Banana Commander Pudding at the Ape Living retreat in Costa Rica

Blessed to share some Banana Commander Pudding from a past Ape Living Retreat in Costa Rica!

I had a real blast cheffing and enjoying at the 2017 Ape Living retreat with Zander, aka the Great White Ape, and everyone else!

It was a truly immersive experience diving deeper into our roots than most dare to go. 

To the Recipe!

Banana pudding is a very calorie-dense, simple, and filling meal that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. I find it especially useful when someone is struggling to consume enough calories overall or has difficulty eating large volumes. Feel free to make a bigger batch of this recipe or try different types of bananas or ripe plantains. Below is one big banana commander serving or 2 smaller ones!

Banana Commander Pudding

8 Bananas (2 lb / 920 g)

Sultana raisins (1/2 cup / 80 g)

Cinnamon to taste

Optional add-ins:

Carob or cacao powder, strips of young coconut jelly, cubed or shredded Apples/Jackfruit/Dates/Mamey/Pears/Persimmons/Figs, shredded Fennel, Cacao nibs and more!

Directions:

Squish 75% of the bananas with your hands in a big bowl and slice the remaining bananas. Mix in the remaining ingredients, including any optional additions, and serve this delicious sweet treat!

I hope you LOVE the pudding. This simple base recipe has been a game-changer for so many people, and you can switch it up by adding in any of the optional ingredients or by getting creative with your own additions.

Banana Commander Pudding Magic!

The magic of Banana Commander Pudding is in its simplicity and flexibility. Bananas provide the creamy base and natural sweetness, raisins add chewy texture and extra minerals, and cinnamon brings that warm comfort food vibe we all crave. The best part? You can make this as basic or as fancy as you want, depending on what you have on hand and what you’re craving.

Make It Your Own

Some of my favorite variations include adding cubed apples for crunch, young coconut jelly for extra creaminess, or jackfruit for that bubblegum-like sweetness. Dates make it even sweeter and more decadent, while mamey adds a rich tropical twist. Pears and persimmons work beautifully when they’re in season, and if you want a bit of chocolate flavor, a shake of carob or cacao does the trick without weighing you down.

Fennel might sound weird, but trust me, when you shred the fennel and stir it into the banana pudding, it’s seriously like a Banana Fennel Rice Pudding. The slight licorice flavor of fennel pairs surprisingly well with banana, and as a bonus, fennel is crazy nutritious and a great addition to the diet. On the other hand, if you want some crunch, add cacao nibs or shredded coconut, both AMAZING. The point is to experiment and find what YOU love.

Travel Hack: Ghetto Pudding

I sometimes make this recipe by peeling bananas into a plastic bag and squishing them with my hands through the bag, then biting off a corner and squishing it straight into my mouth. Sometimes called “Ghetto Pudding“… useful in a pinch or while traveling! Not fancy, but it gets the job done when you need quick fuel and don’t have access to a kitchen.

Perfect for Retreats and Anyone Hungry!

This pudding has become a staple at my raw food retreats because it’s filling, satisfying, and keeps people energized for hours. It’s hearty enough to feel like a real meal but light enough that you’re not weighed down. People who think raw food can’t be filling or comforting always change their tune after trying this one.

I really hope you enjoy the Banana Commander Pudding recipe and consider taking a leap with us toward a future raw food retreat 🙂