New York Style Banana Pudding Cheesecake

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Sure! Here’s a big, rich, detailed recipe for a New York Style Banana Pudding Cheesecake—including history, formation, ingredients, methods, instructions, and even a sweet nod to banana pudding lovers like you!

🍌 New York Style Banana Pudding Cheesecake 🍰

The creamy collision of Southern charm and Big Apple indulgence.

🕰️ A Brief History & Formation

Banana pudding, a Southern classic, has long been a staple at picnics, church potlucks, and family dinners. Made with layers of vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and Nilla Wafers, it represents comfort, sweetness, and nostalgia.

New York cheesecake, by contrast, is bold and unapologetically rich, made famous in the early 20th century by Jewish delicatessens and diners. Its velvety texture comes from copious amounts of cream cheese, eggs, and a slow bake in a water bath.

So what happens when the creamy charm of banana pudding meets the dense grandeur of New York cheesecake?

💥 Fusion Perfection: New York Style Banana Pudding Cheesecake is born. Imagine layers of banana custard, luscious cream cheese filling, crunchy vanilla wafer crust, and whipped cream clouds. It’s the dessert equivalent of a long, sweet Southern kiss in Times Square.

🍌 Ingredients

Crust:

  • 2 ½ cups crushed Nilla Wafers (about 60 cookies)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • Pinch of salt

Banana Pudding Layer:

  • 1 (3.4 oz) box instant banana pudding mix
  • 1 ½ cups cold milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Cheesecake Layer:

  • 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup mashed banana (very ripe)
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Topping:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Sliced bananas and crushed Nilla Wafers for garnish

🥄 Method & Instructions

🔥 Step 1: Make the Crust

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Combine crushed Nilla Wafers, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
  3. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan (wrap the outside with foil if using a water bath).
  4. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool.

🍌 Step 2: Prepare Banana Pudding Layer

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and cold milk until thickened.
  2. Add mashed banana, vanilla, and heavy cream. Beat until smooth.
  3. Set aside in the fridge to firm up while you make the cheesecake batter.

🧀 Step 3: Make Cheesecake Batter

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth (about 2 minutes).
  2. Add sugar and beat until fluffy.
  3. Mix in mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla, and flour.
  4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just until incorporated—don’t overmix.

🏗️ Step 4: Assemble & Bake

  1. Pour half the cheesecake batter over the crust.
  2. Dollop spoonfuls of banana pudding, swirl gently.
  3. Pour the rest of the cheesecake batter on top.
  4. Place springform pan in a roasting pan. Add hot water halfway up the sides (water bath).
  5. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the center is just set but slightly wobbly.
  6. Turn oven off and crack the door. Let cheesecake cool in oven for 1 hour.
  7. Chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

🍦 Step 5: Topping Time

  1. Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks.
  2. Pipe or spread on top of chilled cheesecake.
  3. Garnish with banana slices and crushed Nilla Wafers.

💛 Lovers of Banana Pudding Rejoice!

This cheesecake is a love letter to everyone who:

  • Scoops extra banana pudding just to get more cookies.
  • Loves cheesecake but wishes it had a fruity twist.
  • Wants their dessert to be decadent, nostalgic, and photogenic all at once.

It’s for the grandma who made pudding from scratch.
For the New Yorker who knows no boundaries when it comes to dessert.
For you—the home baker who dares to dream with bananas, cream, and a springform pan.

📝 Conclusion

This New York Style Banana Pudding Cheesecake isn’t just a dessert—it’s a celebration of two culinary heritages brought together in creamy, dreamy harmony. Whether you’re sharing it with family at Sunday dinner or showcasing it at a holiday potluck, this cheesecake is sure to steal the show.

Bake it with love. Serve it with pride. Eat it with joy.

Would you like a smaller version or a sugar-free twist next?

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