I Tried Meghan Markle's Chantilly Lili Recipe, and It's a Summer Dessert I Crave

Published on June 25, 2025

Banana pudding and strawberry shortcake are two of my go-to summer desserts. They're fresh, nostalgic, and total crowd-pleasers. When I saw that Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, had created a dessert based on her grandmother's banana pudding recipe, I had to try it. I expected something that was reminiscent of the classic, but it was her unexpected tropical topping that took this dish from familiar to unforgettable.

How to Make Chantilly Lili

The Duchess of Sussex named the dessert in honor of her daughter, Princess Lilibet. Here are the basic steps to make 6 individual servings of this layered dessert.

1. Start by making a homemade vanilla pudding. Whisk cornstarch with whole milk in a medium saucepan. Next, add in sugar and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick. Whisk in butter, vanilla bean paste, and salt. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. Chill for at least two hours, up to two days.
2. A couple of hours before you're ready to assemble the dessert, toss sliced strawberries with lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar. Set the fruit aside to macerate.
3. Make a batch of Chantilly cream by whipping heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add in just a touch of sugar and vanilla bean paste.
4. Assemble the dessert by adding a dollop of chilled pudding to the glass. Layer on sliced bananas and another spoonful of pudding. Next, add the macerated berries and cover with more pudding. Finish with a dollop of Chantilly cream, finely crushed vanilla wafers, and passion fruit seeds. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Tips for Making Chantilly Lili at Home

Keep these tips in mind when trying this strawberry dessert at home.

• When testing this recipe, we made the vanilla pudding two days before we served the dish. It held up beautifully in the fridge and makes the day-of assembly very easy. It's delicious all on its own, too.
• Our recipe tasters wished there were more cookie crumbs on the finished dish. We recommend adding a layer of the crumbs when assembling the dish.
• Slice the bananas just before you start assembling the dish so they don't turn brown.
• We all loved the passion fruit topper. It gave the dish a slightly tart, tropical finish that perfectly complemented the sweet pudding. However, we also tried the dessert without the passion fruit seeds, and it was equally delicious.
• You could easily layer the ingredients into a trifle dish for one large family-style serving if you prefer.

The Verdict on Meghan Markle's Chantilly Lili Recipe

Where to begin with how delicious this dessert is? I loved the velvety vanilla pudding (the recipe is a total keeper on its own), citrusy strawberries, and whipped cream, but I think the most surprisingly delicious ingredient was the passion fruit seeds on top. With the addition of the passion fruit, it became the perfect mashup of tropical flavors and vanilla cream—a combination I didn't know I needed. I adored this dessert and can't wait to make it again.