Yellow Cake Mix Banana Pudding Cake

Yellow Cake Mix Banana Pudding Cake is a dreamy Southern mash-up: moist banana cake made with box mix, layered with creamy vanilla pudding, fresh bananas, and fluffy whipped topping. Cool, creamy, and ridiculously easy—perfect for potlucks and summer gatherings!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Yellow Cake Mix Banana Pudding Cake is what happens when banana pudding and cake have a delicious baby. A doctored yellow cake mix bakes up ultra-moist with real banana flavor, then gets poked and soaked with vanilla pudding, topped with fresh banana slices and clouds of Cool Whip. It’s cool, creamy, feeds a crowd, and can be made the day before (actually tastes better after chilling overnight). Zero fancy skills needed, yet everyone will swear you slaved for hours—this is the dessert that disappears first at every cookout, church supper, or family reunion.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Use very ripe bananas for maximum flavor.
• Poke holes while cake is still hot so pudding soaks in perfectly.
• Pour pudding slowly so it seeps into every hole.
• Chill at least 4 hours (overnight is best) so flavors meld.
• Add banana slices just before serving to prevent browning.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
• Use a serrated knife for clean slices.

Yield: 20 Servings

Yellow Cake Mix Banana Pudding Cake

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Moist banana cake soaked with vanilla pudding, fresh bananas, and Cool Whip—Southern banana pudding meets poke cake!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1 container (8–12 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
• 1 cup water
• 2 boxes (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding
• 3 large eggs
• 4 bananas, sliced (for layering)
• 4 cups cold milk
• 4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)
• Optional: crushed Nilla wafers for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, oil, water, and mashed bananas 2 minutes until smooth.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 28–34 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
4. While still hot, poke holes all over cake with the handle of a wooden spoon.
5. Whisk both boxes of pudding with 4 cups cold milk for 2 minutes until thickened.
6. Immediately pour pudding over hot cake, spreading into holes.
7. Tap pan gently on counter so pudding seeps down; cool 30 minutes.
8. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours (overnight is best).
9. Before serving, spread Cool Whip evenly over chilled cake.
10. Top with fresh banana slices and crushed wafers; slice and serve cold!

Notes

• The longer it chills, the better it tastes—make the day before!
• Add banana slices only when ready to serve to keep them pretty.
• Travels perfectly—just keep cold.
• Easily doubled in a half-sheet pan for crowds.

Nutrition Information

Yield

20

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 147Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 34mgSodium 47mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 1gSugar 7gProtein 3g

The recipes and nutritional information on Yum Tonight are for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary advice.

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Ingredients Notes

• Yellow Cake Mix (15.25 oz): Base for tender banana cake.
• Instant Vanilla Pudding (2 small boxes, 3.4 oz each): Creates the signature creamy layer.
• Ripe Bananas (3–4 mashed + 3–4 sliced): Real banana flavor and fresh topping.
• Cool Whip (8–12 oz): Classic fluffy finish (or real whipped cream works too).
• Milk (4 cups cold): For pudding.

Variations and Substitutions

• Chocolate Banana: Use chocolate cake mix + chocolate pudding.
• Peanut Butter: Swirl ½ cup peanut butter into batter.
• Strawberry Banana: Add sliced strawberries with bananas.
• Gluten-Free: Use GF yellow cake mix.
• From-Scratch Pudding: Use cooked vanilla pudding instead of instant.
• Nilla Wafers: Crush and sprinkle between layers.
• Caramel Banana: Drizzle caramel sauce over pudding layer.
• Individual Trifles: Layer in cups for parties.

Storage Options

• Refrigerator: tightly covered up to 4 days
• Freezer: not recommended after assembly (bananas darken)
• Make-ahead: assemble up to 24 hours in advance

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Until you can read, Yellow Cake Mix Apple Crisp