Favorite Dessert

Okay, right now (at this exact moment), I'm not craving this dessert. Anything chocolate, yes. Tomorrow, however, I may have to make a trip into town for the necessary ingredients. If you enjoy banana pudding, I think you'll like this even more. It takes a little longer than the 15 min. prep time the recipe states (I don't know about you, but it takes me that long just to find and get everything out of my pantry and fridge!) but it's totally worth it! And a heads-up, the cream cheese needs to be softened and the whipped topping thawed-I always forget that part. The picture is from the magazine (Kraft Foods) where I got this recipe. It's free to subscribe.


Banana Split Cake
Prep: 15 min (or if you're like me, 45 min.)
Refrigerating time: 5 hours
Total time: Plan on 6 hours

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I personally think that buying the crackers and then crushing them w/a rolling pin-or allowing Ella too-is much more fun and tastes bettter than buying the ready-made crumbs in the box)


• 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided


• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted


• 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened (neufchatel cheese, which has 1/3 less fat than regular cream cheese, works great, too.)


• 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained


• 6 medium bananas, divided


• 2 cups milk (I'm pretty sure I usually use skim milk-I'm telling you even if you make this as "healthy" for you as possible, it will still taste delicious!)


• 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) vanilla flavor instant pudding & pie filling (fat-free, sugar-free kind if you like)


• 2 cups thawed whipped topping, divided


• 1 cup chopped pecans
  

Directions

Mix crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup butter; press onto bottom of 13x9 pan. Freeze for 10 min.

Beat cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar in bowl w/electric mixer until well blended. Carefuly spread cream cheese mixture over crust; top w/pineapple. Slice 4 of the bannas; arrange over pineapple.

Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat w/wire whisk for 2 min. or until well blended. Stir in 1 cup whipped topping; spread over banana layer in pan. Top w/remaining whipped topping. Lastly, sprinkle w/pecans.

Refrigerate 5 hours. Just before serving, slice remaining bananas; arrange over dessert. Makes approximately 24 servings. YUMMY!