Peanut Butter Banana Icebox Cake is Simply Delicious
Get ready to impress your friends and family with this Peanut Butter Banana Icebox Cake recipe that will have them coming back for seconds (and thirds!)
Why is it called an icebox cake?
This classic dessert gets its name from the fact that it doesn’t require any baking. Instead, it’s assembled and refrigerated or put in the icebox. This allows the flavors to meld together and create a deliciously chilled treat. This no-bake method makes it a perfect option for those hot summer days when turning on the oven just isn’t appealing.
The “cake” part comes form the cookies. They absorb the moisture in the filling making them soft and tender. The moisture filled cookies turn into a cake like layer between the layers of filling. This is where the cake part comes into these icebox or no-bake cake recipes. This is the perfect recipe for stale cookies because they will just get soft and delicious in between the filling.
Is peanut butter and banana a good combo?
If you’re skeptical about the flavor combination of peanut butter and banana, let me assure you that it is a match made in heaven. The rich, creamy and salty peanut butter complements the sweetness of the banana perfectly. They’re a harmonious blend of flavors that will leave your taste buds dancing. It’s a decadent and indulgent treat you will love!
True story! When Mom was preggers with me, she craved peanut butter and banana sandwiches. No, not the Elvis kind. Just straight up swap the jelly with slices of peanut butter and that’s the kind of sandwich she ate when she was pregnant with me. That’s the only reason I can think of for craving this sandwich. It’s my go to comfort food sandwich that I love to eat!
What are the ingredients in this icebox cake?
To create this delectable peanut butter banana icebox cake, you will need:
- Vanilla wafer cookies
- Banana pudding mix
- Milk
- Peanut butter
- Heavy cream
- Whipped topping
- Bananas
The combination of these ingredients creates a rich and creamy dessert with the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and creamy flavors. There’s a layer of banana pudding and bananas, peanut butter mousse, and delicious cookies in between! So many layers of delicious, no-bake cake flavors.
How do you make peanut butter and banana icebox cake?
To make peanut butter and banana icebox cake, start by layering the cookies in the bottom of a baking dish. Since the vanilla wafer cookies are round, you will need to cut them to fit into the square baking pan.
Next, combine the pudding mix with the milk. Stir with a whisk until the pudding mix dissolves and the mixture begins to thicken. Place this in the fridge making sure to put cling wrap on top to prevent the pudding from forming a skin.
Combine creamy peanut butter with 1/2 cup of the heavy cream and beat until creamy. Fold this mixture into half of the whipped topping until fully incorporated. Fold the rest of the whipped topping into the banana pudding when it has set up and thickened.
Spread a layer of the peanut butter mixture on top of the cookies. Place a layer of cookies on top. Next spread a layer of the banana pudding mixture on top and spread another layer of cookies on top of that. Repeat these layers once more time ending with a layer of cookies. Cover with cling wrap and place in the fridge.
How long should you refrigerate your icebox cake?
Now that you know how to assemble this mouthwatering dessert, let’s talk about how long you should refrigerate your icebox cake. The key to a perfect icebox cake is allowing enough time for the layers to set and meld together. Ideally you would refrigerate your peanut butter and banana icebox cake overnight. I know. That’s a long time to wait to eat this delicious cake. I refrigerated mine for 2 hours but should have waited at least 3. The cookies weren’t as tender as I wanted them.
You need to allow enough time for the flavors to intensify and the cookies to soften to a cake-like consistency. So, plan ahead, be patient, and give your dessert the time it needs to chill and become a delectable treat that is sure to impress your friends and family.
What does peanut butter and banana icebox cake taste like?
So, I don’t usually make a lot of desserts like this for us. The hubs usually isn’t all that interested in anything but cookies and maybe a pie or two. Definitely not cakes, mousse, or anything like that. For someone who likes to bake and make desserts it’s frustrating. He prefers to buy pies and ice cream novelties. I’ve come to terms with that.
But this icebox cake? “What’s that?” “Peanut butter banana icebox cake.” “Can I try it?” “Sure!” Thinking to myself, “I know how this is going to end.” “MMMM! That tastes good!” He proceeded to have several bites of this icebox cake. So, I’d say it tastes delicious!
The bananas and pudding are not overpowering, and the pudding is like mousse. The bites of fresh banana are sweet and pair well with the salty peanut butter. The peanut butter is creamy and light. The two together make for a delicious peanut butter and banana dessert!
Then there’s the cookies! They’re are tender and hold the layers together. I used what I had on hand which is some chocolate Maria cookies and some vanilla wafer cookies. I thought I had graham crackers! Go figure. But the cookies are more for texture than taste with this icebox cake. They’re tender and really are cake-like in texture.
Needless to say, this is a dessert recipe I will be making time and time again. Not only does the hubs sneak bites of the prop plate when he goes into the kitchen, but it hits all the comfort food notes for me, too!
Peanut Butter Banana Icebox Cake
Get ready to impress your friends and family with this Peanut Butter Banana Icebox Cake recipe that will have them coming back for seconds (and thirds!)
Ingredients
- 9 ounces Maria cookies
- 3.4 ounces banana pudding mix
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream divided
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- 2 cups sliced bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
Instructions
- Combine the pudding mix with the milk in a mixing bowl and stir with a whisk until combined the pudding begins to thicken. Cover with cling wrap making sure it touches the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until thick. When the pudding is thickened, remove from the fridge and fold in the remaining of the whipped topping.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the peanut butter with 1/2 cup of the heavy cream until light. Fold half of the whipped topping into the peanut butter until smooth and creamy.
- Place a layer of cookies in the bottom of the loaf pan. Spread 1/3 the banana pudding mixture on top of the cookies. Place another layer of cookies then a layer of bananas. Top with half of the peanut butter mixture. Repeat these layers. Place the remaining pudding into a small, air-tight container and refrigerate until serving.
- Cover the icebox cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours or until the cookies are tender and cake-like in texture. Carefully flip the peanut butter and banana icebox cake onto a serving platter. Spread the remaining banana pudding mixture on top before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 572Total Fat 38gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 21mgSodium 313mgCarbohydrates 52gFiber 4gSugar 30gProtein 12g
Welcome to this year’s #SummerDessertWeek event hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife. We’ve got 15 spectacular bloggers creating summer-themed dessert recipes that we’re going to be sharing with you all week! You can find them on our blogs (some of those recipe links posted in this post) and on social media with the hashtag #SummerDessertWeek.
Check out Monday’s Recipes:
- Shark Sugar Cookies from Hezzi-D’s Recipes Box
- Mixed Fruit Dump Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- S’mores Brownies from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Lemon Blueberry Semifreddo from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse from Blogghetti
- Grape Popsicle Jell-o Mold from Sweet ReciPEAs
- Strawberry Upside Down Cake from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Peanut Butter Banana Icebox Cake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Peach Berry Fruit Salad from Jen Around the World
- Christmas Tree Cake Cupcakes from It’s Shanaka
- Summer Rice Krispie Treat S’mores from For the Love of Food
- Blueberry Corn Cookies from The Spiffy Cookie
- The Best Oatmeal Cookies from Our Good Life
Any dessert that avoids turning the oven on during this ridiculously hot summer is a winner to me!
Agreed! And peanut butter and banana is my perfect combo.
This is the best combination of flavors and it’s a no bake recipe. I am all in for this!
Thank you! I loved bananas so much as a kid they called me monkey.
Peanut butter and banana is an amazing flavor combo! I am loving this cool treat for summer!
Thank you! It’s a fave combo for me. Mom ate PB&B sammies when she was pregnant with me.
I love a good icebox cake. My sons would love this one since it’s peanut butter
I don’t know too many that don’t like peanut butter or some kind of nut butters.
I’m a huge peanut butter and banana fan. I can’t wait to make this cake.
It’s a great combo of flavors.
You can’t go wrong with peanut butter and bananas and not having to turn on the oven? WINNER!
A tri-fecta of winning.
Don’t you love it when your creation is a big hit? This does sound delicious.
Thank you!! So much so the hubs helped me eat it.