Banana Pudding is one of my favorite southern desserts and I love experimenting with it.
From straight up banana pudding to banana pudding pancakes, banana pudding bars, and banana pudding cupcakes. Just about any dessert can be given some banana pudding love!
This Banana Pudding Cake contains 3 layers of cake flavored with mashed ripe banana. In between the layers of cake is really where all the pudding goodness comes in. Layers of Nilla wafers, fresh banana slices, and a thick and creamy pudding mixture made from a box of instant vanilla pudding, cream cheese, and heavy cream.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 box vanilla cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
- 1 (3.4 oz) box vanilla pudding
- 2 c. cold milk
- 1/2 c. cool whip
- 2 Bananas, sliced
- 1 1/2 c. butter, softened
- 5 c. powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 c. crushed Nilla wafers
- Whole Nilla Wafers, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line two round 9" cake pans with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray. Prepare cake mix according to package instructions. Divide batter between cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cakes cool for 10 minutes in pans then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Make pudding: In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip.
- Make butterceam: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, combine butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Add remaining sugar and heavy cream and beat until smooth.
- Assemble cake: Using a serrated knife, cut off the rounded top of each cake to level. Top one cake with a thick layer of pudding then top with most banana slices. (Reserve some to garnish.) Place second cake on top and frost entire cake with buttercream, reserving about 1 cup to pipe on top. Press crushed Nilla wafers around the sides of the cake.
- Transfer remaining buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe large swirls around the top of the cake. Decorate with Nilla wafers and more banana slices.
