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Banana Pudding Cake

ByMelissa February 9, 2014July 3, 2023

This mile high Banana Pudding Cake recipe is an absolute dream to make and serve. Three tall layers of vanilla cake are sandwiched together with an easy banana pudding filling then frosted with plenty of whipped cream. Garnish with Nilla wafers then chill until serving to allow the cake to set. It’s simply glorious.

Easy Mile High Banana Pudding Cake Recipe

I have a confession. I’m slightly obsessed with banana pudding. I think Southern babies cut their teeth on vanilla wafers. You heard it here first. I can tell you that every cook in my family has made a variety of banana pudding recipes. Because of this, I love to figure out new ways to make it in a variety of forms. My Banana Pudding Cupcakes, Banana Pudding Pound Cake and Banana Pudding Dip are fan favorites. It’s fun, it’s challenging and most importantly it’s delicious! This banana pudding layer cake is a show stopper and amazingly delicious.

How to Make the Best Banana Pudding Cake Recipe

This banana pudding layer cake is the result of one of my banana pudding experiments gone right. It’s a dessert rock star. This 3-layer version is tall, and I mean, skyscraper tall. It’s an impressive addition to your dessert table.

What you’ll need to make the cake layers for a Banana Pudding Layer Cake: This cake is designed as a 3-layer cake using my Old Fashioned Butter Cake recipe. To make the cake batter you’ll need all purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, butter, vanilla and almond extract, eggs and buttermilk.
Ingredients needed for the filling: Half and half, Dream Whip whipped topping mix, instant vanilla pudding mix, vanilla extract, cream cheese, cubed or sliced bananas and whipped topping.
What is Dream Whip? It’s a dry whipped topping mix that forms volume, flavor and a stabilizer for the cake filling. You can find it on the baking aisle of most grocery stores.
Fresh whipped cream can be used in place of Cool Whip for the frosting. Please note, should you choose to do so it’s not as stable and will need to be frosted the day you plan on serving the cake. For this cake, Cool whip works best. You may also opt to frost the cake with a homemade Vanilla Buttercream or my recipe for 7 Minute Frosting.
You can adapt this cake into a smaller version using a butter flavored cake mix for a two layer cake.
If you’d like to make your own pudding for the layers, checkout my recipe for old fashioned Banana Pudding.
Should you choose a shortcut using a cake mix, keep in mind that boxed cake mixes continue to dwindle in size. In that case, you’ll only need to prepare half of the filling should you choose to go that route.
To save time, the cake layers can be baked in advance, cooled then wrapped in plastic wrap and chilled until assembling.
After filling the cake layers, allow ample time for the cake to chill until set.
When made per the recipe, this cake will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If using fresh whipped cream, the shelf life decreases due to the oxidation of the bananas.

More Southern Layer Cake Recipes to Make

There are so many spectacular ways to bake with bananas and beyond. Checkout these recipes for more special occasion layer cake inspiration:

Boston Cream Layer Cake is a supreme dessert option.
Easy Strawberry Layer Cake is delicious to the last crumb.
Pig Pickin’ Cake is a potluck favorite.
My Italian Cream Cake is a fan favorite year after year.
Completely made from scratch Coconut Layer Cake.
Classic Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Banana Rum Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from The Slow Roasted Italian.

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