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Donkey Kong Mario Birthday Cake: Moist Banana Pudding Layer Recipe.

A towering banana spice cake filled with fluffy banana pudding, frosted with cream cheese frosting, and decorated to resemble a tropical volcano straight out of Mario Kart.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • My Preferred Method
  • Use a Fat Daddio's Dolly Varden cake pan WITH the heating core rod installed. Slice the baked cake into three horizontal layers. Add an 8-inch round cake layer underneath for extra height and stability. Bake at 325 F for 45-60 min or until a wooden skewer comes out clean
  • Alternative Method
  • One 8-inch cake pan
  • One 6-inch cake pan
  • One 4-inch cake pan
  • Stack and shave the edges to create a cone-shaped volcano.

Ingredients

Banana Spice Cake

  • 2 16.25-ounce box yellow cake mix
  • Ingredients called for on the cake mix box except use milk instead of water
  • Milk same amount as the water listed on the box
  • 6 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven according to package directions.
  • Grease your cake pans with oil and flour — coat the inside with a thin layer of oil, add a spoonful of flour, shake to coat, then tap out the excess flour.
  • Combine the cake mix, milk, eggs, oil, mashed bananas, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
  • Mix until smooth and well combined.
  • Bake according to package directions or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely then slice your volcano into thirds before wrapping and freezing.

Banana Pudding Filling

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 2 packages 3.4 ounces each instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, or to taste
  • 1½ cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • In a large bowl whisk together the cold milk, and pudding mixes until thickened.
  • Beat in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks.
  • Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before assembling the cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces 226g full-fat brick cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup 113g unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups 360g confectioners' sugar
  • Additional ¼ cup 30g confectioners' sugar if needed
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • About a tablespoon of cocoa powder
  • 1 drop yellow food coloring optional to warm up the tan color to appear more sandy

Instructions

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
  • Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until fluffy.
  • Add cocoa powder, cinnamon and yellow food coloring to create a sandy tan color.
  • If needed add the extra confectioners' sugar for a stiffer consistency.

Decorations

Sand

  • Crushed Nilla Wafers or Biscoff Cookies

Lava Drip

  • 1 can dulce de leche
  • OR carmel sauce mixed with equal parts melted white chocolate

Garnishes

  • Donkey Kong Go Kart figurine
  • Toy palm trees
  • Toy bananas

Instructions

Assembly

  • Remove frozen cake layers
  • Place the first layer on a cake board.
  • Pipe a ring of cream cheese frosting around the outer edge of the cake layer to create a dam. (See frosting dam tip above.)
  • Spread a layer of banana pudding filling inside the frosting ring.
  • Repeat with remaining layers until the volcano is assembled.
  • Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting and chill. (See crumb coat tip above.)
  • Frost the entire cake smoothly with the cream cheese frosting.
  • Press crushed wafer cookies around the bottom of the volcano to resemble sandy beach terrain.
  • Chill the cake in the refrigerator or freezer until firm.

Creating the Lava

  • Microwave the dulce de leche for 5–10 seconds until slightly loosened. Or mix caramel sauce with melted white chocolate.
  • Transfer to a tipless piping bag or a squeeze bottle.
  • Test the caramel on your wrist to make sure the drips are the right thickness. You want them to slowly drip down and then stop running down your arm. If it is running too much wait for it to cool more.
  • Wrist test: Drop a small amount on the inside of your wrist. It should feel warm but not hot, and move slowly when you tilt your wrist — like honey, not water. If it runs immediately, let it cool a minute. If it barely moves, give it another 5-second burst.
  • Pipe slowly from the top edge of the volcano, letting drips fall naturally down the sides like lava. It is important that your cake is COLD for this step.

Final Decoration

  • Arrange the Donkey Kong figurine near the volcano.
  • Add toy palm trees and toy bananas around the sandy base.
  • Create a tropical beach scene inspired by Mario Kart's volcano tracks.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Storage: Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Because of the banana pudding filling, this cake needs to stay chilled until serving — don't leave it out at room temperature for more than an hour.  Keep it cold until the candles are lit.