These cookies taste like mini hand-held Banana Cream Pies! It’s a cookie (made with graham cracker crumbs) topped with pudding and cream cheese whipped cream. A perfect summer treat for a crowd!
A friend of ours dropped off his son to play at our house on Saturday so they could go car shopping. I had literally just walked in the door from a 15 minute run and was looking red faced and sweaty. I answer the door. “Hi guys, come on in!” He looks at me. Confused. “Hi…are you Karen’s sister?”
And that was the moment that I decided I would never leave the house without eyeliner again.
Actually, what am I saying. This is a clear sign that I should never exercise again. NO SWEATING AGAIN, EVER.
Instead I will eat Banana Cream Pie Cookies while I ruminate on the fact that I turn 30 this year. I SAID RUMINATE, NOT SOB.
Last month we got together with my extended family for Easter Sunday. My cousin Amber brought these cookies AND I ATE 5 OF THEM. Not even exaggerating. (Not much anyway. Okay maybe it wasn’t 5, we had a big dinner, but that’s how many I wanted. Eric is always getting on me for exaggerating. He says he automatically cuts whatever number I provide in half. He’s justified.)
Amber’s husband requested a Banana Cream Pie for dessert on Easter, but it was a pretty big gathering and pies are not good desserts for a crowd. (Unless you want to make like 3 of them, and she did not.) So instead she made these cookies. After eating 5 of them (okay maybe 3) I asked her what was in everything so I could make them at home. She said she used a Spritz cookie recipe and replaced some of the flour with graham cracker crumbs.
People, I need to tell you that I do not even like Banana Cream Pie. Like, if there was a choice between Banana Cream Pie and…okay this example is going nowhere. I would still eat Banana Cream Pie if there were no other dessert options. But the whole time I’d be wishing it was chocolate cake. But these cookies are AMAZING. I love them so much. They have a much better filling-to-crust ratio than a regular pie. There’s never enough crust! (or filling-to-cookie ratio in this recipe, I suppose.)
My recipe notes to myself :)
If the cookie puffs up, just tap with a spoon or spatula.
Whipped cream on the left, and on the right is after I mixed in the cream cheese.
The cookies themselves are soft and super buttery. The graham crackers add just the right touch. They are a bit crisp on the edges, just how you would want the edge of your pie to be.
Obviously these are an assemble-last minute type of cookie. The pudding will make the cookie soggy eventually. But if you have a bunch left over, you could always trifle it for later. Or serve it this way to begin with! It’s so pretty! Break up the cookies and throw it all in a trifle bowl.
Oh my gosh, I almost forgot about the cream cheese whipped cream. It’s cream cheese that is beaten, then you make regular whipped cream and fold in the beaten cream cheese. It’s so much more interesting than regular whipped cream! I love it!
If you make any of my recipes, share it on Instagram using the hashtag #TheFoodCharlatan so I can see it! I love that.
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One year ago: Chicago Style Fruit Pizza
Two years ago: Bacon Baked Beans
Three years ago: Poppyseed Dressing and Spinach Bleu Cheese Salad
Banana Cream Pie Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 1 cup salted butter, 2 sticks, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 & 1/3 cups flour, + 1/4 cup, spooned and leveled
For the topping
- 1 large package Banana Cream Pie flavored pudding, OR Vanilla pudding, plus milk called for
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- dash salt
- 6 tablespoons powdered sugar
- bananas, to top the cookies
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350. Line 2 large baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula.
- Add baking powder and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add egg and almond or vanilla extract and beat well.
- Add the graham cracker crumbs and the flour and stir just until combined. All the flour streaks should be stirred in.
- Shape the dough into large walnut sized balls of dough and place on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350 for 9-12 minutes until they have just barely lost the shine on top of the cookie.
- Let cool on the pan 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and let cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make the pudding according to package instructions. Chill in the fridge.
- Make the cream cheese whipped cream. Add the cream cheese to another large bowl, or wash the one you used for the cookies. Beat the cream cheese until it is very smooth, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Scrape the cream cheese into another small bowl and set aside.
- In the same mixing bowl (no need to wash), beat the cream on high speed. Add the vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Beat for 2-4 minutes until soft peaks form.
- Add the cream cheese back into the whipped cream. Stir until combined.
- To assemble cookies, spoon a dollop of pudding onto the center of a cookie, then top with a spoonful of cream cheese whipped cream and a banana slice.
- If you have leftovers, throw it all in a bowl and call it a trifle!
Notes
Nutrition
More Banana goodness!
Butterscotch Pudding with Roasted Banana Whipped Cream << this photo is a sin guys. But I STILL make this pudding all the time. It’s so easy and people are always impressed.
Nutella and Banana Stuffed Crescent Rolls << These are so popular! I just saw that they passed half a million pins on Pinterest. Crazy!
Banana Macadamia Pancakes << have you ever had these in Hawaii? It’s a thing.
No Bake Salted Caramel Cheesecake with Caramelized Bananas:
Check out these other desserts that spin off Banana Cream Pie!
Banana Cream Tart Bars from Oh, Sweet Basil
Banana Cream Poke Cake from Back for Seconds
Banana Pudding Cheesecake with Banana Cream from Grandbaby Cakes
Wow, the whipped cream is so delicious! I ate it before I saw the recipe, and wondered how you got that great consistency- yum :)
Yeah Amber is a genius! I never would have put cream cheese in whipped cream but now I’m never going back!