Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Here’s a delicious recipe for Banana Pudding Cheesecake:

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 60 wafers)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

• 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed

Banana Pudding Layer

• 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

Topping

• 2-3 bananas, sliced
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Vanilla wafer crumbs (optional)

Instructions

Crust

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the vanilla wafer crumbs and sugar. Add the melted butter and mix until well combined.
3. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
4. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Cheesecake Filling

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth.
2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
4. Stir in the mashed bananas until well incorporated.
5. Pour the filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top.
6. Bake the cheesecake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is almost set. It should still jiggle slightly.
7. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the door slightly open for about an hour.
8. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Banana Pudding Layer

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes, until thickened.
2. Fold in the whipped cream until combined.
3. Spread the pudding mixture over the chilled cheesecake.

Topping

1. Before serving, arrange banana slices on top of the pudding layer.
2. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and sprinkle with vanilla wafer crumbs.

Notes

• To prevent the bananas on top from browning, you can brush them with a little lemon juice.
• For extra flavor, consider adding a tablespoon of banana liqueur to the cheesecake filling.

Enjoy your Banana Pudding Cheesecake!