The pudding is flavored with ripe bananas, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and it's naturally sweetened with a little maple syrup. It turns out thick, creamy, rich, sweet, and fruity all at once.

For banana pudding that's even more thick, silky, and luxurious with a creamy and complex taste, it's time to add an extra dairy ingredient.

Classic banana pudding is a thing of beauty: ... With motor running, add one 8-oz. package cream cheese, room temperature, about 2 oz. at a time, mixing until incorporated before adding more; ...

For the pudding, you will first need cottage cheese, and you can choose any percent fat you prefer. You'll also need ripe bananas, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and cinnamon.