The Perfect Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake Recipe for Sweet Tooths

Creamy banana pudding meets classic tres leches in a dessert that will make your taste buds dance with pure delight.

This banana pudding tres leches cake blends two beloved dessert traditions into one irresistible treat.

Southern comfort finds a new expression through layers of moist cake soaked in sweet milk.

Rich, velvety, and utterly indulgent, the recipe promises a symphony of flavors that melt in your mouth.

Ripe bananas add a luscious depth to the traditional tres leches base, creating a dessert that feels both familiar and exciting.

You’ll want to savor every single decadent bite of this crowd-pleasing cake that transforms an ordinary gathering into a memorable celebration.

Prepare to impress everyone at the table with this ultimate dessert experience.

FAQs

• What makes the tres leches mixture unique in this recipe?

The tres leches mixture includes not just traditional milks but also mashed bananas, which adds a rich, natural banana flavor and extra moisture to the cake.

• Can I use fresh bananas instead of banana pudding mix?

While fresh bananas are used as a garnish, the pudding mix provides a specific consistency and intense banana flavor that fresh bananas cannot replicate in the topping layer.

• Why do I need to poke holes in the cake before adding the tres leches mixture?

Poking holes allows the milk mixture to penetrate deeply into the cake, ensuring even soaking and creating the signature ultra-moist texture of tres leches cake.

Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake Crowd Favorites Explained

• Craft Creamy Decadence: This recipe combines the richness of tres leches with the classic comfort of banana pudding, creating a mind-blowing dessert that melts in your mouth with layers of incredible flavor.
• Tackle Impressive Dessert: Despite looking complicated, this cake is surprisingly approachable for home bakers, with straightforward steps that guarantee a showstopping result perfect for gatherings and special celebrations.
• Customize with Ease: Swap ingredients or adjust toppings to make this cake uniquely yours – whether adding extra banana slices, trying different cookie crumbles, or tweaking the pudding consistency.
• Crowd-Pleasing Potential: Delivers maximum wow factor with minimal stress, making it an ideal dessert for potlucks, family dinners, or when you want to impress friends without spending hours in the kitchen.

Ingredients Checklist for Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A key component that provides structure to the cake.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cake.

• Whole Milk, Vanilla Extract: Add moisture and rich flavor to the cake batter.
• Egg Yolks, Egg Whites, Granulated Sugar: Create a light and airy cake texture.

• Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Heavy Cream, Mashed Bananas: Combine to create a rich, creamy soaking liquid that adds moisture and intense banana flavor.

• Banana Pudding Mix, Cold Milk: Form the base of the creamy pudding layer.
• Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract: Provide a smooth and tangy cream cheese base.
• Heavy Cream: Adds lightness and creates a fluffy topping.

• Vanilla Wafers, Sliced Bananas: Add crunch and fresh banana flavor as a final touch.

Creating Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake from Scratch

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to 350F (175C).

Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish and give it a quick spray or butter rub to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Blend Dry Components

Grab a medium bowl and whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until they’re perfectly mixed and ready to go.

Step 3: Whip Egg Yolks to Fluffy Perfection

In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar until the mixture transforms into a dreamy pale yellow cloud.

Use an electric mixer and keep going for about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Introduce Liquid Magic

Pour whole milk and vanilla into the yolk mixture, stirring until everything looks beautifully combined.

Step 5: Whisk Egg Whites to Cloudlike Peaks

Grab a clean bowl and beat egg whites until soft peaks emerge.

Slowly add remaining sugar while continuing to beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Step 6: Create Harmonious Batter

Gently fold egg whites into yolk mixture, being super careful not to deflate those lovely peaks.

Gradually incorporate dry ingredients until just blended.

Step 7: Bake Golden Delight

Transfer batter to prepared dish, smooth the top, and slide into the oven.

Bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the surface turns golden brown.

Step 8: Craft Tres Leches Liquid

• Evaporated milk
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Heavy cream
• Mashed bananas

Step 9: Soak the Cake

Let cake cool slightly.

Poke holes all over with a fork.

Slowly drench cake with tres leches mixture, allowing it to absorb completely.

Refrigerate 2+ hours.

Step 10: Prepare Banana Pudding Layer

Mix pudding mix with cold milk, whisking for about 2 minutes until it starts thickening.

Step 11: Blend Cream Cheese Mixture

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.

In another bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

Step 12: Combine Topping Elements

Fold banana pudding into cream cheese mixture.

Gently incorporate whipped cream until silky smooth.

Step 13: Crown the Cake

Spread pudding topping evenly across soaked cake.

Sprinkle crushed vanilla wafers on top.

Step 14: Final Flourish

Optional: Arrange banana slices just before serving.

Slice and enjoy chilled.

Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake Insider Notes for Success

• Carefully poke holes in the warm cake to ensure the tres leches mixture penetrates evenly, creating a moist and rich texture.
• Use clean, dry beaters and bowl when whipping egg whites to achieve maximum volume and stability for a lighter cake.
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the milk mixture to fully absorb and enhance the cake's taste and texture.
• Use ripe, slightly soft bananas for the best flavor and mash them thoroughly to distribute evenly throughout the dessert.
• Fold cream cheese mixture and whipped cream gently to maintain airiness and prevent deflating the light, creamy topping.

Tasty Variations for Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake

• Gluten-Free Banana Pudding Tres Leches: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and taste for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Vegan Banana Coconut Version: Substitute egg yolks and whites with flax eggs, use coconut milk instead of whole milk, and swap dairy milks with coconut-based alternatives for a plant-based adaptation.
• Low-Sugar Banana Cake Alternative: Use sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener, reduce overall sugar content, and incorporate sugar-free pudding mix to create a diabetic-friendly dessert option.
• Chocolate Banana Fusion Cake: Add cocoa powder to the cake batter, use chocolate pudding mix instead of banana pudding, and sprinkle chocolate shavings on top for a rich chocolate-banana combination.

Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake Serving Suggestions for Every Occasion

• Banana Bliss Centerpiece: Create a stunning dessert display by placing the cake on a decorative platter surrounded by fresh banana slices and whole vanilla wafers for an eye-catching presentation.
• Tropical Pairing Paradise: Serve alongside a chilled tropical fruit smoothie or coconut rum cocktail to complement the cake's rich banana flavors and creamy texture.
• Brunch Showstopper: Feature this decadent dessert as the crown jewel of a weekend brunch spread, pairing it with fresh coffee or caramel macchiato for a delightful sweet finish.
• Afternoon Tea Delight: Cut into elegant small squares and serve on a tiered dessert stand with delicate tea cups for a sophisticated afternoon treat that will impress guests.

Tips for Storing Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake

• After serving, cover the Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to maintain its moisture and prevent it from absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The cold temperature helps preserve the creamy texture and prevents the banana pudding topping from spoiling.
• If adding fresh banana slices as a garnish, add them just before serving to prevent browning and maintain their fresh appearance.
• Do not freeze this cake, as the delicate tres leches and banana pudding layers will separate and lose their creamy consistency when thawed.

Banana Pudding Tres Leches Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy banana pudding tres leches cake marries Southern comfort with Latin American dessert magic. Layers of moist cake, silky pudding, and three milks create a sweet symphony that delights senses and brings pure indulgence to your plate.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

Cake Base:

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Liquid Ingredients:

• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup mashed bananas (about 1–2 ripe bananas)
• 1 cup cold milk

Topping and Garnish:

• 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant banana pudding mix
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
• Banana slices (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, whisking thoroughly.
3. Beat egg yolks with sugar until pale yellow and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
4. Incorporate whole milk and vanilla extract into the egg yolk mixture, stirring until uniform.
5. In a separate clean bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form, gradually adding remaining sugar while beating until stiff peaks develop.
6. Delicately fold egg whites into yolk mixture, then gently integrate dry ingredients without deflating the batter.
7. Transfer batter to prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean and top appears golden brown.
8. Prepare tres leches liquid by whisking evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, and mashed bananas in a large measuring container.
9. After cooling briefly, perforate cake surface with a fork. Gradually pour tres leches mixture, ensuring complete absorption. Refrigerate covered for minimum 2 hours.
10. Create banana pudding by blending pudding mix with cold milk until thickened, approximately 2 minutes.
11. Whip cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Separately, whip heavy cream to stiff peak consistency.
12. Fold banana pudding into cream cheese mixture, then gently incorporate whipped cream until seamless.
13. Distribute pudding topping uniformly across soaked cake. Sprinkle crushed vanilla wafers over surface.
14. Optional: Garnish with banana slices immediately before serving. Slice and enjoy chilled, storing leftovers in refrigerator.

Notes

• Choose ripe, soft bananas for the most intense banana flavor and natural sweetness in your cake.
• Ensure egg whites are beaten to stiff peaks without over-mixing to maintain the cake’s light, airy texture.
• Use room temperature ingredients to help create a smoother, more evenly mixed batter and prevent lumps.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend or almond flour.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 48 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg