Ingredients:

  • 1 standard box Yellow Cake Mix (15.25 oz)
  • 3 large Eggs (as directed by box)
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil (as directed by box)
  • 1 cup Water (as directed by box)
  • 1 standard can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1/2 cup Caramel Sauce (or Dulce de Leche)
  • 2 small boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (3.4 oz total)
  • 2 1/2 cups Cold Whole Milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Cold Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 3–4 medium Ripe Bananas (sliced thinly)
  • 1 cup crushed Vanilla Wafers (Nilla Wafers)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven according to cake mix instructions. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. Combine cake batter ingredients according to box directions and pour into the prepared pan.
  2. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean (approximately 30–35 minutes).
  3. Remove the cake from the oven. While still warm (about 5 minutes post-bake), use a long skewer or the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes liberally all over the surface, ensuring deep penetration.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and the caramel sauce until fully combined. Slowly pour this soak mixture evenly over the warm, poked cake, ensuring it seeps into all the holes.
  5. Let the cake cool completely to room temperature to allow maximum absorption of the soak.
  6. While the cake cools, prepare the instant vanilla pudding according to package directions using the specified amount of cold milk. Allow the pudding to set for about 5 minutes.
  7. Once the cake is cool, spread the prepared vanilla pudding evenly over the top layer. Cover the entire cake loosely and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or preferably overnight) to allow the layers to set.
  8. Just before serving, whip the cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together using an electric or hand whisk until stiff peaks form.
  9. Gently spread the homemade whipped cream topping over the chilled pudding layer. Arrange thin slices of fresh banana decoratively across the top.
  10. Crush the vanilla wafers and sprinkle them generously over the whipped cream and bananas. Serve immediately from the refrigerator.