No-Sugar-Added Banana Cream Pie Parfaits
These Banana Cream Pie Parfaits are a scrumptious, natural, low sugar, snack for the family.
Creamy, Homemade No- Sugar- Added, banana flavored pudding is layered between cookie crumbles using my grain free, sugar free vanilla wafers all in a perfect travel size mason jar for an easy grab-n-go snack for the kids!
When you’ve got kids who are in a gazillion activities and you’re pretty much on the go most days of the week, snacks can be a help or a hindrance. Too many snacks destroy dinner plans.
My philosophy is that although I eat completely sugar -free and very low carb, I don’t force my kids to eat this way because they are still growing and don’t need such a low carb diet as I do to be at a normal weight.
With that being said, I limit their snacks to low sugar options and/or which only have natural sugars. I also prefer not to give them any artificial sweeteners that most often come in sugar-free packaged puddings.
This requires me to constantly make my own snacks for them since most packaged type snacks are full of sugars and artificial colors and flavors. But I also don’t want to be slaving in the kitchen all day making snacks. I need convenience and this recipes hits the mark for that!
My kids have been asking me for a banana cream pie for some time now. I rarely make pies except for special occasions, like this Lemon Cream Pie, but good options for snacks is more what we need around here. Since I’ve just partnered with Horizon Organic to provide low sugar recipes for the family, I knew I had to create an adaption for a “pie” recipe for my kids.
They were in love in one bite!
The vanilla wafer crumbles are the perfect solution to creating that “pie” type feeling and taste made in a jar!
You don’t need the whipped cream if you are on the run and grabbing these for a car ride to a soccer game, dance class or music lesson! Simply cover each jar in the fridge and attach a spoon to the side of the jar with an elastic band and your kids are good to go!
Thank you to Horizon for partnering with me to bring you Low Sugar Snacks for Children!
Brenda’s Notes:
- I did not include the banana slices between pudding layers in my nutrition info for those of us who eat lower carb. There is enough banana flavor in the pudding and the vanilla wafer crumbles is perfect between the layers. I do feel in order for it to be a parfait though you do need to include my sugar-free vanilla wafers as the cookie crumbles. If you use another cookie the nutrition info will change. I did not include the whipped cream in the nutrition info.
- Just to compare the amount of sugar in Jell-O Instant Banana Cream Pudding referencing caloriecount.com, one serving has 18 grams of sugar, no fiber at all and 23 grams of total carbs. I think my recipe is a much better option!
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Mini No-Sugar-Added Banana Cream Pie Parfaits
Ingredients
- 4 cups Horizon Organic whole milk
- 2 cups Horizon Half & Half
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup guar gum or use arrowroot powder or xanthan gum
- 1/2 cup Swerve sweetener or another sugar free granulated sub
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla liquid stevia
- 1 tsp banana extract
- 1 cup crumbled sugar-free vanilla wafers about 12
- Optional: 1 banana sliced 1 cup Horizon Heavy cream, more cookie crumbles
Instructions
- In a large pot mix together the whole milk and half and half.
- Remove 1 cup and place in a sauce pan.
- Bring the whole milk and half and half and heat on low.
- While that is heating add the yolks, guar gum, Swerve and salt to another sauce pan. Mix well and bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes.
- Pour the yolk mixture into the large pot of milk and cream and increase to medium heat.
- Whisk constantly, pour in the vanilla extract, vanilla stevia and banana extract. Continue to whisk until mixture thickens to pudding consistency, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, pour into a bowl and cover a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding so a skin does not form. Allow to cool.
To Assemble:
- Place one tablespoon of cookie crumbles into bottom of each mason jar.
- Spoon in 1/4 cup pudding over crumbles.
- If using banana, layer 3 slices of banana over pudding.
- Sprinkle another tablespoon of cookie crumbles.
- Finish with 1/4 cup more of pudding.
- Top with whipped cream and more cookie crumbles if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Doing Keto here, can you sub heavy/whipping cream (unwhipped, obviously) for the whole milk and half & half? Seems like that would up the fat content and reduce the carbs a bit. Thoughts?
Thanks.
Sure that would work.
Would the Xanthan gum be the same amount as the guar gum, I have never used either as this is a new lifestyle for my family weaning off the processed foods (and I have the Xanthan currently)
Yes it would work.
This looks so delicious! Banana Cream Pie is one of my favorites <3
love how you made a healthy treat for your kids with milk. So good
Oh, Sister! You are preaching to the choir with having to make convenient yet healthier snacks for busy kids. My boys would LOVE these parfaits. Great idea!
What a great snack idea! I know my kids would love these!
Yum! My mom used to make us Banana Cream Pie, but now that I think of it, I’m not sure I ever made it for my kids! This would be a yummy way for them to try it.
Do you think I could use vanilla extract to make it a vanilla pudding and then add in the banana slices for the banana flavor? Some of my kids would prefer a little less banana flavor.
Yes absolutely! You can skip the banana extract and just use the vanilla extract then add in those slices. My kids prefer the sliced bananas in the center between the layers.
Yum! I love banana cream pie. These parfait a sound so yummy!
could this be made with non fat milk?
I am not sure how the consistency would be using a non fat milk.
Yes, yes! this travel size idea is perfect for on the go for my kids and myself too.
These look incredible! Pre-packaged pudding is just gross. I mean, it’s incredibly delicious but the ingredients make me want to cry. I’d so much rather have these parfaits! I’ll take mine without the cream. I don’t want anything getting in the way of that pudding. 😉