Description
Creamy banana pudding meets rich chocolate brownie in this Southern-inspired dessert. Layers of intense flavor blend seamlessly, offering indulgent comfort that satisfies deep chocolate and banana cravings you will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs (for brownie layer)
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese
- 2 large eggs (for pudding layer)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
- 3.4 oz (96 g) instant banana cream pudding mix
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 16 vanilla wafer cookies
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, creating easy-release handles for later removal.
- Brownie Base: Blend melted butter and brown sugar into a silky mixture, then fold in eggs and vanilla extract until achieving a glossy, uniform consistency. Gently incorporate flour, baking powder, and salt to form a thick brownie batter.
- Initial Baking: Distribute brownie batter evenly across the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Allow the base to cool completely while transitioning to the pudding layer.
- Pudding Layer: Whip cream cheese until airy and smooth, then integrate instant banana pudding mix, eggs, and milk. Mix thoroughly to create a velvety, lump-free pudding mixture.
- Assembly and Final Bake: Delicately spread pudding mixture over the cooled brownie base, then meticulously arrange vanilla wafer cookies in a precise grid pattern. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15-18 minutes, monitoring for a golden edge and set center.
- Serving: Remove from oven and allow the dessert to cool completely at room temperature before slicing into elegant squares.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir brownie batter just until ingredients combine to maintain a tender, fudgy texture without developing tough gluten.
- Temperature Matters: Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature for smooth, lump-free mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
- Cookie Placement Strategy: Arrange vanilla wafer cookies in a uniform grid for even coverage and a professional-looking dessert presentation.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let the dessert cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices and allow layers to set properly, enhancing overall texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg