Banana Pudding Cheesecake Cake

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Sure! Here’s a long, in-depth recipe for Banana Pudding Cheesecake Cake, complete with history, formation, detailed ingredients, methods, instructions, and more. This dessert is a true Southern showstopper—perfect for banana pudding lovers and cheesecake enthusiasts alike.

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Cake

Introduction

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Cake is a decadent fusion of two beloved Southern desserts: banana pudding and cheesecake. This hybrid masterpiece is a three-layer dream made of moist banana cake, rich banana cheesecake, and creamy banana pudding, all crowned with fluffy whipped topping and crushed vanilla wafers. It’s a celebration dessert—meant to impress at family gatherings, birthdays, church picnics, or holidays. Its sweet, nostalgic flavor is comfort food at its finest, blending creamy textures with banana-rich goodness in every bite.

History & Formation

Banana pudding originated in the United States in the late 1800s, popularized through cookbooks and Southern households. Over time, it evolved into a refrigerator-friendly dish layered with vanilla wafers, banana slices, and whipped cream or meringue.

Cheesecake, dating back to Ancient Greece, gained widespread popularity in the U.S. by the 20th century, especially New York-style cheesecake. The combination of these two iconic desserts brings together the creamy depth of cheesecake with the light, familiar warmth of banana pudding.

The formation of this dessert is simple yet elegant:

  1. A banana-flavored cake base.
  2. A banana cheesecake layer.
  3. A layer of fresh banana pudding.
  4. Topped with whipped cream and crushed wafers for that perfect crunch.

Ingredients

Banana Cake Layer

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp banana extract (optional but recommended)
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 3 ripe bananas (mashed)

Banana Cheesecake Layer

  • 16 oz (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp banana extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ ripe banana (mashed for flavor)

Banana Pudding Layer

  • 1 (3.4 oz) package instant banana pudding mix
  • 1 ½ cups cold milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 ripe bananas (sliced thin)
  • 20-25 vanilla wafers

Topping

  • 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Crushed vanilla wafers
  • Optional: caramel drizzle or banana chips for garnish

Instructions & Methods

Step 1: Make the Cheesecake Layer (Prepare 1 day ahead if needed)

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and lightly grease sides.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
  3. Add sugar, sour cream, banana extract, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing gently to avoid overbeating.
  5. Mix in the mashed banana.
  6. Pour into prepared pan and smooth the top.
  7. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until center is just set.
  8. Turn off the oven, crack the door, and let the cheesecake sit for 1 hour.
  9. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Step 2: Make the Banana Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, oil, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla and banana extract.
  5. Mix in mashed bananas.
  6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Do not overmix.
  7. Divide batter between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes.
  8. Cool for 10 minutes in pans, then turn out to cool completely.

Step 3: Make the Banana Pudding

  1. Whisk pudding mix and cold milk until thickened (about 2 minutes).
  2. Fold in whipped cream gently to lighten the pudding.
  3. Cover and chill until ready to assemble.

Step 4: Make the Whipped Topping

  1. In a cold mixing bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
  2. Chill until needed.

Assembly

  1. Level cake layers if needed.
  2. Place the first banana cake layer on a serving plate or cake board.
  3. Spread a thin layer of whipped topping. Add a layer of banana slices and a few crushed wafers.
  4. Gently place the cheesecake layer on top.
  5. Spread the banana pudding evenly over the cheesecake layer, then top with banana slices and crushed wafers.
  6. Add the final banana cake layer.
  7. Frost the entire cake with whipped cream topping.
  8. Decorate the top with crushed wafers, banana slices, or optional caramel drizzle.

Chill Before Serving

  • Let the fully assembled cake chill in the refrigerator for 4–6 hours, or preferably overnight, so all the layers set and the flavors can marry beautifully.

Lovers of This Dessert

This dessert is adored by:

  • Banana pudding lovers for its classic flavor.
  • Cheesecake fans for the creamy richness.
  • Southern home bakers for its nostalgic roots.
  • Celebration hosts for its showstopping presence.
  • Layer cake enthusiasts who appreciate texture and flavor contrasts.

Conclusion

The Banana Pudding Cheesecake Cake is more than a dessert—it’s a celebration of everything cozy, creamy, and comforting. Whether served at a Sunday supper or a special event, it delivers unforgettable taste and texture. With its rich banana flavor, silky cheesecake, and light pudding layers, it’s a dessert that turns heads and wins hearts. So gather your ingredients, block off your schedule, and prepare to create a masterpiece that banana dessert lovers will talk about for years to come.

Let love and banana pudding unite in every delicious forkful!

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