Strawberry Cheesecake Banana Pudding

Here’s a full recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Banana Pudding! It’s a creamy, fruity, and indulgent dessert that combines the richness of cheesecake with the classic flavors of banana pudding.

---

Ingredients

For the Cheesecake Layer:

• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (chilled)

• 1/2 cup sour cream

For the Banana Pudding Layer:

• 2 ripe bananas (sliced)

• 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant vanilla pudding mix

• 2 cups milk (whole or 2% is best)

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (chilled)

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Strawberry Layer:

• 1 lb fresh strawberries (hulled and sliced)

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp lemon juice

For Assembling:

• 1 package of Nilla wafers (or any vanilla wafer cookies)

---

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Cheesecake Layer

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

2. Add the vanilla extract and sour cream to the mixture and beat until combined.

3. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form (this usually takes about 3-4 minutes).

4. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake mixture until fully combined and smooth. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Banana Pudding Layer

1. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and milk. Whisk until it begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes to set.

2. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.

3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the prepared pudding mixture until smooth and well-combined.

Step 3: Prepare the Strawberry Layer

1. In a small bowl, toss the sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Let them sit for about 10-15 minutes to draw out their juices. This will create a nice syrupy glaze for the strawberries.

Step 4: Assemble the Dessert

1. In a large trifle dish or individual serving glasses, start by placing a layer of Nilla wafers on the bottom.

2. Add a layer of banana slices over the wafers.

3. Spoon a layer of the cheesecake mixture over the bananas and smooth it out evenly.

4. Add a layer of banana pudding on top of the cheesecake layer, spreading it out gently.

5. Spoon a layer of strawberries (with their syrup) on top of the pudding.

6. Repeat the layers (cookies, banana slices, cheesecake, banana pudding, strawberries) until you’ve used up all the ingredients, ending with a strawberry layer on top.

7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is best) to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld together.

Step 5: Serve

1. Just before serving, you can optionally garnish with additional whipped cream or a few whole strawberries for a beautiful touch.

---

Tips:

• Bananas: Be sure to slice the bananas just before assembling the dessert to prevent browning.

• Whipped cream: For extra fluffiness, make sure your heavy cream is cold before whipping it.

• Trifle dish: If you don’t have a trifle dish, you can assemble the dessert in individual serving cups for a fun and personal touch.

• Make ahead: This dessert can be made a day ahead, which gives it even more time to chill and set. The flavors will deepen overnight!

---

Enjoy your Strawberry Cheesecake Banana Pudding! It’s a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and fruity layers that’ll be a hit at any gathering or as a special treat for yourself.