Description
Creamy mini banana pudding cheesecakes blend Southern comfort with elegant dessert artistry. Rich layers of banana, cream cheese, and vanilla wafer crust promise delightful indulgence you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) crushed Nilla wafers (or graham crackers)
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsps powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Banana slices (for garnish)
- Mini Nilla wafers (for garnish)
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Pulverize Nilla wafers with melted butter until achieving a sand-like consistency. Press mixture firmly into cupcake liners, creating a compact base. Bake briefly to set the foundation and enhance crispness.
- Cheesecake Batter Creation: Whisk cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth. Incorporate eggs methodically, ensuring thorough blending. Gently fold in mashed bananas, vanilla, and flour, maintaining a delicate batter structure.
- Baking Process: Fill cupcake liners three-quarters full with cheesecake mixture. Position in preheated oven and bake until centers show a subtle jiggle, indicating perfect doneness. Watch carefully to prevent over-browning.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow cheesecakes to cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate to enhance flavor development and achieve optimal texture, helping the desserts set firmly.
- Cream Topping: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until forming sturdy, elegant peaks. Transfer to a piping bag with a decorative tip for professional-looking presentation.
- Final Assembly: Remove cheesecakes from liners. Pipe a luxurious cream swirl on top of each mini dessert. Garnish with a delicate banana slice and a single Nilla wafer for visual appeal and textural contrast.
- Storage and Serving: Refrigerate completed desserts, maintaining peak flavor and freshness for up to 48 hours. Serve chilled for the most enjoyable culinary experience.
Notes
- Smooth Cream Cheese Technique: Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature and whisk vigorously to eliminate lumps, creating a silky smooth base for perfect texture.
- Banana Ripeness Matters: Select overripe bananas with dark spots for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor intensity in the cheesecake mixture.
- Baking Precision: Watch for the subtle center jiggle when baking – this indicates the cheesecakes are perfectly cooked without overbaking, which can cause cracking or dryness.
- Chilling Strategy: Allow cheesecakes to cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating, preventing condensation and maintaining the delicate structure of the dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg