Banana Pudding...cake?

This treat is one of the easiest things to throw together. You really don't need pictures to walk you through - it's that easy. Also - it's PERFECT for those family bbq's. It's inexpensive to throw together and you can make a lot of it!

Now, normally in order for this to still be classified as "pudding" you'll need more pudding than I used. I used one large box of pudding and when I read other recipes they used two small boxes. But I really like how mine came out more cake like, so if you like a cake - follow my instructions, if you like your banana pudding nice and pudding...y, use two small boxes.

What you'll need:

1 Large Box Banana Jello Pudding. (Or two small boxes, see above.)

(Milk to prepare pudding like usual.)

1 Tub Whipped Topping - I used light but really...how healthy can this end up?

1 Box Nilla Wafters - I didn't use the full box - I used about 3-4 handfuls. I also used the mini wafers because they're cute.

3-4 Bananas - ripe

1 Box Yellow Cake or Pound Cake Mix (Oil, Eggs, etc to prepare cake.)

First:

Prepare your cake mix. I used yellow cake mix. I baked it in a large pan for the time recommended and let it cool. While that was cooling I threw the banana pudding together according to the directions. Then I put that in a large bowl and let it cool as well.

After that's cool enough, you'll get out a large bowl. If you have a trifle bowl, that would be perfect. I just used the biggest bowl I have.

I started cutting the cake into cubes -about 2"x2", you can do smaller but that's just how I did it. I layered the bottom of the bowl with cake cubes. Then I began layering whipped cream, nilla wafers, pudding and banana slices. Then repeat. Since the cake cubes were large, I only repeated once. If you cut them smaller I'm sure you'll get more layers and it'll be more esthetically pleasing. Especially if you use a trifle bowl, but since it's just a big ol' bowl, I didn't mind as much.

Cool until you're ready to eat. I made it first thing in the morning and then we had it for dessert so it cooled over 8 hours. And let me tell you - it's DELICIOUS! If you want to eat it off the bat, go for it, I'm sure it's just as good then too!

As you can see it's more of a cake-like consistency than pudding. If you prefer pudding, go for the two small boxes, if you'd like to try the cake way - one big box. And trust me - it's really, really good!

Enjoy!

Linking: see the "I Like To Party" link.

TCB, TM,