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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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Banana Pudding Cake
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 863kcal
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Old Fashioned Butter Cake ( baked in three 8 inch pans)
- Filling:
- 1 2.6 oz box dry whipped topping mix [i.e.Dream Whip] (Box contains 2 packets, use both)
- 3 cup cold half & half divided
- 2 3.4 oz boxes vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 12 oz whipped plain cream cheese
- 2 large bananas diced
- 1 16 oz container frozen whipped topping thawed
- whole vanilla wafers plus ½ cup crushed for garnishing
Instructions
- Prepare the butter cake layers per the directions and cool completely.
- To prepare the filling, using an electric mixer whip together both packets whipped topping with 1 ¼ cup cold half & half. Whip for 3 minutes or until firm peaks form.
- Add both packages of instant pudding, 1 ¾ cups of cold half & half and 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Add cream cheese and whipping for 1-2 minutes until fully combined and fluffy.
- Spread half of the filling over the bottom layer of cake. Top with cubed bananas. Gently press the bananas into the filling.
- Top with the middle layer of cake and repeat. Top with the last cake layer.
- Frost with whipped topping and garnish with vanilla wafers. Chill for at least 6 hours before cutting.
- Store leftovers chilled.
Notes
Please note:
- If you choose to use a cake mix for this cake, you'll only need half the filling.
- To save time, the cake layers can be baked in advance, cooled then wrapped in plastic wrap and chilled until assembling.
- Allow ample time for the cake to chill until set.
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 863kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 10.8g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 110.25mg | Sodium: 785.25mg | Potassium: 355mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 65.5g | Vitamin A: 1199IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 2.3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!
My name is Melissa and I'm the Creator of Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen. Cooking, baking, developing recipes and kitchen tips is my passion. I love sharing my dishes and connecting with people through the food that I create.
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Carol
I can not wait to try this recipe it looks beautiful. I do have a question. Does the last layer have the cubed bananas on the top also?
Melissa
The cubed bananas are between the layers and not on top. However, you could pile some on top just before serving if you wish.
Denise Lofton
My children and grands love banana pudding and i believe that this will be a great substitute for just Banana Pudding,have not tried it yet but ;looking forward to doing so and waiting for the results and comments
Melissa
Hi Denise, I sure hope they do. It's such a spectacular cake and the filling is so luscious. Happy Baking!
Melissa
Hi Bonnie, welcome. I'm happy you're finding some recipes to enjoy.
Anonymous
Just learning how to post....Bonnie Johnson here. I am sooo happy to see some cake recipies with a mix. I used to do everything from scratch but am getting older and this is easier. Love your food. Thanks for adding me. Will try this soon.
Melissa
I never have. The cream cheese acts as a binder for the filling. If you've had success with a substitute you could try it.
Debi Elfast-Kelly
Can you make this without the cheese in it? I have an allergy to it but love to try this if I could
Melissa
Hi Karen, so happy you love this cake. The secret to the fluffiness is in the whipping, you can't fudge on the time. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know. ~ Melissa
Karen
Hi Melissa, thank you for sharing your recipe. I have made the cake twice and got raving reviews. The first one was two layers and the filling didn't fluff up as yours did, but the second one was three layers and the filling fluffed up and everything. It was gone within 5 minutes of cutting it. Such a good cake!!!
Melissa
Sure if you like. You can sub Neufchatel or Mascarpone cheese instead.
Anonymous
Can you whip your own cream cheese?
Melissa
Hi Aaron, yes the light whipped cream cheese, Philadelphia or a store brand works fine. You can use softened neufchatel, if you prefer.
Aaron Metcalf
I have a question about whipped cream cheese? Is it the whipped Philidelphia cream cheese or actually whipping heavy cream and cream cheese together?
Amy Shanks
My husband absolutely loves banana pudding, so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it. I did change it up a bit. I added bananas and crumbled vanilla wafers to the cake batter. also in the layering I added vanilla wafer crumbs. I did this mostly because my husband loves them. I did not use whip topping to ice the cake as 2 of my children do not like it, instead I used the filling to ice the cake and lined the entire cake with the vanilla wafers. it was so good. thank you for the inspiration.
Melissa
Your improvisations sound good, Amy, thanks for letting me know.
Anonymous
I've got to try it. I made the single layer but think this is prettier.
Catherine Jackson
Awesome... only thing I would add is cherries on top. 🙂
Melissa
Thank you Dorothy! xxxx
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
This is gorgeous!
Melissa
I've actually never had that happen with Cool Whip. It must be thoroughly chilled, though. Even though I really prefer fresh whipped cream, it won't hold up as well and will breakdown far quicker. If you're concerned I would recommend keeping it chilled until just before serving. That's an important step when using any whipped topping, and don't leave it sitting out in hot weather.
Anonymous
I was just wondering how you keep the frosting from oozing off of the cake when you take it out to serve? Every time I use whipped topping as a frosting it loses its form quickly and then melts into a blob. Is there a certain brand of topping which works better than others? Do you just keep the cake very cold through serving?
Helen Horton
Try mixing it with icing.
Brenda Holland
You can skip the cool whip all together and whip up some real cream stabilized. Google stabilized whipped cream. It really is the bomb of whipped toppings and so easy to do. Makes for a very pretty whipped decorator-style covering for a cake or anywhere you need pretty white, but not so sweet swirls.
Melissa
While I love and prefer fresh whipped cream I wouldn't recommend that for this cake.
Melinda Hairston
Hi Melissa, did you use 8 inch or 9 inch cake pans for your banana pudding cake
Melissa
You can use either. This is a tall cake super stuffed between the layers so, my preference is 9-inch.
Vicky
They have small packets you can buy to add to the whipping cream to keep it think and whipped.
Deb
How do I stack each layer with out having to cut top off of cake to have a even cake.
Melissa
It' all in the baking. If you don't want to level the cake you can flip each layer upside down so the flat layer is on top.
Felisha Foster
As soon as your cakes come out the oven flip them upside down leaving the top face down and use the bottom for the flatness!