This Banana Cream Lush recipe is 2 lush recipes in one because it is also a Bananas Foster Lush. A rum-infused, banana-caramel sauce brings this classic Banana Cream Lush layered dessert to a whole new level. Bursting with sweet banana cream flavor, this lush recipe is the long lost cousin of the infamous Banana Pudding Poke Cake. Both of which are fantastic to bring along to a summer BBQ or potluck!
Banana Cream Lush with Bananas Foster Sauce
Hello Everyone, are you ready for a lush dessert on a whole new level? This Banana Cream Lush brings together the classic banana-rum flavor of a Bananas Foster dessert and Banana Cream Lush. In the recipe card, I give plenty of options to customize this recipe to your tastes.
Have you seen my Coconut Cream Lush, Lemon Lush, and Mocha Lush recipes? They are also great options for summer dessert ideas and just like this Banana Cream Lush, they feed a crowd with 12 big slices per recipe. Another really popular one is this Chocolate Lasagna!
The above and below photos show this recipe as a Banana Cream Lush dessert recipe, which is great on its own. You can make this recipe ahead of time and it keeps well in the refrigerator or freezer (as long as you use cool whip for the top layer). I suggest slicing the bananas just before serving so that they do not get brown. I also topped the dessert with 2-3 tablespoons chopped pecans and walnuts which taste great with the banana flavors too.
Ingredients for Banana Cream Lush
Bottom Graham Cracker Crust Layer (for no bake crust option):
- 2 (5 ounce) packages of regular, honey or vanilla graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing
- 5-8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter
Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for baked crust option):
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup finely chopped or food processor processed pecans (great for the mini food processor)
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
Cream Cheese Layer (2nd Layer):
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
Banana Cream Pudding Layer (3rd Layer):
- 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant banana cream pudding mix
- 4 cups milk (you can also do 3 1/2, if you want it slightly thicker)
Whipped & Toppings Layer (4th Layer):
- 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping (I used Cool Whip), you can substitute the same amount whipped cream
- 2-3 chopped pecans or walnuts (this would go if you chose the bottom pecan crust option too)
- right before serving: 1 banana sliced
Bananas Foster Sauce for Serving (5th Layer):
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) of salted butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 2 bananas, sliced in half and then lengthwise in thick slices
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/4 ground cinnamon
- optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Kitchen Tools Needed for Banana Cream Lush with Bananas Foster Sauce
- 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan
- Food processor
- large mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Wet measure
- baking spatula
- whisk
- offset spatula
- Spatula for serving
- large skillet
This bananas foster sauce is salty and sweet. The savory element in this banana lush comes from using salted butter. You can omit the pecans or walnuts but they go so well atop this masterpiece. You can also use the caramel sauce as a topping on French toast, crepes or ice cream. YUM!
I love the combination of the chilled lush dessert with the warm bananas foster sauce on top. This Banana Cream Lush recipe is big on banana flavor: There are fresh bananas, cooked bananas and banana cream pudding.
The perfect one-pan dessert recipe to bring along to work parties, BBQ’s, picnics, family outings and more!
Bursting with different textures and incredible flavors, your guests will love you for making this.
I have no doubt you are going to love this Bananas Foster Lush recipe!
Banana Fanatic? Be sure to check out this Easy Banana Cake– a super easy doctored up cake mix creation! Or our favorite Sour Cream Banana Bread recipe!
More Banana Recipes
- Banana Cookies
- Easy Banana Cake
- Banana Cream Pie
- Homemade Banana Pudding
- Single Serve Bananas Foster
- Banana Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
- Banana Nut Bread
Bananas Foster Lush
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
Bottom Graham Cracker Crust Layer (for no bake crust option):
- 10 ounces regular, honey or vanilla graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing 2 5-ounce packages
- 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter
Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for baked crust option)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ½ cup finely chopped or food processor processed pecans great for the mini food processor
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature 2 8-ounce packages
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
Banana Cream Pudding Layer
- 6.8 ounces instant banana cream pudding mix 2 3.4-ounce packages
- 4 cups milk you can also do 3 1/2, if you want it slightly thicker
Whipped & Toppings Layer
- 8 ounces Cool Whip you can substitute the same amount whipped cream
- 3 chopped pecans or walnuts this would go if you chose the bottom pecan crust option too
- 1 medium banana sliced right before serving
OPTIONAL - Bananas Foster Sauce for Serving
- 1 stick salted butter 1/2 cup
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup heavy cream or whipping cream
- ½ cup dark rum
- 2 medium bananas sliced in half and then lengthwise in thick slices
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract optional
Before You Begin
Instructions
- Bottom Graham Cracker Crust (for a no bake crust option): In a medium-large bowl, mix melted and cooled unsalted butter with finely ground, processed graham crackers. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Cover and chill until the next layer is ready.
- Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for traditional lush baked crust option): Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, melted and cooled butter, finely ground pecans and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes (25 mins works best for me) until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before adding any layers.
- Cream Cheese Layer(2nd layer): Using a hand electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (2 tablespoons works best for me). Mixture should be even and smooth. Spread evenly on top of the baked and cooled bottom pecan crust or no bake graham cracker crust.
- Banana Cream Pudding Layer: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk and instant banana cream pudding mix until set. It may take 4-5 minutes to thicken. Spread evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.
- Whipped & Toppings Layer: Spread thawed whipped topping on top of the banana cream pudding layer. Optionally, you can freeze the Bananas Fosters Lush overnight (without the Bananas Fosters sauce) for more defined slices. Do not freeze if you substitute homemade whipped cream because it might not hold up like frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip.
Optional Sauce
- Bananas Foster Sauce for Serving: In a large, heavy skillet, over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and add the brown sugar, stir until combined. Add the cream, bananas and nuts. Mixture should bubble but not burn. Pour in dark rum and combine. Using a lighter wand light the mixture and it should go out on it's own. Remove from heat, stir in cinnamon and optional vanilla extract. Ladle over a slice of the lush. You can also keep the sauce in the refrigerator. Please note: Be careful of the open flame! If you don't want to ignite the rum, just cook the sauce for 1-2 minutes.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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PRAinAZ says
This was a hit with the person I gifted it. I cut the recipe in half and made it in a pie pan. Since I only had vanilla pudding, I used a cup of banana in place of a cup of milk. Then I realized after adding it to the pan, that I forgot the other cup of milk. Oops, I figured go ahead as that layer has moisture above and below it, so hoped for the best. I didn’t end up making the foster sauce, but ground up some banana chips, put a circle of them on top of the cool whip and placed some whole banana chips on edge, evenly spaced on top. It was so pretty and my friend are a piece immediately, and raved about it. Thanks for the recipe and all the options, as it inspired this one.
Candice says
If alcohol is not desired in the bananas foster sauce, could another 1/2 cup of heavy cream be substituted? I know rum is traditional in banana foster and enhances the taste but as I have found in the past, some folks do not care for the taste when alcohol is added to sauces such as whiskey sauce for bread pudding. Personally, I could just eat it by itself! Thank you.