Description
This Strawberry Cheesecake Banana Pudding is a luscious layered dessert combining creamy cheesecake, smooth vanilla pudding, ripe bananas, and fresh strawberries, all nestled between crunchy vanilla wafers. It’s a no-bake treat perfect for gatherings or a sweet indulgence that can be made ahead and chilled to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheesecake Mixture
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Pudding Layer
- 1 (5.1 oz) box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
Fruit and Cookies
- 1 box vanilla wafers (or other cookies of choice)
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- Crushed strawberry wafers (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Cheesecake Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and continue beating until fully combined to create a creamy base.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold this whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined and set aside.
- Make the Pudding: In another bowl, whisk the vanilla instant pudding mix with cold milk for about 2 minutes until the mixture thickens. Set aside to firm up further.
- Layer the Dessert: In a serving dish, arrange a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom. Add a layer of banana slices and chopped strawberries on top of the cookies.
- Add Cream and Pudding Layers: Spread a layer of the prepared cheesecake mixture over the fruit, then add a layer of vanilla pudding. Repeat the layering process if desired to fill the dish.
- Garnish and Chill: Top the dessert with fresh strawberries and optionally sprinkle crushed strawberry wafers for extra texture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld and the pudding to set properly.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas for the best flavor, but avoid overly mushy ones to maintain texture.
- For a quicker setup, chill the pudding and cheesecake mixtures before assembling.
- Garnish with extra fresh strawberries to enhance presentation.
- This dessert can be made a day ahead, making it perfect for entertaining.
- If preferred, substitute heavy cream with a lighter whipped topping for a lower-fat version, but it will affect the richness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
