Banana Cheesecake

We love cheesecake and bananas are one of our favorite fruits. combine the two together and you have a fantastic dessert. It is very easy to make, so don't let the lengthy directions fool you into thinking it is not. The hardest part of this recipe is in waiting for it to cool and set up so you can have a slice. 

Ingredients

Crust

1 stick butter, melted
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 egg yolk
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. ripe banana, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla

Filling

3 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
3 ripe bananas
1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs, room temperature
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray or butter the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. 

In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk.

Stir in flour, salt, banana and vanilla until thoroughly combined.

Put the batter in the pan, spreading out to cover the bottom. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or just until it is set. Cool.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed for 3 minutes.  Be sure to scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally. 

Reduce mixer speed to medium low.  Slowly add pieces of banana into the cream cheese, mixing well after each addition, so they are fully incorporated into the cream cheese. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, occasionally. Slowly turn the mixer to medium high speed and beat for 2 minutes.

Reduce mixer speed to medium low.  Add the sweetened condensed milk and beat for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

 Set the mixer to low. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

 Stir in vanilla.

 Pour the mixture over the baked and cooled crust. 

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until 2 inches of the edges are puffed. The center should wobble slightly when the pan is gently shaken. 

Turn the oven off, but do not remove the cheesecake. Prop the door open about 6 inches and leave the cheesecake to cool in the oven for 30 to 60 minutes. 

 Remove the banana cheesecake from the oven and place on a wire rack to finish cooling. Place in the refrigerator and chill at least 4 hours. 

Cut and serve with whipped cream.