Banana Pudding Cheesecake has a Vanilla Wafer crust and a creamy banana filling flavored with fresh bananas and brown sugar. Makes a showstopper dessert.

Slice of Banana Pudding Cheesecake topped with whipped cream and a vanilla wafer.

This creamy dessert flavored with fresh banana is a combination of two of my favorite desserts- cheesecake and banana pudding. I’m a huge fan of banana pudding anything and everything. In the past I’ve made Banana Pudding Pancakes, Banana Pudding Bars, Banana Pudding Cupcakes, Banana Pudding Cake, Twinkie Banana Pudding and Banana Pudding Ice Cream.

Banana Pudding Cheesecake starts off with a vanilla wafer crust – because it’s not banana pudding without nilla wafers  ๐Ÿ™‚ . Just  to make sure there’s enough Nilla Wafer goodness a ring of whole vanilla wafers is placed along the circumference of the springform pan. If you wanted even more vanilla wafers in your cheesecake, you could also do a layer of them in the middle of the filling.

Slice of Banana Pudding Cheesecake on a plate.

Tips For Making Banana Pudding Cheesecake

The original recipe, which came from Southern Living, called for baking the crust before the filling is added, but I skipped this step and it turned out fine. No need to do extra work :). Plus I find crusts made out of vanilla wafers can get a little hard to cut through if they are precooked.

It’s best to use ripe, but not overripe bananas for this cheesecake.

The filling is creamy and rich with just the right amount of banana flavor. Top the cheesecake off with whipped cream and vanilla wafers and you have a showstopper southern dessert that would be perfect to serve for Easter.

How To Store

This cheesecake can be stored for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

More Banana Pudding Recipes

Cheesecake with a slice cut out.

More Cheesecake Recipes

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

4.91 from 31 votes

By Christin Mahrlig

Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 55 minutes
Total: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 16
Banana Pudding Cheesecake is a combo of 2 of my favorite desserts! A vanilla wafer crust with a creamy banana filling makes a delicious southern-style cheesecake.
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup butter, , melted
  • 17 vanilla wafers
  • 2 ripe bananas,, diced
  • 1 ripe banana,, mashed
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2-3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, , softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • whipped cream and vanilla wafers for garnish

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together crushed vanilla wafers, chopped pecans, and melted butter. Press into bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.
  • Stand 17 vanilla wafers around edge of pan with rounded sides facing outward. Press them gently into the crust.
  • In a small saucepan, combine bananas (both diced and mashed) and lemon juice. Stir in brown sugar, using 2 tablespoons if your bananas are super ripe and 3 tablespoons if they are medium ripe. Cook over medium heat until brown sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
  • Gradually add granulated sugar.
  • Add eggs, one at a time and stopping to scrape down sides of bowl after each addition. Do not over beat. Only beat until most of yellow disappears before adding next egg.
  • Beat in vanilla extract.
  • Stir banana mixture in until evenly mixed. Pour batter into springform pan on top of crust.
  • Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until center is almost set. Jiggle the pan to check.
  • Turn oven off, open door about 6 inches and leave cheesecake in oven to cool for about 1 hour.
  • Remove cheesecake to counter to cool for another 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours before serving.
  • Garnish with whipped cream and vanilla wafers.

Video

Notes

If you’re a huge fan of vanilla wafers, try adding 1/2 cup coarsely chopped vanailla wafers to the batter.
You can leave the pecans out of the crust if you wish. Add maybe 1/4 cup more vanilla wafer crumbs.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media!

Recipe Source: adapted from Southern Living

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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100 Comments

  1. Kay Desmond says:

    Hi what can you use instead of wafers (from uk) any alternatives.?

    1. Jessica New says:

      I bet a shortbread would be a good alternative.

  2. Michelle Michalec says:

    I made this cheesecake this past weekend. OMG! It was so good! And I am amazed how easy it was to make!! Wonderful dessert!!

  3. Mary Vann says:

    This is a fantastic recipe. Very easy to make and was a hit with my co-workers. LOVE… LOVE…
    Will most definitely make again.

  4. mary says:

    I made this cheesecake for a 4th of July gathering. I did top with caramelized banana coins. I used brown sugar and butter. Then topped with whipping cream and banana slices and vanilla wafers. I also made this with gluten free vanilla wafers. EXCELLENT!

  5. Mary says:

    I just baked this cheesecake for 4th of July celebration. It is still 2 days ahead. Can I freeze it? Everyone is excited about it.

  6. Amber Nagel says:

    Almost forgot to leave a review!!! I made this for my boyfriends family on Easter and it was a hit!! Got so many compliments :)) I followed the recipe exactly as listed and it turned out perfect. Will definitely be making again and trying out some more of your recipes.. thank you so much!!! โค๏ธ

  7. Donna says:

    I DID IT!!! It smells amazing.

    1. Nay says:

      I donโ€™t have a springfoam pan, is there an alternative? I dont have enough time to order online.

  8. Donna says:

    I DID IT!!! It smells amazing. Canโ€™t wait to
    cut it!!

  9. Gregory Green says:

    Just made this with Chessman cookies . Phenomenal !

  10. Nicole says:

    This recipe is fool proof. The flavor taste great and the cheesecake is always perfectly done. I also use this recipe as a base for other flavors like vanilla bean or strawberry swirl.