Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie

Re-think the classic southern dessert with my Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe!  With only 5 simple ingredients, including frozen banana and greek yogurt, you'll never believe this simple and healthy smoothie tastes just like a Banana Pudding Shake. 

Love healthy smoothies? Also, try my 20+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes.

Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe

This Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe is a bit magical.  It takes simple, truly healthy ingredients that are blended into a healthy smoothie that tastes like a more rich Banana Pudding Shake or milkshake.  It's an unbelievably healthy swap for this classic southern dessert.

As a good Southern girl, banana pudding has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  My Grandmother, Bea used to make it every time we visited her.  It was rich, loaded with real egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla wafers.  I adore her recipe.

I hate to mess up her classic Banana Pudding... BUT... as a healthy food blogger, I can never pass up the opportunity to take a sweet classic treat and turn it into something a little BETTER.  Or at least a little healthier...

Meet my new Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe.  It's a fresh interpretation of my Grandma's classic and the Hubs favorite.

Made with a simple combination of just five ingredients including frozen bananas, vanilla Greek yogurt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and almond extract, the ingredients blend and taste so delicious.  Creamy, decant, and just like a fabulous Banana Pudding Shake.

Why You'll Love this Banana Pudding Shake Recipe...

• This Banana Pudding Smoothie tastes just like a Banana Pudding Shake!  Are you missing the one at Sonic? This is a great healthy substitute!
• This version uses frozen bananas and spices to get that vanilla pudding flavor.  Since there is no real replacement for a good ole' vanilla wafer... I decided to blend two into the smoothie.  Because of that, I'd say this is more of a dessert smoothie than breakfast.  This Banana Pudding Shake or Smoothie is still pretty darn healthy though.
• It's a great use for the frozen bananas in your freezer.
• It's only around 370 calories!
• You still get all the nutrition in the bananas including fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients.
• The real dessert has a huge handful of these things though, so two is a nice balance.
• It's kid-friendly.
• Somehow with the whipped cream, it all comes together and with that familiar Banana Pudding taste.  It's downright addictive.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Bananas: The trick to making this healthy smoothie taste like a dessert shake or milkshake, is to use extra ripe, spotted bananas.  When they are pretty brown, is when they are the sweetest and give the smoothie a rich shake like feeling.  The natural sweetness of the bananas is where the magic is. Peel them, break them in half, and freeze them in an airtight container.  If you use really sweet bananas, you shouldn't need to add an extra sweetener to the recipe.
• Vanilla Greek Yogurt: Vanilla Greek yogurt is another key ingredient here.  The vanilla flavor mimics the vanilla flavor used in banana pudding.
• Cinnamon: Another key flavor here that gives this a more indulgent taste.
• Vanilla: Vanilla extract helps this taste like a more rich dessert.
• Almond Milk: Almond milk or your favorite type of milk including fat-free milk, coconut milk, or whole milk.  It helps get the smoothie going in the blender.  You can adjust the exact amount of milk to how thick you like your smoothie.
• Toppings: Whipped Cream & Vanilla Wafters, or even fresh bananas slices.

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make this Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. Put all the ingredients, including 2 of the wafers in a blender and mix well.  I have this blender and love it.  It's a great mid-priced option.
2. If you like you can top it with whipped cream and use the last wafer cookies as garnish.
3. Serve immediately!

Variations

I love this Banana Pudding Shake recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Make it Protein Banana Pudding Shake: Add a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder.
• Make it Vegan: Use dairy-free vegan vanilla yogurt and non-dairy milk.  You will also need a non-dairy whipped cream topping.
• Add More Mix-Ins: Amp up the nutrition with chia seeds, greens, oats, collagen powder, bee pollen, flax seeds, or maca.
• Make it Peanut Butter: Add some powdered peanut butter to the smoothie mix.

Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe

This Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe is so tasty, rich, and delicious with loads of banana pudding flavor.  You can't go wrong with the creaminess of this banana milkshake recipe.  It magically has all of those flavors of my beloved Grandmother's Banana Pudding.  I haven't given up on my classic family recipe at all, but this is a fun way to mix it up in between those special occasions and enjoy the banana pudding flavors in a different, healthier form.  Plus, if you love a good Banana Pudding Shake or milkshake, you'll love this healthy swap.  It tastes super indulgent!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  And if you love making healthy smoothies at home, try my 20+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes.

FAQ

What's the difference between a banana shake and a banana smoothie?

A banana shake is more of a true milkshake made with vanilla ice cream, banana pudding mix, and milk.  A smoothie swaps out the ice cream for frozen, blended bananas.  It's one of those healthy swaps that is super tasty and rich.

How can  I make my smoothies thick and creamy?

Keeping the amount of liquid in the smoothie is a great tip for a thick and creamy smoothie.  Adding frozen bananas is another perfect trick as the blended bananas are naturally rich, decadent, and creamy.

More Healthy Smoothies that Taste Like Dessert:

• Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
• Pina Colada Smoothie
• Peach Cobbler Smoothie
• Unicorn Smoothie
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
• Also, try my 20+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes.

If you make this Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie

Julie Wunder

Re-think the classic southern dessert with my Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie recipe!  With only 5 simple ingredients, including frozen banana and greek yogurt, you'll never believe this simple and healthy smoothie tastes just like a Banana Pudding Shake. 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks, Smoothie

Cuisine American

Servings 1 smoothie

Calories 373 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 frozen bananas
• ¼ cup vanilla greek yogurt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup almond milk
• Optional:
• 3 vanilla wafers
• Whipped cream

Instructions

 

• Put all the ingredients, including 2 of the wafers in a blender and mix well.
• Serve immediately! If you like you can top it with whipped cream and use the last wafer as garnish.

Notes

Storage & Leftovers

This smoothie is best enjoyed fresh right when you make it.  It doesn't keep well in the fridge and will melt.  You technically could freeze it, but thawing it out will give you a strange consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 9gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 336mgPotassium: 896mgFiber: 7gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 151IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 237mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Banana PUdding Shake, Banana Pudding Smoothie, Healthy Banana Pudding Smoothie

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

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