1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, melted butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until a dough forms.
3. Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Allow to cool.
4. While the crust cools, prepare the banana pudding by whisking together the pudding mix and cold milk in a large bowl for about 2 minutes. Let it set for another 5 minutes until thickened.
5. Spread the banana pudding evenly over the cooled crust, then layer with sliced bananas.
6. Top with whipped cream, smoothing it out with a spatula for an even layer.
7. Sprinkle the crushed vanilla wafers over the top for a bit of crunch.
8. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the bars to set before slicing and serving.

These steps are simple enough to fit into a busy schedule, and the result is a dessert that’ll have you coming back for seconds – trust me, it happens every time at our table!