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Banana Pudding Cheesecake (+Video)
Combine two fantastic dessert flavors‚ classic banana pudding with a creamy cheesecake with this super easy Banana Pudding Cheesecake recipe!
AN EASY BANANA CHEESECAKE RECIPE
My family is absolutely nuts about cheesecake and we are absolutely bonkers about my recipe for Banana Pudding‚Â so when I set about creating a new cheesecake recipe‚ I knew it had to be Banana Pudding inspired! Don’t let making your own cheesecake make you nervous. This Banana Pudding Cheesecake recipe is super easy and has some helpful hacks. All you need are 6 ingredients. This is the perfect dessert for weeknights but is still special enough for special occasions and holidays.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Can I use a vanilla wafer crust? I looked everywhere for one of those premade Nilla Wafer crusts. None of my local stores seem to carry them right now. But if you can find them near you‚ I think it would taste wonderful with this recipe instead of a graham cracker crust. I use them in my Mini Banana Pudding Cheesecakes and make a homemade Nilla wafer crust so you could do that too. Just remember though that this particular recipe is made for a larger pie crust so you’ll have filling leftover when you use a smaller crust. What other crust options can I try? You can use whatever crust you like. I think a chocolate pie crust would be another fun variation‚ kind of giving off the chocolate covered banana flavors. Can I add even more banana flavor? Sure! If you’re a banana lover‚ you may want to add some small banana chunks to your cheesecake batter. You could also roast some bananas and add them as well. Just keep in mind that bananas brown and can throw off the color of this cheesecake if you aren’t eating the whole thing immediately. Help! Why did my cheesecake crack? I don’t ever have that problem with this recipe but generally this happens when a cheesecake is cooked too fast. This is why I have it baking at a low temperature (300F degrees.) Also‚ if a cheesecake is over baked‚ it will dry out and you’ll get cracks. You do not need a water bath with this recipe but you are more than welcome to use one if that is your preference. How to store leftover Banana Cheesecake? For best results‚ store leftover cheesecake in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap and foil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
large graham cracker crust – you want to get the larger 10-inch crust. See my ingredient image below.
cream cheese– use the full fat cream cheese for the best flavor and to help set the cheesecake properly. I have a great post on how to soften cream cheese fast. Please note: cream cheese should be softened and not at the melting stage.
banana cream instant pudding– don’t mess up and get the Cook N Serve version or your dessert won’t turn out correctly. That kind needs to be cooked first before it will set up. You could also use the sugar free version.
eggs – if you have time‚ allow them to come to room temperature. This helps them mix into the cheesecake batter much easier.
sugar – you can use a sugar substitute here if you prefer.
Nilla wafers – you can use the minis if you prefer. Also‚ I think it’s important to use the brand name Nilla Wafers here. Normally I will usually say that the store brand is fine for most products but I have found that they just don’t come close to the original. However‚ if there is one you know you like‚ then that is fine to go with.
HOW TO MAKE BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE:
Preheat oven to 300F degrees. In the bowl of your stand mixer (or using a handheld electric mixer)‚ combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth (about 2 minutes on medium speed.) Add in eggs and mix until combined.
Add the powdered instant pudding to the cream cheese mixture. If you are using a stand mixer‚ it’s really important that you scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl often. Mix until combined. Batter will be thick.Â
Gently stir the Nilla wafers into the cheesecake batter. You want to leave some of them chunky so that you’ll see bits of wafer in the cheesecake when you cut into it.
Spread batter into graham cracker crust. Bake in the oven for about 55-60 minutes. It’ll be a bit puffy when you first take it out of the oven. Don’t worry‚ it’ll all settle down as it cools. Allow cheesecake to cool for several hours in the fridge before serving.Â
A great way to serve this is to top each slice with a little squirt of whipped cream and a slice of banana and vanilla wafer on top.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Mini Banana Pudding CheesecakesButter Pecan CheesecakeNew York Banana Cream Pie (+Video)Banana Pudding Poke CakeThe Best Banana BreadNew York CheesecakeBanana Pudding Cookies
Originally published: June 2012Updated and republished: February 2024
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Banana Pudding Cheesecake
This Banana Pudding Cheesecake is an easy recipe with our favorite banana pudding in cheesecake form!
Course DessertCuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 1 hour hourTotal Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 616kcal
Author Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ingredients1 premade large graham cracker crust (2 extra servings size)2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese‚ softened to room temperature3.4 ounce box banana cream instant pudding2 large eggs½ cup sugar15 vanilla wafers‚ chopped
InstructionsPreheat oven to 300F degrees.In the bowl of your stand mixer (or using a handheld electric mixer)‚ combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth (about 2 minutes on medium speed). Add in eggs and mix until combined. Add the powdered instant banana pudding to the cream cheese mixture. If you are using a stand mixer‚ it's really important that you scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl often. Mix until combined. Batter will be thick.Put vanilla wafers into ziploc bag‚ and crush using your hands or a rolling pin. You want to leave some of them chunky so that you'll see bits of wafer in the cheesecake when you cut into it. Gently fold the wafers into the cheesecake batter. Spread batter into graham cracker crust. Bake in the oven for about 55-60 minutes. It'll be a bit puffy when you first take it out of the oven but will settle down as it cools. Allow cheesecake to cool for several hours in the fridge before serving.
Video
Notes
Top each slice with a little squirt of whipped cream and a slice of banana and vanilla wafer on top.
Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
NutritionCalories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 37g | Sodium: 559mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 42g