Description
Indulgent banana pudding cheesecake bars combine classic Southern dessert flavors in one irresistible treat. Smooth cream cheese, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafer crust create a nostalgic dessert sure to delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 50 wafers)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 16 oz (453 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup mashed ripe bananas (about 1 medium banana)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 package (3.4 oz/96 g) instant banana pudding mix
- 1 ¾ cups cold milk
- 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Sliced bananas
- Crushed vanilla wafers
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Pulverize vanilla wafers and blend with melted butter, pressing the mixture firmly into a parchment-lined baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until golden, then cool completely to create a crisp, sturdy foundation.
- Cheesecake Batter: Blend cream cheese and sugar until silky smooth, gradually introducing eggs while mixing. Incorporate mashed bananas and vanilla extract, ensuring a uniform, luxurious consistency that promises rich, creamy texture.
- Initial Baking: Transfer cheesecake batter over the cooled crust, distributing evenly with a spatula. Bake at 325°F for 35-40 minutes, watching for a slight center wobble that indicates perfect doneness. Allow to cool completely.
- Pudding Layer: Whisk pudding mix with cold milk until thickened, then gently fold in whipped topping to create a cloud-like, velvety banana-infused cream. Spread meticulously across the cooled cheesecake base, ensuring complete coverage.
- Final Chilling: Refrigerate the dessert for minimum 4 hours, allowing layers to set and flavors to harmonize. Before serving, garnish with whipped cream, fresh banana slices, and crushed vanilla wafers for a visually stunning and decadent finish.
Notes
- Prevent Banana Browning: Toss freshly sliced bananas with a splash of lemon juice to maintain their bright color and prevent quick oxidation during garnishing.
- Achieve Smooth Cheesecake Texture: Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature and beat thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a silky-smooth batter without overmixing.
- Control Moisture Balance: Pat mashed bananas gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture, preventing a soggy crust and maintaining the perfect cheesecake consistency.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap traditional ingredients for gluten-free vanilla wafers and use low-fat cream cheese to adapt the recipe for specific dietary requirements without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg