Banana Pudding Lush
This no bake layered Banana Pudding Lush is always a crowd pleaser with a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake layer, banana pudding, and whipped cream topping.
Servings 18
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 15 graham cracker sheets
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter melted
Cheesecake Layer
- 2 bars (8 oz each) cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
- 3 bananas sliced (optional layer)
Banana Pudding Layer
- 1 box (5.1 oz) instant banana cream pudding mix
- 2½ cups half and half
Topping & Garnishes
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
- Nilla Wafers crushed or whole
- Sliced Banana (add just before serving)
Instructions
Graham Cracker Crust
- Add the graham crackers and light brown sugar into a food processor and blend/crush at high speed. Turn the food processor to low speed and slowly add the melted butter. Process until the mixture resembles wet crumbs and begins to get clumpy.15 graham cracker sheets, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- Firmly press the crumbs into the bottom only of a 9x13 baking pan. Place the crust in the freezer for 15 minutes so it has time to harden and set.
Cheesecake Layer
- In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Use an electric hand mixer to beat until smooth and combined well. Add the Cool Whip and mix on low-medium speed until combined well.2 bars (8 oz each) cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 8 ounces Cool Whip
- Evenly spread the cheesecake layer over top the graham cracker crust inside the pan. Make sure to spread it all the way to the edges to ensure a tight and even layer of cheesecake.
- **Optional Banana Slices Layer : If wanted, add the sliced bananas over top the cheesecake layer right before pouring the pudding over top of it. If the bananas are exposed for too long then they will start to brown fairly quickly.3 bananas
Banana Pudding Layer
- Whisk together the instant banana pudding mix and half and half inside a mixing bowl, until the pudding has dissolved and the mixture starts to thicken. Let the pudding sit for about 3 minutes so it can thicken even more.1 box (5.1 oz) instant banana cream pudding mix, 2½ cups half and half
- Evenly spread the banana pudding layer over top the cheesecake layer/banana slices layer inside the pan.
Whipped Cream Layer
- Evenly spread the Cool Whip over top the dessert for the final layer.8 ounces Cool Whip
Chill & Serve
- Cover the dessert with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours, but overnight is best!
- When ready to serve, garnish the top of the lush with crushed or whole Nilla Wafer cookies and/or fresh banana slices.Nilla Wafers, Sliced Banana
Notes
Don't Want To Use Cool Whip? : If you want to use homemade whipped cream then you will need 6 cups whipped cream to replace the two (8 ounce) containers of Cool Whip. Each 8 ounce container of Cool Whip container 3 cups of whipped topping.
Add 3 cups heavy whipping cream + 3/4 cup powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Use an electric hand mixer to beat, at low speed, until stiff peaks form. As the cream thickens increase the speed of the mixer. This whole process takes about 5 minutes to get thick, stabilized whipped cream.