Imagine a delicious, fluffy vanilla custard with a fresh banana flavor, satisfying crunchy vanilla wafers, and a smooth matcha latte together… It’s heaven in a cup and it’s incredible. You have to make this viral banana pudding matcha latte that’s basically drinkable dessert by the iconic Magnolia Bakery!

You can make their famous banana pudding at home and add it to your matcha lattes at home for a delicious treat!

Here’s how to make a banana pudding matcha latte at home!

What is Banana Pudding?

Banana pudding is not pudding, but a dessert made with vanilla wafers, banana slices, and a fluffy vanilla pudding or custard stacked together in layers (similar to a trifle.) It tastes like fluffy vanilla custard with hints of banana, which is always a great combination.

The pudding also has varying textures, from soft and fluffy, to slightly firm, and crunchy wafers which make it so addicting. Not only is it absolutely delicious, but it’s relatively affordable to make!

The most famous banana pudding is from the Magnolia Bakery, which is one of the only places I ever get banana pudding from. It’s so famous that it’s a New York City icon.

Who is Magnolia Bakery and Why Are They So Famous?

If you’re a Sex and the City fan, you’ll know of the famous Carrie cupcake, the cute pink frosted yellow cupcake that she indulges in sitting on a bench in front of the Magnolia Bakery. That scene was not even a minute long, but the bright pink color, her impeccable outfit, and the nonchalantness of it all sparked international interest in this corner bakery.

This claim to fame put Magnolia Bakery on the dot for locals and tourists, and it sparked somewhat of a cupcake craze.

While most places do not last their one second of fame, Magnolia outlasted it because their banana pudding became one of the most beloved dessert items, now becoming a New York bucket list item! It’s said that this single product brings in at least a quarter of the bakery’s in-store sales, which is nuts.

The banana pudding is creamy, sweet, fluffy, and has real bananas, which makes it irresistibly delicious. It’s a New York City icon, now!

What is a Banana Pudding Matcha Latte?

Magnolia Bakery actually launched a banana pudding matcha latte drink in November 2024 as a partnership with the Montauk General store which featured their famous banana pudding and the latter’s matcha latte. They only had it for *one* day, but it went absolutely viral on social media.

This drink is an iced matcha latte topped with heaping spoonfuls of Magnolia’s banana pudding and a dash of matcha powder on top. Not only does it look incredible, it also tastes phenomenal. Basically a dessert in drink form!

What Does a Banana Pudding Matcha Latte Taste Like?

If you think this drink is like a dessert, you’d be correct! The matcha latte makes the banana pudding liquidy enough to the point where you can drink it, and it’s glorious. The matcha makes the pudding less sweet and adds the perfect earthy flavor. You get the vanilla pudding, fresh banana, and slightly bitter matcha in each sip, with the perfect creaminess from the whipped cream.

Honestly, I could have multiple of these in one sitting, it’s that good. It’s also not overly cloying and light and refreshing!

Something about banana and matcha just works.

Do Matcha and Banana Go Together?

I love matcha and banana together! It’s an underrated combination since they work together so well.

Bananas taste sweet, creamy, and tropical (sometimes like rum, sometimes like vanilla), and have a slight tang to them. These are pretty contrasting flavors compared to matcha’s earthy umami and bitter flavor. But as they say, opposites attract and that’s definitely true in food!

The banana balances any earthiness from matcha while the latter rounds out the banana’s sweetness and creaminess. They’re complementary flavors that work well in a variety of things, like drinks, desserts, pancakes, smoothies, and more.

How to Make Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding

If you don’t live or have never been to New York, don’t worry! You can have a taste of Magnolia’s banana pudding from the comfort of your home! Their recipe is no secret and it’s been shared hundreds of times among food bloggers and journalists—the exact recipe they use is in their cookbook!

At first, I was shocked to learn that Magnolia Bakery uses pudding mix and Nilla wafers in their famous banana pudding. I expected everything to be homemade! But by using flavors many people recognize and love, it makes the banana pudding a viral hit.

Plus, it makes it super easy and accessible to make at home. All the ingredients and steps are down below, but as an overview, you’ll need heavy cream, Jello vanilla pudding mix, bananas, Nilla vanilla wafers (nonnegotiable), condensed milk, and water. That’s it!

You’ll make the pudding and mix it with whipped cream, then layer the wafers, banana slices, and pudding until you fill up your dish. And voila!

How to Make a Matcha Latte

How to Make a Banana Pudding Matcha Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a delicious banana pudding matcha latte:

• Banana Pudding:
• 1½ cup heavy cream
• ½ can condensed milk
• ¾ cup ice cold water
• 1 pack Jello vanilla pudding mix
• 1 box Nilla vanilla wafers nonnegotiable
• 2 whole bananas sliced
• Banana Pudding Matcha Latte:
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 2-3 spoonfuls of banana pudding

Banana Pudding Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Make Vanilla Pudding Base. Whip condensed milk and ice-cold water together in a small bowl until well combined. Then, add the vanilla pudding mix and whip for 2 more minutes. Cover and let it rest in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight (this is crucial for the pudding to set.)
2. Whip Cream. In a medium-sized bowl, whip the cream on medium for 3-5 minutes until you make whipped cream with stiff peaks.
3. Combine Pudding and Cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding, starting with half the cream. Fold the two together until there are no streaks left and you have a fluff, consistent cream pudding.
4. Make Banana Pudding. Slice bananas into thin, quarter-inch coins. In a baking dish or deep bowl, make a single layer of Nilla wafers followed by a layer of banana slices and top with enough pudding to completely cover the surface. Repeat until you fill-up the dish. You should end on a layer of pudding. Cover and chill in the fridge for 4 hours before serving.
5. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha into a matcha bowl and add room temperature or hot (not boiling) water. Using a matcha whisk, vigorously whisk the matcha in a zigzag motion for 20-30 seconds, making sure not to push into the bottom of the bowl. Keep whisking until foam forms on the surface and continue until you get tiny bubbles and a velvety foam.
6. Assemble Drink. Add ice, milk, and whisked matcha to a glass, then top with spoonfuls of your banana pudding. Garnish with a dusting of matcha powder.
7. Mix and Enjoy!

Other Matcha Recipes You Need to Try

If you love banana and matcha in this drink, then you need to try these other matcha latte creations next:

• Banana matcha latte
• Banana cream matcha latte (Must Try!)
• Matcha banana smoothie
• Strawberry cold foam matcha
• Blueberry matcha latte
• Cherry vanilla matcha latte
• Matcha einspanner

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious banana pudding matcha latte!

• Leave Extra Room on Top: You want to use a glass that’s large enough so that there’s room for both the matcha latte and pudding. I used a 15 oz glass cup that was the perfect amount. The banana pudding is dense so it will push down your ice and push up your liquid so make sure you leave room on top!
• Break Nilla Wafers to Fit Your Dish: If the Nilla wafers don’t fit quite right into your dish, break them in half or quarters so you can use the smaller pieces to fit where the round ones don’t. This is perfect for the edges or corners of the dish!
• Wafer First, Then Banana: Or, it really doesn’t matter too much, but the bottom layer of water will act as a “crust” since it has a protective layer of banana to the cream. The textural difference is quite nice since the middle wafer layer will get soft.