Banana Pudding Cake (9x13-Inch)

By MarieR

IN AN INSTANT This delicious confection is made in that old faithful baking companion, the 13x9-inch pan. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples, so whenever you get the hankering for such a sweet, just pick up some ripe bananas, vanilla wafers, and instant pudding mix.
(Need to refrigerate for 2-4 hours after cooled. Recipe calls for whipped cream topping- - -I think No-Weep Meringue would be better.))

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 11/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups mashed ripe bananas
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup whole buttermilk
• 1 (3.4-ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• Garnish: crushed vanilla wafers

Details

Servings 12
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 50mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.
2. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in banana and vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes.
4. In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened (about 2 minutes). With the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes halfway through cake at 1/2-inch intervals. Pour pudding over cake. Loosely cover cake, and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread over top of cake. Garnish with crushed vanilla wafers, if desired.