Looking for the perfect no-fuss dessert that screams summer in every bite? This Strawberry Banana Dessert is light, creamy, fruity, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for BBQs, potlucks, or just a sweet family treat. Plus, it’s made in a 13 x 9″ dish and kept refrigerated, so it’s as easy to serve as it is to make.

Strawberry Banana Dessert has layers of delicious pudding, fluffy cake, and Cool Whip to top it off.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Banana Dessert

Quick & Easy: Made with a boxed strawberry cake mix, instant banana pudding, and whipped topping.
No Fancy Tools: Just a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and your fridge.
Versatile & Customizable: Add fresh strawberries, banana slices, and crushed vanilla cookies for extra flair.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for prepping the night before a big event.

A summertime favorite chilled dessert flavored with strawberries and bananas.

Making Strawberry Banana Dessert

This is a really easy dessert to make using cake mix, pudding mix, and Cool Whip, but there are still steps you have to take.

First, make the cake.

Just follow the directions on the box by adding the eggs, oil, and water per instructions. Then, bake it as the box says for a 13 x 9″ baking dish. Once done, set it on a wire rack to cool.

Next step is to poke holes in that perfect cake.

Poking Holes in a Cake

I used to use a wooden spoon for this, but it seems all my wooden spoons now are rectangle, and that’s just too big.

I saw someone else recommend a large drinking straw, so I tried it. You know, the kind you use for a Slurpee or a blended margarita. Works great! You poke holes and the little cores stack up inside the straw. After about 5 – 6 holes, blow out the little cores from the other end of the straw.

Super easy, plus it’s a handy little snack while you’re busy working in the kitchen. More importantly, it makes clean, crisp holes with plenty of room for the pudding.

Poke at least six or seven across the 9″ way, then that same distance together going the long way. Lots of holes, but it’s worth it. Yummy!

Strawberry Banana Dessert is a cool, sweet, and refreshing summertime treat.

Break out the pudding.

Once the cake is room temperature, make the pudding. Mix the two boxes of instant pudding with the amount of cold milk it calls for on the box. Mine said two cups per box, so I used four cups milk for two boxes of pudding.

Stir the pudding and milk together, and as soon as it’s mixed, pour it evenly over the holes in the cake. The pudding will start setting up (getting thicker) so the sooner you pour, the better. Why? Because the thinner it is, the better it goes into those holes.

Once the pudding is on the cake, refrigerate for about 20 minutes. Let the pudding set up a bit, then bring it back out to add the topping.

Dollop the whipped topping evenly over the cake, then gently spread it being careful to not mix it with the pudding.

Once the whipped topping is on it’s technically done, but wait, there’s more.

First, this cake is going to be good now, but it will be amazing if you refrigerate it for at least four hours and let that fridge magic happen. You know, when all the delicious flavors blend together and everything is perfectly chilled.

Second, you can pipe extra whipped topping for a decorative flare, or garnish the top if you wish. Or both!

Cool and creamy pudding is infused into this light and fluffy cake mix, topped with whipped topping.

Tips & Garnish

Banana Browning Tip: If you’re making this in advance, wait to add the fresh banana slices until right before serving.
Extra Flavor: Add four or five quartered strawberries on top for extra fruitiness.
Make Ahead: Make this dessert a day ahead giving it time get that fridge magic where the flavors blend.
Whipped Cream Substitute: You can use homemade whipped cream if you prefer, but Cool Whip holds up better over time.

More Summertime Favorite Desserts

…and so much more under the Desserts category. Click HERE and I’ll pop you over.

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Strawberry Banana Dessert

This Strawberry Banana Cake Dessert is the ultimate easy layered dessert that brings nostalgia and fruity freshness to every bite. Whether you're feeding a crowd or treating yourself to a sweet slice of summer, this chilled treat is guaranteed to be a hit.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Chill Time2

Total Time2 45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 13 x 9, Bananas, cake mix, comfort food, fresh strawberries, make ahead, pudding, summertime favorite

Servings:

Calories: 129kcal

Author: Sweet Ordeal

Ingredients

13.25 oz. box strawberry cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water per box instructions)
2 3.4 oz. boxes instant banana pudding
4 cups milk, cold
8 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed
OPTIONAL GARNISH: fresh quartered strawberries, fresh sliced bananas, crushed vanilla cookies.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 13 x 9" baking dish.
Make cake batter per directions on box (eggs, water, and oil). Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Bake, setting timer per instructions for a 13 x 9" dish.
Cool cake on a wired rack. Poke holes all over cake with wooden spoon or large straw. When cake is room temperature, make pudding.
In medium bowl, mix dry pudding mix and milk per instant pudding instructions on boxes. Once mixed, quickly pour evenly over holes in cake. Spread evenly, then refrigerate until set (approx. 20 min.).
Dollop frozen whipped topping over cake, then gently spread to evenly cover top. Best if refrigerated over night, but at least 4 hours for flavors to blend.
Optional Garnish: quartered strawberries, and/or crushed vanilla cookies, also sliced banana right before serving. Keep refrigerated. Enjoy!