Inspired by my mother in law who hands me a large jar of vanilla wafer cookies, with a request to make something yummy for a family gathering- tonight. I love a task like this. It feels like a challenge on chopped-use ‘this’ ingredient and you have X amount of time-go!
Hmmm… the night before there was a lot of talk about trifle, so I thought that would be an easy pleaser, but somehow I ended up with this concoction of layers. Starting with a baked vanilla wafer cookie crust with crushed pecans and brown sugar, followed by a cinnamon cream cheese layer, topped with loads of fresh sliced bananas between another layer of vanilla hazelnut pudding, a drizzle of caramel and finished off with a cloud of whipped cream! How could you go wrong? You simply can’t and the family seemed to love it!
That is one of the many great things about my family- they LOVE to eat!! Everyone is into food and are more than happy to give their feedback. This one passed with flying colors which means its going in the files as a keeper!
I am not sure if it can be classified as a trifle at this point, but it fits the category of a Banana Cream Cloud most definitely. Let’s call this The Banana Cream Cloud with a Nilla Pecan Crust.
This is a surprisingly easy dessert that just takes a little time. It is a sure way to put a smile on anyones face-unless you don’t like bananas-then you can lean towards the option of exchanging bananas for berries or a layer of chocolate- if that is what you’re craving! I hope you like it! I hope you like it!
Banana Cream Cloud with Nilla Pecan Crust
Author: Andrea
Recipe type: dessert, layered cake
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
light, fresh, simple and delicious!
Ingredients
- 4 bananas, sliced
- Crust:
- 30 vanilla wafers, coarsely crumbled (I used my blender)
- ½ cup pecans, chopped (through it in the blender with the crushed cookies
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature- very important for easy mixing)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup cool whip
- Pudding Layer
- 2 (4 ounce) packages vanilla instant pudding
- 2¼ cups milk
- 2 tablespoons of brandy or hazelnut liquor OR 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 1 cup Cool Whip
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Topping
- 1-2 cups Cool Whip. ( I used closer to two cups)
- Optional: Caramel Sauce of choice to drizzle in between the bananas and the pudding layer (about ¼ cup)
Instructions
- Grind in a processor or blender or coarsely chop vanilla wafers, and pecans. In a mixing bowl put the ground vanilla wafers and pecans and stir in brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and melted butter.
- Press into greased 9×12 cake pan and bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 10-12 minutes. It will start to look golden on the edges. Set aside to cool.
- Blend sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, cream cheese until well combined and add cool whip. Spread on cooled crust (This is your first layer)
- Slice bananas and make a layer of sliced bananas on top of cream cheese layer.
- If you want to add a caramel layer do so here by drizzling your choice of caramel over the bananas (this layer is optional)
- Mix pudding, milk, choice of flavoring (brandy, or vanilla extract) and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon until starts to thicken (3-5 minutes) and fold in cool whip cream.
- Spread over sliced banana layer.
- Top with remaining whipped cream! Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon or another drizzle of caramel if you want!
- Refrigerate until ready to serve and eat up!
Notes
You can easily double this recipe.
This can work with a chocolate pudding layer or exchange bananas for berries.
Do what makes you happy and make it your own!
ANDREAAAA – oh boy. This dessert is trouble. a)Nilla’s are my childhood go to treat and b)everything else in this is just TOO DAMN GOOD. I am going to make this tonight – I will let you know the turn out. xoxoxox
katey!! haha Maybe we should call this dessert The Katey. Let me know how you like it!! Hope you are doing good girly!
I made this for our Sunday family dinner dessert… Needless to say it was a major hit! Everyone especially liked that it was such a cool light treat on these hot 100 degree days. Thank you Andre!
Vanessa! It is awesome hearing if you have made a recipe and if you like it! Thank you for sharing. This dessert is good in a variety of ways! Chocolate pudding in replace of the banana and Skor bits instead of Banana, is aaaamazing too! Keep in touch!