No-Bake Chunky Monkey Cake (+Video)
No-Bake Chunky Monkey Cake is a dessert with layers of graham crackers, banana, chocolate pudding and vanilla pudding.
A CHOCOLATE AND BANANA NO-BAKE DESSERT
This divine pudding cake has layers of chocolate and vanilla pudding stacked between graham crackers. Then it’s topped off with slices of banana and crushed graham crackers. I made this cake for our 4th of July barbecue and it was such a huge hit! It was gone in no time at all. The kids and adults were all raving about it afterwards!
CAN I SUBSTITUTE WITH DIFFERENT PUDDING FLAVORS?
Absolutely! You can use pretty much any pudding flavors you love with this recipe. We’ve made this with coconut cream and banana puddings and they’ve all turned out wonderful. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- vanilla instant pudding mix
- cold milk
- chocolate instant pudding mix
- whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
- banana
- graham cracker squares
HOW TO MAKE NO-BAKE CHUNKY MONKEY CAKE:
Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil. Line the bottom of pan with a single layer of graham crackers. You may have to break some so they fit.
In a medium-bowl, add the vanilla pudding mix with 1-1/2 cups of milk. Whisk to combine. Then fold in 1 cup of the cool whip.
Pour the vanilla pudding mixture over the graham crackers. Spread out evenly. Top the vanilla pudding layer with another layer of graham crackers.
In a separate bowl, add the chocolate pudding mix and remaining 1-1/2 cups of milk. Whisk to combine. Fold in the last 1 cup of cool whip. Spread the chocolate pudding mixture over the second layer of graham cracker squares. Cover pan with saran wrap, and place in the refrigerator to set at least 4 hours, or overnight.
When ready to serve, slice the banana in thin slices and spread slices over the cake evenly. Crush a graham cracker or two and sprinkle crumbs over the cake.
Slice and serve!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
No-Bake Chunky Monkey Cake
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounce instant package vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk, divided use
- 3.9 ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 cups whipped topping (COOL WHIP), divided use
- 1 large banana
- 1 box graham cracker squares
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil.
- Line the bottom of pan with a single layer of graham crackers. (You may have to break some so they fit)
- In a medium-bowl, add the vanilla pudding mix with 1-1/2 cups of milk. Whisk to combine.
- Then fold in 1 cup of the Cool Whip.
- Pour the vanilla pudding mixture over the graham crackers. Spread out evenly.
- Top the vanilla pudding layer with another layer of graham crackers.
- In a separate bowl, add the chocolate pudding mix and remaining 1-1/2 cups of milk. Whisk to combine.
- Fold in the last 1 cup of cool whip.
- Spread the chocolate pudding mixture over the second layer of graham cracker squares.
- Cover pan with saran wrap, and place in the refrigerator to set at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to serve, slice the banana in thin slices and spread slices over the cake evenly.
- Crush 1 graham cracker and sprinkle crumbs over the cake. Slice and serve!
Video
Notes
- Keep refrigerated.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: July 2014
Updated & republished: August 2019
No. I found out the hard way that pudding.mixed don’t form up / set with almond milk.
Hello, can you substitute Almond Milk for the dairy milk?
What is the purpose of using foil. Can you use cooking spray?
Hi Noell – of course you could. This just makes it easier to lift out of the pan if you want it to be easier to slice and serve.
I’ve made this twice already. Once with pistachio pudding on the bottom, vanilla on top and sprinkling with chopped pistachios. The second time instead of bananas I put white chocolate curls and crushed gram crackers, we’re not big on bananas here. 🙂
Love those combinations!! Sounds so good!
That really was so delicious and so easy to make with my kiddos.
I had all the ingredients handy and decided to make this. We all really loved it!
My mother made this for dessert and was always a big hit with the family. I'm 75 years old and now make it for my great grandchildren.
My mom made this for years – only she didn''t put the cool whip in the pudding and sheet a layer of bananas on the first level of pudding. – it always goes fast when you make it.
This is an awesome desert. I ha e been making it for years now. Except I call it Ice box cake. I use 3 bananas and put sliced bananas between all layers.
I tired this tonight. Yum! Thank you so much for sharing <3
This looks delicious! So impressive for a no bake recipe.
Hannah | Hannah Bakes Things
Yes, I have made it for years, back when our kids were little and I use sugar free pudding all the time and it is excellent.
My grandma made this when I was a little girl…… So yummy…..
I'm getting out of my chair right now and making this. Hubby will LOVE it.
Can this be made with sugar-free pudding?
Tania
wvlady1960@yahoo.com
Why do you line the pan with foil? Doesn't make the slicing/serving messy?
Debbie Hayes,
That's the nice thing about recipes you can always make them your own. I don't know what English means but you could use thin shortbread cookies or ginger snaps or vanilla wafers, etc. Use your imagination, like different flavered puddings. Vanilla pudding is almost like custard. I think custard is a little richer and I prefer custard.
Oh my this looks absolutely scrum my and will definitely be tried out.
Just a question or two before hand…
1. From Isle of Man (English) so what could be used instead of graham crackers ??
2. Is vanilla pudding the same as our custard.
Cheers Deb x
Digestive biscuits are an excellent substitute!
Could you substitute vanilla wafers or chessman cookies?
I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. 🙂
Okay, graham crackers just earned a place of honor on this week's grocery list. 🙂