Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Vanilla wafers do double duty in this banana pudding cheesecake, acting as the crust and also as a divider between decadent layers of caramel, pudding, and bananas.

• Preparation Time: 35 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 465 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 cups cold milk
• ¼ cup milk, or as needed
• 1 (11 ounce) box vanilla wafer cookies
• 2 medium bananas
• 1 (5 ounce) package cheesecake pudding mix
• 1 cup caramel dessert topping, or to taste
• 4 medium bananas, sliced
• ½ (11 ounce) box vanilla wafer cookies, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Crush wafers in a food processor into fine crumbs. Transfer to a medium bowl and mix with melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared dish.

Step 3

Combine condensed milk, bananas, flour, and vanilla in a blender; process until smooth.

Step 4

Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Blend in milk, then mix in eggs, one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Add banana mixture and mix until smooth. Pour filling into the prepared crust; it will be about 1/2 inch thick.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn oven off and let cake cook in the oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Remove from the oven and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Step 6

Prepare pudding: Beat cream cheese in a large bowl until fluffy. Add cold milk, condensed milk, pudding mix, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping and set remaining topping aside.

Step 7

Remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator. Layer some caramel over the cheesecake, then top with 1/2 of the sliced bananas. Arrange vanilla wafers evenly over bananas. Spread pudding mixture over wafers and top with remaining whipped topping. Repeat caramel, wafers, and remaining bananas.