Description
Creamy banana cheesecake blends sweet, tropical flavors with classic New York style. Smooth cream cheese and ripe bananas create a luxurious dessert you’ll savor to the last delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 32 oz (900g) full-fat block cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 8 oz (226g) full-fat sour cream, room temperature
- 1 to 2 medium bananas
- 2 medium bananas (for roasting)
- 1.5 cups (155g) Nilla Wafer crumbs (about 32–34 cookies)
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 0.5 box (1.7 oz/48g) instant vanilla pudding
- 4 tbsps (57g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (240 ml) cold milk
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
- 0.25 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 0.5 tbsp granulated sugar
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Caramelize Bananas: Slice ripe bananas, arrange on a lined baking sheet, dust with brown sugar, and roast at 400ºF until golden-brown and caramelized.
- Prepare Crust: Crush Nilla wafers into fine crumbs, mix with melted butter and sugar. Press evenly into a springform pan, then prebake at 325ºF until lightly golden.
- Create Cheesecake Batter: Whip cream cheese until smooth, gradually add sugar, then incorporate sour cream, roasted mashed bananas, and vanilla extract. Gently fold in eggs one at a time, maintaining a delicate consistency.
- Assemble and Bake: Layer batter in the crust, interspersing with fresh banana slices. Place the pan in a water bath and bake until the center has a subtle wobble, indicating perfect creamy texture.
- Prepare Toppings: Whisk pudding mix with milk until thickened, then chill. Separately, beat heavy cream with sugar and vanilla to create medium-stiff peaks.
- Finish and Decorate: Once completely cooled, spread chilled vanilla pudding over the cheesecake. Top with whipped cream, garnishing with additional banana slices or crushed Nilla wafers for a delightful textural contrast.
Notes
- Caramelize Bananas Carefully: Roast ripe bananas with brown sugar to intensify their natural sweetness and create a deeper flavor profile for the cheesecake.
- Master Crust Technique: Press Nilla wafer crumbs firmly and evenly to prevent crumbling and ensure a sturdy, crisp foundation for the dessert.
- Prevent Cheesecake Cracking: Use a water bath and gentle folding technique to maintain a smooth, creamy texture and avoid unsightly surface cracks.
- Layering Matters: Strategically place fresh banana slices between cheesecake batter layers to distribute fruit flavor and create beautiful visual interest.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 348
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg