Southern Banana Pudding Cheesecake Dump Cake (Printer-friendly)

Creamy banana pudding meets rich cheesecake under a golden buttery cake topping

# What You Need:

→ Cheesecake Layer

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Banana Pudding Layer

05 - 2 large ripe bananas, sliced
06 - 1 (3.4 oz) package instant banana pudding mix
07 - 2 cups cold milk

→ Dump Cake Layer

08 - 1 (11 oz) box vanilla wafer cookies, coarsely crushed
09 - 1 (15.25 oz) box yellow cake mix
10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Topping

11 - 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
12 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar
13 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
14 - Extra banana slices and vanilla wafers for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar until completely smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated and creamy. Spread evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - Arrange sliced bananas in a single, even layer over the cheesecake mixture.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together instant banana pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes until mixture thickens noticeably. Pour over the banana layer and spread gently to create an even surface.
05 - Sprinkle crushed vanilla wafer cookies evenly over the pudding layer, covering completely.
06 - Evenly distribute dry yellow cake mix over the wafer layer. Do not stir or mix the layers.
07 - Drizzle melted butter over the cake mix, aiming to cover as much surface area as possible for even baking.
08 - Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the center appears mostly set. The cake will continue to set as it cools.
09 - While cake bakes, whip cold heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using an electric mixer or whisk until soft peaks form.
10 - Let the cake cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm for a gooier texture or chilled for a firmer consistency. Top with whipped cream, additional banana slices, and extra vanilla wafers if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The magical way three classic desserts collide into one impossibly rich treat
  • Its practically foolproof even my sister who burns toast nailed this on her first try
  • You can assemble everything in under 15 minutes then let the oven do the heavy lifting
02 -
  • The center will still be slightly jiggly when you pull it from the oven it firms up as it cools
  • Slicing the bananas about 1/2 inch thick prevents them from disappearing into the layers
  • Room temperature ingredients for the cheesecake layer prevent any curdling or separation
03 -
  • Use a fork to drizzle the melted butter it creates better coverage than a spoon
  • Sprinkle the cake mix by hand instead of pouring from the box for even distribution

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