All-American Banana Split

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 5 min.

Makes

1 serving

Updated: Oct. 25, 2023
In 1904, the first banana split recipe was made here in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, by David Strickler, an apprentice pharmacist at a local drugstore. We still use his original formula when we make banana splits in our restaurants. —Melissa Blystone, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
All-American Banana Split Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 medium banana, peeled and split lengthwise
  • 1 scoop each vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream
  • 2 tablespoons sliced fresh strawberries or 1 tablespoon strawberry ice cream topping
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple chunks or 1 tablespoon pineapple ice cream topping
  • 2 tablespoons whipped cream
  • 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
  • 2 maraschino cherries with stems

Directions

  1. Place banana in a dessert dish; place scoops of ice cream between banana. Top with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.
Banana Split Tips

Can you serve a banana split in a different type of dish?

If you don't have a banana split dish at home, you're not alone! While you can easily order one online, you can also look at your local thrift store to see if they have any vintage banana split dishes. Otherwise, just find a long, shallow dish to use at home. If you don't have one that will do the trick, you could simply slice up the banana even further so that the sundae will fit into a regular bowl, like in other ice cream sundae recipes.

How can you make a banana split your own?

While classic banana splits use scoops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, you can be as creative with the ice cream flavors as you'd like. If it were up to me, I'd go with vanilla custard, peanut butter ice cream and cookie dough ice cream. You can also swap out the toppings and sauces. Instead of chocolate syrup, consider salted caramel sauce, strawberry syrup or peanut butter ice cream topping. Use blueberries, raspberries or another fresh fruit to replace the pineapple and strawberry, or skip the fresh fruit toppings altogether and go with something a little more indulgent like Oreo crumbles, sprinkles or chopped peanut butter cups. Just keep the split banana as the base so you're still making a banana split!

Can you make banana splits ahead of time?

Since making a banana split takes more work than serving up scoops of plain ice cream, you might be tempted to make the sundaes ahead of time, especially if they're on the menu for your summer barbecue. But banana splits (and banana split-inspired recipes) are best eaten fresh. You could chop up the strawberries and pineapple a few hours ahead, but the bananas should be split right before serving so they don't turn brown. Pull the ice cream out of the freezer about 10 minutes ahead of time so it's easier to scoop.

—Lauren Pahmeier, Taste of Home Associate Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 710 calories, 31g fat (17g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 184mg sodium, 107g carbohydrate (68g sugars, 6g fiber), 11g protein.