penny pick it up all day long you'll have good luck!

So last night was the moment of truth. I made the banana pudding recipe for my family and it was a huge hit! The only issue is that I made it all in one night and didn't follow the explicit instructions to allow it to "set" for several hours in the refrigerator. In my opinion, it did not interfere with the taste, but I'm sure it firms up and sets a bit better if you allow it the proper time. And just an FYI...this recipe makes quite a bit. 6 people ate on it last night and I gave both my parents and grandparents full to-go containers and we still have some left over.

Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding

Recipe from: More From Magnolia

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups ice cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers
4 cups sliced ripe bananas

1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.


2. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.


3. To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.

I WILL be making this again. I was even able to give Rookie his pill this morning in 2.5 seconds just by hiding it in a spoonfull of this yummy goodness! It usually takes me about 45 minutes, I try hiding it in EVERYTHING I know to hide it in, he eats the food and manages to spit out the pill, I end up in a full on sweat shoving it down his throat like the good little dog mom that I am. Thank you Magnolia!