Banana Split

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

A banana split comes from the bygone era when pharmacies also had fully operating soda shops inside. Traditionally, a banana split starts with one banana that’s cut in half lengthwise, with three scoops of ice cream nestled in between. It’s finished with strawberries, pineapple, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and, of course, cherries on top. While there are many ice cream sundae recipes, none are so nostalgic, playful and welcoming as the classic banana split.

Learning how to make a banana split is just as straightforward as you might think. We’ve also included some tips and tricks so you can customize your banana split to your liking.

Banana Split Ingredients

• Banana: Choose a fully yellow banana for a banana split. A few spots are OK, but a brown banana will be too soft for a banana split. (Save those for banana bread recipes.) A banana with a tinge of green is fine, but not too green or the banana will be starchy and flavorless.
• Ice cream: A classic banana split recipe uses one scoop each of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream.
• Strawberries: Use fresh, cut-up strawberries if they’re local and in season, or a strawberry ice cream topping if you want something with a bit more sweetness.
• Pineapple: Like the strawberries, fresh pineapple or pineapple ice cream topping works for this banana split.
• Whipped cream: Go the easy route with canned whipped cream or a thawed frozen whipped topping. Or, forgo the stabilizers and preservatives and make your own sweetened whipped cream at home.
• Peanuts: We love the crunchy element that chopped peanuts add to a banana split recipe. Feel free to leave them out, or use candied pecans, macadamia nuts or pistachios instead.
• Chocolate syrup: Whether you’re loyal to your favorite store-bought brand or you have a stash of our easy, delicious chocolate sauce in your fridge, you’ll need at least 1 tablespoon of it for this banana split.
• Cherries: Two maraschino cherries are the finishing touch for a banana split. Fresh cherries work too. Just be careful of their inedible pit. Bonus points for beauty if the cherries still have their perky stems attached.
  

  Directions
  

  Step 1: Scoop the ice cream

  

Place the three scoops of ice cream in a row in a dessert dish.

Step 2: Arrange the banana halves

Place one banana half on each side of the ice cream, letting the ice cream sit in the middle.

Step 3: Add the toppings

Top your banana split with the strawberries, pineapple, whipped cream, chopped peanuts, chocolate syrup and cherries. Serve the banana split immediately.

Banana Split Variations

• Scoop your favorite ice cream flavors: While classic banana splits have scoops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, you can be as creative with unique ice cream flavors as you like. If it were up to me, I’d go with vanilla custard, peanut butter ice cream and cookie dough ice cream.
• Change the toppings: 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.
• Caramelize the bananas: Split the banana open lengthwise, as you would for this recipe, then sprinkle the cut-open sides with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Place a skillet over medium heat, and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Place the bananas cut-side down in the skillet, and let the brown sugar and bananas caramelize, about two minutes. Carefully flip the bananas and caramelize the other side for a minute more. Promptly remove the pan from the heat and place the bananas cut-side up in your serving dish, then scoop on your ice cream and other toppings.
  

  Ingredients

  • 1 scoop each vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream
  • 1 medium banana, peeled and split lengthwise
  • 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
  • 1 tablespoon caramel sundae syrup
  • 2 maraschino cherries with stems
    

    Directions

    1. Place ice cream in a dessert dish; add banana. Top with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.

  Nutrition Facts

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