Desserts

Banana cream pie is one of my top 5 favorite desserts, maybe top 3. It was pretty much the only late night craving I had throughout my pregnancy with my son. Maybe it is because it reminds me of the banana shakes my dad used to make me as a kid. That was kind of our thing. Friday nights watching M*A*S*H and drinking banana shakes. That. Was. The. Life!

This dip has everything I love about banana cream pie but in one very addicting easy to make dip. It is perfect for parties or just a random dessert. If you have been following me for a while now you may know I have a thing for dessert dips. I’ve posted recipes for Cannoli Dip, Sweat Cream Dip with Strawberries, Sweet Cherry Chip Dip, Funfetti Cake Batter Cookie Dip, and Toffee Apple Dip.

Dessert dips are so quick and easy to make. So many people are intimidated by overly complex desserts but when all you have to do is mix a bunch of ingredients in a bowl, these really are foolproof.

INGREDIENTS
3.4 oz box instant banana cream pudding
2 c milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c powdered sugar
2 c Cool Whip, divided
Nilla wafers or graham crackers for serving

STEPS

In a medium bowl, beat together the pudding powder and milk until well combined and set aside.
In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer and beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
Fold the pudding mixture and 1 1/2 cups of the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture and stir until it is creamy.
Transfer the finished mixture to a serving dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of Cool Whip.
Place in the refrigerator and allow to set for 30 minutes or more.
Sprinkle with a few crushed wafers or graham cracker crumbs.
Serve with a side of Nilla Wafers or graham crackers.

If you like this recipe, then I highly recommend you check out these other awesome dessert dip recipes!

Cannoli Dip

Cherry Chip Dip

Toffee Apple Dip

As I announced a few weeks back after my break from blogging I started a new job back in August. It’s always a rough transition moving out of your comfort zone into something totally new. New environment. New responsibilities. New coworkers. Eek! It can be kind of nerve racking! Well the way I deal with nerves is food. Yes, I am an emotional eater! So I made a batch of these wonderful delicious bars but I couldn’t bear to eat them all so what did I do, I took them to work to share with my new co-workers. Way to bond and score some points at the new gig, right? Well these were a hit and I apologize that the recipe is 5 months late getting to you. Good news is I am still at my job so I must have made quite the impression with my tasty treats or maybe it’s my mad skills.

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp sugar
5 tbsp butter, melted

CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS
12 oz cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

COOKIE DOUGH INGREDIENTS
5 tbsp butter, softened
3 tbsp sugar
1/3 c brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c flour
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

STEPS

Preheat oven to 325º.
Line a 8” x 8” baking dish with foil making sure there is enough to go up all four edges of the pan.
In a medium bowl mix together all of the graham cracker crust ingredients.
Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the baking pan using a spoon or backside of a spatula making sure that it is firmly packed.
Bake for 5 minutes and remove from oven.
While the crust cools beat together all of the cheesecake ingredients on low speed until smooth.
Pour the cheesecake mixture into the baking dish and set aside.
In a large bowl beat together the butter, sugars, vanilla, and salt until well combined and smooth.
Add in the flour until well incorporated.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Sprinkle small clumps of the cookie dough over the top of the cheesecake mixture making sure to cover most of the dish.
Bake until the cookie dough looks cooked and the cheesecake has set, about 25–30 minutes.
Move the dish to a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.
Chill in the fridge for a few hours.
Remove the entire “bar” from the baking dish by holding onto the edges of the foil and lifting it from the pan.
Slice into small squares and eat up.