Frozen Banana Split Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 01/14/23
Boozy Banana Split Milkshake Recipe
Westend61 / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Yield: 2 cocktails
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
357 Calories
12g Fat
38g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 357
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 26mg 9%
Sodium 71mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 38g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 9mg 44%
Calcium 155mg 12%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 447mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The banana split is a favorite dessert and it's the perfect inspiration for a cocktail. Sure, you can mix up a banana split martini, but you may also want something a bit more indulgent. The frozen banana split cocktail is the ideal recipe for this instance and it's absolutely delicious.

This particular recipe features two flavored vodkas; it's dominated by chocolate vodka and uses strawberry vodka as a backup. Add to that a frozen banana, a splash of pineapple, and a healthy dose of ice cream and you're ready to blend up this liquid treat.

The result is a tasty, boozy milkshake that can be garnished to your heart's content. Have fun and share this delightful indulgence with a friend or stick it in the freezer and keep it for yourself. Don't worry, we won't tell!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces chocolate vodka

  • 1 ounce strawberry vodka

  • 1 medium frozen banana, sliced

  • 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) milk

  • 1/2 ounce pineapple juice

  • Whipped cream, for optional garnish

  • Chocolate sauce, for optional garnish

  • Maraschino cherry, for optional garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a blender, add the chocolate and strawberry vodkas, banana slices, ice cream, milk, and pineapple juice.

  3. Blend until smooth.

  4. Pour into well-chilled tall glasses.

  5. Garnish with the toppings of your choice, such as whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or maraschino cherries. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • You may need to adjust the thickness of your banana split cocktail while it's still in the blender. Want a thicker drink? Add another scoop of ice cream. For a thinner drink, add a splash of milk. Blend it up and continue making small adjustments until it has reached your desired consistency.
  • If you have too much to fit into your glass, simply store the remainder in the freezer until you're ready for the next round.
  • Chocolate vodka is the star of this cocktail and you have a few options. Two of the better choices are Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate and 360 Double Chocolate. Both are richly flavored and fantastically smooth. Pinnacle Chocolate Whipped is another fun one that you should have an easy time finding.
  • Other than Pinnacle, you will have to look to another brand for the strawberry vodka. For this flavor, some of the recommendations include Smirnoff Strawberry, Stoli Strasberi, and Three Olives Strawberry. 
  • Strawberry vodka is also an easy one that you can make at home. The infusion should take right around a week and it's an ideal project to take on during strawberry season. If you like, you can even sweeten it a bit by adding around 1/2 cup simple syrup to a full 750 ml batch. Technically, this creates a homemade liqueur and it is actually a little tastier than a straight strawberry infusion.
  • While it seems pretty obvious that a banana is a banana, there is a little trick that you'll want to know. When making frozen cocktails with bananas, it's best if you peel and freeze the banana before adding it to the blender. This creates a slightly creamier drink than you would get from the banana sitting on your kitchen counter.

Top Your Banana Split However You Like

As with the banana split, feel free to indulge as much as you like when garnishing this cocktail. While a simple dollop of whipped cream with chopped nuts is nice, you can certainly take it much farther.

Add a cherry or strawberry and maybe a slice or two of frozen bananas if you like. A drizzle of chocolate syrup or caramel is also a fun option, though you could use strawberry syrup or your favorite berry liqueur as well. Candy sprinkles add a festive little touch, as can any of your favorite cake decorating toppings.

Have fun with your finishing touches. After all, this is a boozy banana split, so don't hold back now!

Recipe Variation

No ice cream? Not a problem! Whether you find yourself out of ice cream or simply want to skip the dairy, there is another option. You can create a frozen banana split with ice instead. This creates more of a smoothie-like texture that's a lot like a frozen margarita.

  • To do this, keep the vodkas, banana, and pineapple juice from the recipe. Instead of ice cream and milk, add 1 cup of ice to the blender and blend until smooth.
  • If you want to add a little creaminess, pour in 1 ounce of Irish cream, Rumchata, or half and half (or a nondairy alternative). Add the cream ingredient while the blender is going by drizzling it through the center lid of your blender. Some of these options like to curdle and this little trick should prevent that.

How Strong Is a Frozen Banana Split Cocktail?

Unless you overpour the liquor, most frozen cocktails are in no way strong drinks. This one follows suit and will typically mix up to an alcohol content around 6 percent ABV (12 proof). While that's almost the same as drinking a beer, this cocktail is far more delicious.