This banana pudding cheesecake is NEXT LEVEL! Sweet and creamy roasted banana cheesecake is baked in a Nilla wafer crust and topped with banana slices, vanilla pudding, and a cloud of soft whipped cream on top.
WHAT YOU NEED brown speckled bananas granulated sugar Nilla wafers unsalted butter salt cream cheese cornstarch soured cream pure vanilla extract eggs instant vanilla pudding cold milk heavy whipping cream powdered sugar
1. Line a small baking sheet with foil. Lay the sliced bananas on the pan, banana side up. 2. Sprinkle the bananas with the sugar and then turn them over so that the skins now face up. 3. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the skins are completely black and they’re leaking juices out the sides.
4. Once the Nilla Wafers are ground in a food processor, blitz in the sugar, melted butter, and salt. Then mix by hand with a spoon to make sure everything is evenly hydrated. 5. Grease a springform pan and line the bottom with parchment. 6. Dump in the crust and press it into the bottom and up the sides. Bake the crust for 10 minutes.
7. Mix the cream cheese on medium-low speed until smooth. 8. Remove the skins and toss the soft bananas into the cream cheese. Mix until the bananas are broken up. Add in the sugar and cornstarch and mix on medium-slow speed until smooth. 9. Mix in the sour cream, vanilla then the eggs on low speed. 10. Pour the batter into the crust and spread it even.
11. Bake until the edges are well puffed, golden, and slightly cracked with a center that has a tight jiggle. 12. Shut off the oven and let it rest inside the oven for 1 hour. Then let the cheesecake sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. 13. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and milk. Arrange the banana slices on top of the cheesecake.
14. Spread the pudding on top and transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator to chill. 15. Whip the heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar on high speed. Whip to soft peaks. 16. Remove the cheesecake from the pan and top with a mound of whipped cream and a handful of crushed Nilla Wafers.