Baby, they call it “Church Cake” because Nana’s seen 3 fistfights break out over the last piece in the fellowship hall.
This recipe was scotch-taped inside my Mama's church cookbook, 1987 edition. No name, just “Jiffy Banana Cake + Pineapple.” She always brought this cake and always left with an empty pan.
It’s a Jiffy banana muffin mix baked into a soft cake. Then you layer drained crushed pineapple, vanilla pudding whipped with cream cheese, and a mountain of Cool Whip. Cold, creamy, sweet and no frosting skills needed. You make it the night before. It feeds 15. It disappears in 10 minutes.
Pawpaw calls it “banana split without the banana drama.” Grandbabies call it “breakfast cake.” Nana calls it “don’t show up to potluck without it.”
Let’s make Mama’s Church Cake.
Why Church Cake is Nana’s Potluck Security Blanket
`1. No frosting, no piping bags: Cool Whip + spoon = pretty. Nana’s 57. Her hands don’t pipe rosettes anymore.
`2. Make ahead: Bake + layer the night before. Chill overnight. Day of church = Nana’s drinking coffee, not stressing.
`3. Jiffy mix base: 2 boxes + 2 eggs + milk. No measuring flour. No creaming butter. Done in 5 minutes.
`4. Feeds 15: This 9x13 pan = one square for every deacon + extras for the choir. Or 5 squares for Pawpaw.
`5. Stays cold: Summer potlucks, funerals, VBS. This cake don’t melt like buttercream. Travels to church in a cooler = wins.
Nana’s Church Cake Recipe
_From Mama’s Church Cookbook Collection: Potluck Favorites*
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 25-30 minutes
CHILL TIME: 1-2 hours
TOTAL TIME: 2 hours 45 minutes
SERVINGS: 15
INGREDIENTS:
For the Cake:
- 2 boxes Jiffy Banana Muffin Mix – 7 oz boxes
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup milk – whole milk for Nana
For the Topping:
- 1 can crushed pineapple – 20 oz, drained VERY well. Use this fine mesh strainer!
- 1 package cream cheese – 8 oz, room temperature. Block, not tub
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix – 6 oz size, not sugar-free
- 3 cups cold milk – whole milk makes it richer
- 1 tub Cool Whip – 16 oz, defrosted
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Bake the Jiffy Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease this 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, mix 2 boxes Jiffy Banana Muffin Mix, 2 eggs, and 2/3 cup milk. Stir till just combined. Lumps are fine. Pour in pan. Bake 25-30 min till toothpick comes out clean. Cool COMPLETELY. Nana means it. Warm cake + cold pudding = soup. NANA'S FAVORITE HAND MIXER
Step 2: Beat Cream Cheese
In large mixing bowl, beat 8 oz room temp cream cheese till smooth. No lumps. If it’s lumpy, your cake will be lumpy. Microwave 10 seconds if you forgot to soften.
Step 3: Make Pudding
In another bowl, whisk 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix + 3 cups cold milk for 2 minutes. It’ll thicken. Fold pudding into cream cheese. Beat till smooth. This is your “church frosting.”
Step 4: Drain Pineapple – Nana’s Law
Drain that 20 oz can of crushed pineapple. Then drain it again. Press it in the strainer with a spoon. Watery pineapple = soggy cake. Mama would be disappointed. Use this fine mesh strainer!
Step 5: Layer It Up
Spread drained pineapple over cooled cake. All the way to edges. Spread pudding-cream cheese mix over pineapple. Smooth it pretty. Top with entire tub of Cool Whip. Make swirls with your spoon so it looks fancy.
Step 6: Chill – Hardest Part
Cover with foil. Chill 1-2 hours minimum. Overnight is best. The cake soaks up flavor and sets up. Cut into squares. Serve cold. Watch it vanish.
Nana’s Church Cake Rules + Fixes
Soggy bottom cake
You didn’t drain pineapple with this fine mesh strainer. Or you put topping on warm cake. Nana told you.
Lumpy pudding layer
Cream cheese wasn’t room temp. Beat it alone first. Or use this hand mixer, not spoon.
Cake too sweet
Use “No Sugar Added” crushed pineapple. Or reduce Cool Whip to 12 oz tub. But Pawpaw likes it sweet.
No Jiffy Banana Mix
Use 1 box yellow cake mix + 1 mashed banana + 1 tsp banana extract. But Jiffy is 89 cents, sha.
Need it in 1 hour
Freeze cake 20 min to cool fast. Chill assembled cake 40 min. It’ll work, but overnight is best.
How Nana Serves Church Cake
*Potluck:* Bring in this 9x13 with lid. Bring serving spatula. Stand back – ladies will run.*
Funeral: Brings comfort. Cut small squares. Goes down easy when hearts are heavy.
VBS:* Kids think it’s ice cream cake. Nana don’t correct them.
Tuesday: Because Pawpaw said “we got any of that cold cake left?” Nana always makes 2.
`From Nana’s Kitchen: This cake has been to more baptisms, funerals, and covered dish suppers than Nana’s Bible. It’s Louisiana church history in a pan.
`Tell Nana: Did you drain that pineapple? Does your church fight over it too? How many pieces did Pawpaw “test”? Comment below.
*Shop Nana’s Church Potluck Essentials:*
Fine mesh strainer for pineapple
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