Banana Pudding Sheet Cake (Grocery Retailer Bakery Copycat)

July 9, 2026

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This Banana Pudding Sheet Cake tastes similar to my favourite grocery retailer model, however higher! Smooth buttermilk cake is crammed with creamy vanilla pudding, recent bananas, and completed with whipped cream and vanilla wafers for the last word Southern dessert.

In case you stay within the American South, then likelihood is you’ve seen this cake at an area grocery retailer chain that begins with a P and ends with an x. It’s a superb cake, and I’ll all the time choose one up when comfort is of paramount significance. However I needed to see if I may recreate a model at residence. I aimed for one much less candy than the deli model, and with extra scratch-made taste. I simply knew it will be much more superior with freshly whipped cream, as a substitute of the bakery’s whipped topping (the type that is available in a 15 lb. pail).

Properly people, I consider I’ve achieved the Banana Pudding Sheet Cake of my desires. And perhaps yours too. Model-wise, it’s a close to ringer for the unique, however the taste is absolutely the place it’s at. It’s made with two do-it-yourself 9×13 buttermilk cake layers, vanilla pudding filling, recent bananas, and freshly whipped cream that’s simply candy sufficient. And in case you’re on the lookout for a particular ending to a summer season cookout that feeds 15-20 individuals, then this sheet cake might be it!

Make the Fluffy Buttermilk Cake Layers

If the cake recipe appears acquainted, there’s a superb cause. It’s the bottom for my current American Flag Sheet Cake. It yields two evenly baked 9×13 layers which can be good for filling. It’s made with principally pantry staples, and there are not any massive surprises mixing up the batter.

First, cream the butter and sugar till gentle and fluffy, add eggs and vanilla, then alternate the dry elements with buttermilk. Simple peasy.

Bake and Cool

Divide the layers between two 13×9-inch pans and bake till golden. The cake is prepared when a toothpick tester inserted close to the middle comes out clear. Permit the truffles to chill utterly earlier than assembling.

2 Ingredient Vanilla Pudding Cake Filling

Lately, I’ve been loving the fast cake filling that’s made with heavy cream and on the spot pudding combine. It seems like dishonest, however the finish outcome tastes scratch-made so I return to it again and again. It’s so easy since you simply beat the 2 elements collectively till fluffy. I used vanilla pudding (with 4 drops of yellow meals shade), however in case you’d like extra banana taste, you would use on the spot banana flavored pudding.

Assemble the Banana Pudding Sheet Cake

Place about 2/3 of the filling on high of the underside cake layer. Unfold evenly over the whole cake. Subsequent, slice 3-4 medium bananas into 1/4-inch rounds. Organize the rounds in a single layer over the pudding layer, urgent them in barely. High with the second cake layer.

Unfold the remaining pudding on the highest cake layer. You don’t need to unfold all of it the way in which to the sides, simply give attention to spreading it right into a tough rectangle within the middle.

Frost and Embellish

First whip heavy cream with confectioners’ sugar and vanilla bean paste (or extract) till thick and fluffy. Don’t overbeat. The whipped cream ought to be clean and of spreading and piping consistency. Cowl the edges and high edges of the cake with a thick layer of the whipped cream. The highest portion ought to seem like the whipped cream is framing the vanilla pudding within the middle. Switch the leftover whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a big open star decorator piping tip.

Not pictured (elective): Run a cake comb across the edges of the cake. This motion may be seen within the video simply earlier than the recipe card. Don’t be too treasured about this half being good. Many of the ridges can be coated with vanilla wafer cookies.

Line the underside edges of the cake with entire vanilla wafers. Tile dried banana chips in a rectangle across the edges of the middle pudding layer. Then, use the reserved piping bag of whipped cream to pipe a fats shell border on the highest fringe of the cake.

Further Garnishes and Toppings

Add crushed vanilla wafer crumbs across the high fringe of the cake. As for the middle, it’s the good clean canvas for a ‘Completely satisfied Birthday’ message, or no matter event you occur to be celebrating. Since we didn’t have any particular events to have fun, I opted for a couple of banana chips, vanilla wafers and crumbs for a middle ornament.

Make Forward & Storage

This can be a fantastic make-ahead dessert as a result of the assembled cake improves with a bit time within the fridge. As soon as it’s chilled for 4-6 hours (or in a single day), the cake layers grow to be even softer and the flavors marry collectively.

You may bake the buttermilk cake layers as much as 2 days prematurely. As soon as utterly cooled, wrap every layer tightly in plastic wrap and retailer within the fridge.
The vanilla pudding filling, nevertheless, ought to be made simply earlier than assembling the cake. As a result of it’s whipped with heavy cream, it thickens in a short time and doesn’t unfold as easily if ready forward of time.
After the cake is assembled, refrigerate till set, about 4 hours or till able to serve. It can maintain properly within the fridge loosely coated for as much as 3 days. The bananas might darken barely after the second day, however the taste stays scrumptious.
In case you’d just like the garnish to remain additional crisp, add the vanilla wafer cookies and crushed cookie crumbs shortly earlier than serving. Nonetheless, I actually benefit from the softened cake-like texture the cookies tackle with refrigeration.

I can not wait to make this Banana Pudding Sheet Cake for our subsequent massive cookout. I can simply see it sitting on the finish of an extended line of chafing dishes filled with barbecue, mac and cheese, baked beans – all of the fixings. It’s so fluffy and lightweight, which makes it a great ending to a wealthy meal.

Associated Recipe: Banana Pudding in a Sack