This Banana Pudding Dip is super easy to make and the most addicting and crowd pleasing dessert dip. Grab your Nilla Wafers.
A blogger named Gluten Free Girl caused a bit of a stir this week as she made the comment “blogs don’t matter anymore”.
She meant it and she didn’t.
Shauna (Gluten Free Girl) and I have been blogging for about the same time now (I roll into 11 years this June) and I know what she is trying to say.
I am amused when I meet the new bunch of bloggers these days (ones that have been blogging only for about 2-3 years).
They are in awe of how long I’ve been blogging and very wrongly assume I must be making tons of money (that’s not the part that amuses me) and have a ton of traffic.
The part that amuses me is how they tell me they are going to do this the rest of their life and I look at them (and totally piss them off) and tell them, no you are not.
Now I don’t mean that in a mean way.
I mean that in 10 years from now I’m not sure blogging as you know it today is even going to be around.
Kind of hard to do something that doesn’t exist.
It may still be here, who knows, but it surely won’t be the same.
When I started blogging those 11 years ago it was out of hobby because I loved to bake and my ex-husband only liked to eat the same three things.
I was one of the few bloggers who put pictures with their recipes back then.
Now we live in an age where if you don’t have a picture of every recipe in a cookbook, people don’t want to buy it.
We are moving away from the written word and more into the visual realm.
Bloggers were not taken seriously back then.
I remember talking to a book agent who had interest back in 2009 but flat out said that she wasn’t sure bloggers could sell cookbooks because we were just home chef.
Well some of us have culinary backgrounds. 🙂
Nowadays, of course, it’s all bloggers with cookbooks.
And if you are a chef you now have to have a blog in order to promote your cookbook, the times they have a-changed.
Back when I started if a company sent me a coupon for a free product I was like wow how cool is that.
I jumped for joy the first time I got to 10 comments.
Which nowadays sadly I do that too…because comments have gone away, sigh.
For I used to average 60-70 comments a post and I loved the engagement and talking with people.
People get upset at the lack of comments (myself included, I really do miss them) but now the comments are spread throughout social media.
I used to just post.
That was it.
Usually, late at night.
Now there are strategies about the best time to post and on what days.
I have to immediately go share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Companies finally realized how many people we reached and that they bought what we recommended…well, some of you do.
All I know is a lot of you use Plugra Butter and Rodelle because of me. 😀
But that’s the thing, even though Plugra isn’t working with bloggers right now I still use and promote their product.
I realize I could make a lot more money if I took everything that came my way.
However, I just can’t bring myself to do that.
So I understand what Gluten Free Girl is saying.
Blogging won’t be around for forever, at least not like this.
I may have to go to video (eek) if I want to continue to share my recipes.
Ad revenue continues to bring in less and less each year and once cannot depend on that.
Why just this last month everyone was freaking out because Pinterest traffic has tanked because they reformulated.
And it has, which is bad for me since it was my number one source of traffic.
Not much I can do though except roll with it. 🙂
So blogging may not matter anymore, but I’m still keeping mine.
I still like to cook and bake and take pictures of it and tell you random stuff.
And now, this Banana Pudding Dip.
I went to a Bat Mitzvah this last Saturday and they served very non-traditional Cajun food for the meal.
The dessert was banana pudding.
Totally got me thinking about how long it had been since I have had banana pudding.
And how I just wanted to sit around with Nilla Wafers and dip them in it.
That’s how this dip happened.
So easy.
Like, so easy.
And as suspected, great for sitting around with Nilla Wafers and dipping them in it.
Banana pudding lovers this Banana Pudding Dip is for you!
P.S. It’s a great day to buy my cookbook Holy Sweet!
Want More Dessert Dips?
Banana Split Cheesecake Cheeseball
Angel Food Cake and Strawberry Cheesecake Cheeseball
Circus Animal Cookie Cheesecake Cheeseball
Cake Batter Cheesecake Cheeseball
Banana Pudding Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 oz. vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (I used Darigold 40% because I love it so)
- 3 TBSP powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups Cool Whip (or you can use more regular whipped cream if you desire)
- 1 cup mashed bananas
- Banana slices and crushed Nilla Wafers as garnish
- Nilla Wafer for dipping
Instructions
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream into soft peaks.
Add the vanilla pudding and powdered sugar and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form.
Add the cream cheese and beat until fully incorporated.
Remove from mixer and fold in the bananas.
Then fold in the Cool Whip.
Pour into a bowl and add banana slices and crushed Nilla wafers as garnish.
Told you it was easy.
Serve with Nilla Wafers.
Rebeka says
This sounds amazing! Thank you!
britt says
It’s interesting because I had a blog back in the day, but decided early that I was not willing to put in the effort to make it professional. Sometimes I regret this decision, but then I remember that I can’t be bothered to even post any more on my new website let alone make it my income.
I miss the community of niche bloggers that I used to follow most if not all of whom are no longer blogging. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy those I follow, it’s just I miss the randomness that I used to experience on the web and everything is so well curated now (which has its benefits)
Tsm says
Yoooo that looks amazing
Sunshine says
So true! My husband keeps saying, ‘you should start a blog’ as in ‘you can make money if you had a blog.’ Sorry honey, one can not just write a blog post and call it a day. I think vloging is an interesting idea.
Peabody says
@Sunshine- I keep thinking okay maybe a little vloging or video but then I am reminded of my podcast and the whole that’s my voice kind of thing. That and people would see what a crappy housekeeper I am. 🙂
Katie says
I’m glad you’ve stayed. I don’t comment often but I’ve been reading you since 2006 and love the blog. You’re one of my go to sites for recipes.
Mary says
I totally agree about blogging. It’s not what it was. Sometimes I think about starting again, but I have way too much else on my plate. That’s a shame about the comments though. Those were my favorite part.
Peabody says
@Mary- I just think mobile devices are where people read the blogs now and they just don’t comment on those much.
Danelle says
First, your post caught my eye because I seriously made Banana Pudding Dip this very week. So, genius minds! I haven’t been blogging quite as long as you (7 years) and you were one of the first blogs I followed when I started! (Pretty sure I made your Snickerdoodle Muffins way back in 2009). I just kept reading your post and thinking “Yes!” I still can’t get over the fact that sometimes people pay me to make food with their products and share it online. Like you, I started my blog because I loved to cook and bake (I didn’t even know you could put ads on a blog!), so I’m keeping mine too, even if it doesn’t matter anymore! And videos….I just don’t want it to be that much work. 🙂
Peabody says
@Danelle-it must have been banana pudding dip week. Right after I posted the mail came and in one my food magazines there was a recipe (different…they actually made pudding) for it. I was like what are the odds.
Donna @ What the Dog Ate says
Hey Peabody! I love reading your blog and have done so for about five years now. I rarely comment. Sorry. Lurker alert! I try to think of the blog I keep as more of a keepsake for my family; a digital cookbook of sorts. I love all the interesting recipes you publish but what keeps me coming back is you writing. Thanks for keeping it real! 🙂
Peabody says
@Donna- yes that is mostly how I think of mine. I’ve gone back to what I call more of hobby blogging because it’s brought joy back to my blog for me.
Morven says
Great post and your recipe looks and sounds amazing. I enjoyed Nilla Wafers when I was living in the US but we don’t have anything comparable in New Zealand. Also, I am sad to say that I’ve never had Banana Pudding but I’m sure I’d like it.
Peabody says
@Morven- Banana pudding is definitely a states thing. But with some Bird’s custard I bet you could make it.
Liz S. says
I have a lot to say on this issue (100% on your side), but let me just say HERE that you’ve inspired me so much over all of these years – I hope you do know that. You’re the one who virtually taught me how to bake before I even started my own blog. So grateful we still keep in touch after all these years. You’re a rare, honest, passionate blogger, Peabody.
Peabody says
@liz- you and I will stay connected our whole lives…I feel that. But at least we can say blogging brought us together. 🙂
Katrina says
Love this post. And your blog. Please stick around.
Peabody says
@Katrina- I’m sticking around, no worries, though there is a rumor (that I’m starting) that my blog name may change. 🙂
DessertForTwo says
I’m so with you! It’s so refreshing to hear your perspective.
I started blogging over 6 years ago because I just really wanted to share ‘for two’ recipes. And if it all goes away and I don’t make a dime from it? Well, I’ll still do it because I enjoy it. I’ll have to go get a day job, sure, but I’ll still make mini foods and take photos on the weekends. It’s my love in life…kinda like banana pudding 😉
xo
Peabody says
@Christina- yes, you have always said you aren’t sure you would always be doing this (on a professional level) and I think people find that odd (I don’t at all) because it seems like the end goal now with so many people in food blogging is that it be there only job.
Erika says
Well if it makes you feel better my blog gets no comments and I have zero real followers despite doing it for 6 years (damn, has it been that long). I don’t do it for any other reason than to please myself. It helps me remember my kitchen creations and retain recipes by others that I have tried and liked. The pictures, when I remember to take them, are terrible and I have no sponsors or advertisements. The plus side of this is that there are no annoying pop ups and and the page loads instantly, lol! It also helps me to easily share recipes with friends who ask for them. Bottom line, if it makes you happy and you enjoy it, keep doing it.
Peabody says
@Erika- but you do it because you love it and you have a place to have your recipes.
Carolyn says
Pretty sure I will be doing some sort of “blogging” for the rest of my life. But it may change and evolve and I will change and evolve with it. I am just happy I get to do it and that my readers love it so much! I am curious how it will change but I’d need a fortune teller to say that!
Peabody says
@Carolyn if we knew how it was going to change you can I could be billionaires 🙂
stephanie says
So… that means I’ve been obsessed with reading recipes online for 11 years. Wow. You were one of my first and will always remain. I do wish it was the old days – people who blogged about food and life out of their own passion. Some blogs post a recipe every single day and come on… how can you hit it out of the park every single time? Most of their comments seem to be other bloggers just trying to create a network. I loved getting real food, reviews, tips, etc. I am not a blogger, and of course I know you have to support yourself, but the best blogs are the ones that are honest and true, not heavily commercialized. There is a balance. Good thing you’re still around.
Peabody says
@Stephanie- it does seem that there are some passionless blogs out there. And you so can’t hit it out of the ballpark. I used to do three times a week no matter what. But as the years went by that got a little harder. I have no idea how some make something every day…or afford to make something every day!
Suzanne Ansari says
Hi Peabody! I’ve been following your blog since idk when. Back when PW was just a blogger, too. The Picky Palate, Noble Pig, etc. In fact, I have a board on my Pinterest titled “food bloggers I follow”. I love you all, and you guys inspire me! Keep up the good food!
Peabody says
@Suzanne- thanks for being a loyal follower!
Intisar Bashir says
Long time follower, don’t comment often, just wanted to let you know I appreciate what you do!
Cakespy says
Wow, this was very thought provoking for me – I am going to write more at a later date, but for now suffice it to say that as usual your writing resonates with me. I am keeping my blog too because I love it. And I love you! AND I LOVE THIS DIP. <3 <3
Ed Gould says
Little known fact. Growing up Banana Pudding was my favorite desert. Haven’t had it in 40 years. Next time mom and I come to visit I’m expecting Banana Pudding. Don’t know about the cream cheese, though.
Dad
annie says
Blogging may not be around forever, but banana pudding sure will!
I think that VH1 will make a “I love the 2010’s!” and people will laugh about how everyone had blog.
I love-love-love my blog, but I definitely don’t make it a priority. I do it because it’s fun and because I love any excuse to play in the kitchen. I also find that connecting with other bloggers can be satisfying and inspiring. Like, “hey, this person is doing something really cool with their life. you go girl!” I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
lynn @ the actor's diet says
Love this post. I’ve been blogging for almost 7 years now and the ups/downs of it can feel so lonely, especially since I feel like blogging was initially a community, and is now a business. Come to the video side! It’s not too scary, I promise.
Alice says
I try to comment every time I read a post just so you know I’m still here! Even if it’s just to say yummy. And I’ve been craving banana pudding lately. I would love to try this dip with my toddlers and see how much of a fun mess they can make! I’ll have to send you a picture.
Mary Ellen says
Glad you are still blogging, I check in frequently and appreciate your thoughts and recipes. This one looks amazing. I also just read your post about the Sweet 16 invite (really, people are too much). I laughed out loud because I recently uncovered, in my basement, the Apple with the face on it that rocks back and forth. It’s in great condition, got a sprucing up and will be making my grandson very happy. Have a good weekend.