Southern Banana Pudding Cake

banana pudding cake with nilla wafers and banana slices.

4.84 from 6 votes

Southern Banana Pudding Cake

You are going to love this southern banana pudding cake. Made from a doctored-up boxed cake mix and filled with banana pudding before being covered in a homemade whipped cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time1

Cook Time30

Total Time1 30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: slices

Calories: 353kcal

Author: Nicole Durham

Cost: Recipe $9.95 / Serving $0.62

Equipment

Ingredients

Cake

4 ripe bananas ($1.00)
1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix ($1.00)
3 large eggs ($0.45)
¼ cup vegetable oil ($0.18)
1 box (3.4 ounces) banana instant pudding mix ($0.83)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract ($0.09)

Filling

1 box (3.4 ounces) banana instant pudding mix ($0.83)
2 cups milk ($0.40)

Frosting

1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened ($1.86)
1 cup powdered sugar ($0.36)
1 pinch salt ($0.02)
1 ¼ cups heavy whipping cream ($2.23)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.03)

Decorations

Nilla Wafer cookies ($0.42)
ripe bananas, sliced ($0.25)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of two 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Make Batter. In a large bowl, beat the bananas until smooth. Add the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, dry pudding mix, and vanilla extract. Mix just until combined.
Bake. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. Remove parchment and level the cakes once cooled.
Make Filling. Prepare the banana pudding according to package directions. Refrigerate until chilled.
Make Frosting. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and salt just until combined. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Gently beat the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream just until smooth.
Assemble. Place one cake layer on a serving surface. Pipe a frosting border around the edge and fill the center with chilled pudding, spreading evenly. Top with the second cake layer. Chill for 1 hour if needed for stability.
Frost. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting and chill if desired. Frost the cake with a thicker final layer, smoothing the sides and top.
Decorate. Press crushed Nilla Wafers onto the sides. Top with sliced bananas and whole cookies just before serving.
Serve. Slice and serve.

Notes

Frosting Texture. Overmixing cream cheese can cause the frosting to loosen. Mix only until combined.
Make Ahead. Cake layers can be baked and frozen ahead of time. Thaw before assembling.
Storage. Store the assembled cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Alternate Frosting. For a more stable option, mix 1 box cheesecake flavored instant pudding with 1 cup milk and let set. Beat with 1 quart whipped cream until combined. Keep refrigerated.

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