Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding Cake Recipe (2024)

This old-fashioned banana pudding cake recipe is a delicious dream that will leave you with visions of your next slice! Each bite of rich banana pudding layer cake is filled with tender cake, heavenly banana flavor, and sweet and creamy frosting. It's a banana lover's dream!

Making banana pudding from scratch doesn't need to be difficult! This recipe uses a couple of store-bought mixes to make preparing homemade banana layer cake so much easier!

This layered banana pudding cake is easy enough for any level cook and I promise it's pure perfection every single time!!

Each scrumptious bite is so moist thanks to the combination of cake and banana pudding.

If you love baking with pudding, you might also enjoy this hot fudge pudding cake, banana pudding brownies, or banana pudding cookies.

Why This Recipe Works

• Lots of variations! Swap out different flavored cake mixes and puddings to create different combinations!
• Winning recipe. Moist and delectable cake every single time.
• Easy to make. No need to spend hours in the kitchen to make an easy banana pudding cake that everyone will love!

Ingredients

This banana pudding cake is a truly delicious treat, and it's so easy to make. In fact, you only need a handful of ingredients each to make the cake, pudding, and frosting. That's it.

• Dessert mixes: This pudding layer cake uses French vanilla cake mix and instant banana pudding. Not only does this make the recipe quicker and easier but it also results in a rich, moist cake.
• Garnish for the top: The recipe calls for toasted coconut, caramel sauce, and vanilla cookies to decorate the finished cake.
• Milk: Whole milk and sweetened condensed milk as well as heavy whipping cream.
• Cream cheese and whipped topping: The ingredients are blended with the banana pudding to create a decadent pudding layer in between each cake layer.
• Icing: A light and fluffy homemade icing is made with heavy whipping cream, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.

As you can see, the ingredient list for this beautiful banana layer cake is anything but challenging. You'll most likely have many of the ingredients in your kitchen already, and those that you don't have are always available at your local store.

For the complete list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card further down on the page.

How to Make Banana Layered Cake

Don’t be overwhelmed by all the steps for making layered banana pudding cake. It’s actually quite easy and I’m here to guide you each step of the way!

Here’s an overview with photos, the full instructions are in the recipe card.

Step 1: Bake Your Cakes

1. Mix together the cake mixes, eggs, oil, and water with an electric mixer for two minutes.
2. Divide the batter between the three 9” round pans and bake inside your oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

2. Once baked, allow to cool inside each pan for 10 minutes and then on to a rack until cooled completely.
3. Using a cake leveler, slice off the rounded tops to make the cake level.

Step 2: Make the Banana Pudding Filling

1. Empty the contents of the boxed pudding and add milk. Beat with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes.
2. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix until smooth. Next, add the cream cheese and beat it until smooth.

3. Last, use a spatula to fold in the whipped topping until incorporated and creamy.

4. Scoop the pudding into the piping bag

Step 3: Make the Frosting

1. Gather the ingredients to make the frosting.
2. Combine the ingredients for the frosting in a stand mixer. Beat together until creamy and stiff peaks form.

3. Scoop a small amount into a piping bag to use for layering the cake.

Step 4: Layering the Cake

1. Place one cake round onto the cake board.
2. Using the cake frosting, pipe a thick outline around the edge of the cake. This will be the barrier that keeps the pudding in the middle of your cake.

3. Pipe pudding into the middle of each cake layer.

4. Place the second cake layer on top of the first one. Repeat steps with the frosting and pudding with the second cake layer.
5. Place the third cake layer on top.
6. Using the remaining frosting over the outside of the entire cake.

7. Garnish the cake with toasted coconut, nuts, caramel sauce, and cookies. See the recipe card for more details on how to decorate the finished cake.

8. Refrigerate for one hour to allow the frosting to firm up before cutting into slices and serving.

Variations

I LOVE this recipe, and I have to tell you why. You can have so much fun making it with so many different flavors. This recipe is super versatile.

This means that you'll be able to create this cake over and over again and have it taste totally different each and every time.

• Strawberry banana pudding layer cake: Add some sliced strawberries on top of each banana pudding layer or make it with strawberry cake mix. Be sure to save some fresh strawberries for garnishing the top!
• Chocolate banana pudding layer cake: Use chocolate cake mix instead and garnish the final cake with some chocolate chips or chocolate shavings.
• Vanilla layer cake with chocolate pudding: Swap the banana pudding for chocolate!
• Pistachio layer cake with chocolate pudding: Use your favorite pistachio cake mix and chocolate pudding!

Are you seeing a trend here? All you need is your favorite cake mix and pudding flavors and you're all set. There are so many possibilities!

How to Store Leftover Cake

If you're lucky to have some leftover cake, here's how to store it so you can enjoy it later.

• Refrigerator: Since the cake is made with pudding, it needs to be stored in the fridge. The cake will keep well in the refrigerator for about a week, but I advise eating it all in the first 3 to 4 days for the best flavor and texture.
• Freezer: Store the cake in the freezer for up to one month. Just like the refrigerator store in an airtight container for best results. Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Storage ideas: Find a big cake container that is big enough to hold it or wrap it with plastic wrap but just be aware that it will likely stick to the frosting, too. You can also slice it into small pieces for storage.

Expert Tips

Using boxed cake mix and boxed pudding mix drastically reduces both prep and cooking time, making this a very easy recipe to make. That being said, every layer cake requires a little bit of know-how prior to jumping into the recipe.

The following tips will help ensure that you make the most delicious, beautiful cake possible.

• Make sure the cakes are done. This means testing each one to ensure that they're done baking in the oven. Insert a toothpick into the center of each one and it comes out clean, the cakes are done and ready to be pulled from the oven.
• Cool the cakes completely before beginning to layer.
• Level the cakes. Cakes rise in the middle during baking so they come out slightly rounded. Be sure to cut off the tops to make them level. This is important to make sure your cake layers evenly. A cake level makes this easier but you can accomplish the same thing with just a knife.
• Reserve enough frosting for the outside of the cake. You only need about a ½-inch barrier of frosting on the layers.
• Decorate the cake with cookie crumbles, shredded coconut, and extra cookies on top before refrigerating. They will stick better.
• Refrigerate after frosting. This firms up the frosting and makes it much easier to slice and serve.
• Dip the knife for slicing the cake in hot water and wipe clean before slicing it. The warm temperature will help the knife glide through the frosting easier making neater slices.

FAQ

As always, let's hit the highlights here before diving into this delicious recipe. Here are some popular questions I've received about this recipe.

This is one of the best layer cakes you'll ever make. The cake itself is so tender and moist, and the pudding filling between the layers is absolutely divine. Of course, the healthy layer of frosting on the outside doesn't hurt either.

Let's not forget how easy it is to make this cake, as well. When you combine the flavor and ease of this recipe, it becomes one that you absolutely must try. It's the perfect cake for any occasion from fancy gatherings to weeknight desserts. Give it a try!

More Pudding Dessert Recipes

Banana Pudding Layered Cake Video

This easy banana pudding layered cake recipe is from my friend Maria over atMariasmixingbowland I had to share it with you, almost exactly how she wrote it.

This post was originally published in March 2021. It has been republished with new images and content.