Semi-Homemade Banana Pudding Cake

This fabulous semi-homemade banana pudding cake is inspired by a classic Southern dessert. It’s made with simple ingredients and full of sweet flavor!

Homemade banana pudding is a favorite in my family. I swear, every time the holidays approach or it’s someone’s birthday, I get a call about making my famous I Heart Recipes banana pudding recipe!

Recently, I was on the phone with my Cousin TJ, who was going on and on about how our grandmother made the very best banana pudding. He said it was so good that it tasted like a cake…and cousins, as soon as he said it, a lightbulb went off! It reminded me that I had promised my subscribers a banana pudding cake recipe!

How to Make Semi-Homemade Banana Pudding Cake

I can’t tell y’all how many Instagram followers have tagged me in banana pudding cake recipes, especially in the Spring and Summertime! Everyone wants to know how to make a homemade banana pudding cake in their very own kitchen. Truth be told, it’s not hard at all!

My recipe is more inspired by classic banana pudding. I don’t actually use any pudding or custard in this recipe (before you freak out on me, hold ya horses, keep reading!). Instead, I use a boxed yellow cake mix, fresh bananas, and a deeeeelicious homemade vanilla buttercream icing.

Because this is a simple semi-homemade recipe, it’s easy to customize! I’ll share some of my favorite ways to make this banana pudding cake even more impressive, no matter what event you’re making it for.

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple, easy-to-find ingredients for this banana pudding cake. The simple cake has so much banana flavor, and the homemade vanilla frosting is to die for! Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the complete ingredient measurements and directions. Here’s everything you need to make a banana cake with a cake mix.

• Boxed Yellow Cake Mix: you can use your favorite brand of store-bought cake mix in this recipe. I like Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Cake Mix, but I typically buy whatever is on sale!
• Eggs & Vegetable Oil: you need 3 eggs and ½ cup of oil for the cake mix.
• Milk: I use milk to replace the water called for in the cake mix and in the vanilla icing. You can use whole milk, 2% milk, or skim—whatever you prefer!
• Ripe Bananas: mixing fresh bananas into the cake mix is key to the banana flavor in this recipe.
• Vanilla Wafers: no banana pudding recipe is complete without these tasty cookies! You can use classic Nilla Wafers or buy another brand you prefer.
• Butter, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract: these three ingredients (plus a little milk) make the homemade vanilla buttercream frosting we use to decorate the cake.

Banana Pudding Cake Ingredient Swaps

Now, I told y’all I wouldn’t leave you hanging when it comes to making this the best banana pudding cake you’ve ever had, right?! Has Cousin Rosie ever let you down? So, if you really wanna kick up the flavor in your semi-homemade banana pudding cake, here are some tricks for you.

• Mix a (small) package of instant banana pudding mix into the cake batter. This will really make your cake a true banana pudding cake… extra moist and extra banana-y!
• Instead of mixing chopped bananas into the cake, mash them up and mix the mashed bananas into the batter. This will give your cake a banana bread-like consistency.
• If you don’t like yellow cake, you can use a different boxed cake mix flavor! This banana pudding cake can also be made with white cake mix or vanilla cake mix.
• If you don’t like buttercream, you can use Cool Whip or another whipped topping to frost and fill the cake, which is similar to what you’d use in a more traditional banana pudding.

Instructions

Okay, fam, it’s time for me to teach y’all how to make this delicious Southern-inspired banana pudding cake! It couldn’t be easier – no from-scratch cake recipe or complicated ingredients. Let’s get started!

Banana Pudding Cake Video Tutorial

Before we start, here’s a quick and easy video tutorial to show you exactly how I make and decorate my semi-homemade banana pudding cake! Be sure to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube to catch all of my latest recipe videos. You can even watch my dessert playlist here!

Step 1: The Banana Cake

• Combine the boxed cake mix with the ingredients called for on the package – except use milk instead of water!
• Use a hand mixer to mix the cake batter until just combined (you don’t want to overmix the batter).
• Next, add in your mashed or sliced bananas. Gently fold the bananas into the cake batter.
• Prep two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and parchment paper, then divide the batter evenly between them.
• Bake the cakes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Allow the cake layers to cool completely before decorating the cake. Let them cool to the touch in the cake pan, then cool the rest of the way on a wire rack.

Step 2: Make the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

While the cake is baking, whip together the buttercream frosting. Pro-tip: use room temperature, unsalted butter for your frosting! Cold butter will be harder to whip into a smooth frosting. Here’s how to make the homemade buttercream:

• Use a hand mixer to cream the room-temperature butter until smooth. Then, slowly add the confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar) and mix on medium speed until well combined.
• Add the vanilla extract and milk and mix to combine.
• Mix the buttercream until it reaches your desired consistency and is smooth and lump-free.

Step 3: Decorate the Banana Pudding Cake! 

Here comes the fun part: assembling and decorating the cake! The cake layers should be completely cooled before baking. Otherwise, the frosting will begin to melt, and you’ll have a whole mess on your hands (and counters, and probably the floor too!).

• Once the cakes are cooled, begin icing the bottom layer with vanilla buttercream. Smooth a layer of buttercream across the top of the cake and smooth it out.
• Add your second layer of cake, top with buttercream, and smooth it out. From there, you can frost the entire cake.
• Decorate the top and sides of the cake with vanilla wafers (whole or crumbled), fresh banana slices, or more buttercream, as I did in the video.

That’s it! You’ve just made your very own semi-homemade banana pudding cake! This cake is perfect for Spring and Summer holidays, family get-togethers, and birthdays. It’s a big hit anytime I make it – I rarely have any leftovers!

Banana Pudding Cake Recipe Tips and Tricks

Now, I have already shared a few ingredient variations with you, but I want to give you a few more tips to make this recipe even better. Did I miss something? Leave me a comment down below and let me know!

• You can replace the middle layer of buttercream with instant pudding! Whip together some instant vanilla pudding or banana pudding to use as a filling.
• You can also ice this cake with cream cheese frosting—use my homemade cream cheese frosting recipe!
• If you prefer a lighter icing, make whipped cream frosting! Instead of butter, use heavy cream mixed with powdered sugar and vanilla to make a light whipped topping.
• You can even make a banana cream filling by mixing banana pudding with Cool Whip. If you really love banana flavor, this is a great idea!
• Layer sliced bananas in the cake’s center layer for more fresh banana bites.
• If you follow this recipe, this banana pudding cake can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. However, if you add pudding or use Cool Whip, you’ll want to store leftovers in the fridge. The cake will be good for 3-5 days.

More Banana Dessert Recipes

Can’t get enough of this banana pudding cake? Try some of these banana desserts next time!

• Banana Pudding Cupcakes
• Moist Chocolate Banana Bread
• Strawberry Banana Pudding
• No Bake Banana Split Lasagna Dessert
• No Bake Banana Pudding Cheesecake
• Old Fashioned Banana Crumb Cake

Loved this easy recipe? Be sure to share + save on Pinterest! Don’t forget to tag and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out all my cookbooks!