Although Paula’s unique recipe calls for the use of Pepperidge Farm’s Chessmen cookies, which are a shortbread-like butter cookie decoratively imprinted with symbols of the playing pieces from the game of chess, they are not strictly necessary. You can use your typical vanilla wafer, as pictured in the image.

The Chessmen cookies do make an excellent presentation, however, when they are laid out in a grid decorating the top of the pudding. But as you can see in the image, you can create a beautiful pudding using the wafers, which are so much easier to find in your local market.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 (12-oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups milk

1 (5-oz.) box INSTANT French vanilla pudding mix

6 to 8 bananas, sliced

2 bags Chessmen cookies (See Quick Tips for other ideas)

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Line the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.

Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.

Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.

Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.

Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Quick Tip:  Whichever type of cookies you choose to use in making this dessert, there will undoubtedly be some that are broken. These broken ones make an excellent bottom crust, making it easy to serve. Save the intact, pretty cookies to decorate the top of the pudding.

Recipe courtesy of Paula at Paula Deen, image courtesy of karachifoods.com