Banana Pudding Cheesecake (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Nilla Wafer Crust
01 -
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
02 -
2 tbsp of light or dark brown sugar, tightly packed
03 -
1 box of Nilla Wafers
→ Banana Cheesecake Filling
04 -
4 large eggs, brought to room temp
05 -
3/4 cup plain granulated sugar
06 -
2 overripe bananas, mashed
07 -
24 oz cream cheese, softened up
08 -
1/2 cup sour cream, not chilled
09 -
1 tsp vanilla extract
10 -
1 cup smashed Nilla Wafers
11 -
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, not cold
12 -
2 bananas, slices thinly
→ Whipped Vanilla Pudding Topping
13 -
1 tsp real vanilla extract
14 -
1 cup of heavy cream, well chilled
15 -
1 package of instant pudding, vanilla flavor (3.4 oz)
16 -
1 cup cold milk
17 -
Extra crushed Nilla Wafers for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray, line the base with parchment, and give it one more spritz.
02 -
Blend Nilla Wafers into crumbs using a food processor. Stir in melted butter and brown sugar till combined. Firmly press this into the pan, covering halfway up the sides. Bake it for about 11 minutes to crisp up.
03 -
Cream the softened cream cheese and sugar on high for around 2 minutes. Then add mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla, and cream, and mix on medium. Don’t worry if banana chunks leave texture. Beat in eggs at low speed last, just till mixed.
04 -
Pour in half the batter, then spread banana slices and sprinkle with crushed Nilla Wafers. Top it with the rest of the batter.
05 -
Place the springform pan inside a larger cake pan, then into a roasting pan. Pour hot water to reach halfway up the cake pan. Bake 80-90 minutes till the edges firm up and the center jiggles lightly. Let it cool in the oven with the door cracked open for 30 minutes before fully cooling on a rack.
06 -
Wrap the cooled cheesecake tightly in foil. Refrigerate it for no less than 6 hours or overnight.
07 -
Whisk instant pudding mix with cold milk for 2 minutes, then chill. Separately, whip heavy cream and vanilla until firm peaks form. Gently fold the chilled pudding into the whipped cream.
08 -
Remove the cheesecake from the pan, spread the pudding mix over the top, and sprinkle some crushed Nilla Wafers as a decorative finish.
# Notes:
01 -
Let all dairy items sit out for about 2 hours before beginning. This ensures the mixture blends smoothly.