You’ll also like Bourbon Buttermilk Pie and Easy Cream Cheese Pound Cake. Southern Banana Pudding Cake takes all the best things about banana pudding and combines them with cake. Seriously …what could be better than that?!?! If you love banana pudding you’ll love this cake.
What is Banana Pudding?
Traditionally banana pudding is made by layering sliced bananas, vanilla wafer cookies, vanilla pudding or banana flavored pudding, and topping the whole thing off with mounds of fluffy whipped cream. It’s usually made in advance and given plenty of time to chill in the fridge. The longer the dessert sits, the more the cookies begin to absorb the pudding. When you take your first bite and taste the soft and creamy, banana-studded layers, you will understand what all the fuss is about. So why mess with something that’s already so good? Because this banana cake recipe takes all the goodness of the traditional southern recipe and elevates it to a whole new level. As a bonus, this cake has that WOW factor that you don’t get with classic banana pudding.
Why Make This Recipe
It’s SO easy to make. Boxed cake and pudding mixes are the secrets to this easy banana pudding cake. The cake will be done in under an hour.You don’t need fancy tools. We will give you instructions to pipe the frosting, but you don’t need to run out and by a piping bag. Simply snip the end off of a plastic bag!You’ll have bragging rights. Go ahead and print out a few extra copies of this recipe because everyone will be singing your praises and asking for the recipe. It tastes great. Not only is this a pretty cake, but it is super delicious too!
Ready to learn just how easy it is to make this delectable southern dessert? Gather up those ingredients and I will show you….
How To Make Homemade Banana Pudding Cake
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Lightly oil or spray cake tins with cooking spray and set aside and preheat oven to 325 degrees F / 160 degrees C.Combine the ingredients for the cake batter (vanilla cake mix, flour, sugar, salt, eggs, water, vegetable oil, sour cream, vanilla extract and instant banana pudding mix ) in a large bowl and divide it into three round prepared pans. Bake them for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.While the cakes are baking, prepare the pudding filling mixture ( cool whip whipped topping, whole milk, vanilla instant pudding mix and banana slices ) and refrigerate it until needed.Whip the ingredients for the frosting and set aside.Let cakes cool completely before layering and frosting the cake and topping with crushed vanilla wafers.
How To Create This Beautiful Layered Cake
Place one of the cake layers onto a serving platter.Use a pastry brush to spread the cake with half of the milk mixture.Cover the cake with a layer of vanilla wafers.Spread on half of the pudding mixture.Top the pudding with a layer of banana slices.Repeat the process finishing with a layer of cake that is ready to be frosted. Frost the cake and then garnish with crushed nilla wafers
Expert Tips
Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.Flat layers of cake will work best. If your cake layers have domes, use a serrated knife or a cake level to level them. A pastry bag will help create beautiful dollops of frosting. Cut the corner off of a plastic storage bag if you do not have a pastry bag.If you prefer you can serve this with fresh banana slices on top, Cut them just before serving.This dessert gets better with time, so make it a day ahead of time.To prevent your fresh bananas turning brown, slice just before using and squeeze on some lemon juice.Make sure the frosting is easily spreadable.
Pro Tip: place several Nilla Wafers in a Ziploc bag, crush them with a rolling pin, and use to garnish the finished cake.
Delicious Variations
You can use yellow cake mix or white cake mix if you prefer.use half vanilla pudding mix if you prefer but you will get less of a banana flavor.You could use a sweet cream cheese frosting if you prefer.I love studding mini chocolate chips into the frosting for effect and flavor.Feel free to add some shredded coconut to the filling and sprinkle on to the frosting.
Prep Ahead and Storage
Prep Ahead – you can bake the cake 2-3 days ahead of time, prepare the filling and frosting a day in advance, and store in an airtight container in the fridge until needed.
FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Banana pudding cake is a classic summertime dessert that is perfect for serving up with classic barbecue dishes like:
Smoked Chicken Wings.Easy Southern Coleslaw.Instant Pot Collard Greens.
More Southern Recipes
Southern Grapes Salad.Shrimp Creole.Southern Squash Casserole.Candied Sweet Potatoes.Southern Salmon Croquettes.Pea Salad.Easy Southern Butter Beans.Southern Fried Pork Chops.
Thank you for reading my Banana Pudding Cake recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. Originally published April 2020.
