The Perfect Banana Split

Written by
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Expert baker and published author, Carroll Pellegrinelli shares her knowledge of bread baking and desserts.
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Carroll Pellegrinelli
Tested by
Danilo Alfaro Reviewed on 02/13/20 by
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Recipe Testing Panel
Danilo Alfaro
Updated 09/21/20
Perfect Banana Split
The Spruce
  • Total: 15 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Serving: 1 to 2 servings
  • Yield: 1 banana split
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
461 Calories
24g Fat
57g Carbs
6g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 2
Amount per serving
Calories 461
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 15g 74%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 26mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Protein 6g
Calcium 68mg 5%
*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.)

Love the taste of banana mixed with the creamy cold texture of ice cream and the rich flavor of chocolate? Is a banana split your ultimate comfort food? If so, try this easy-to-make recipe for a banana split that I'm sure you'll want to make over and over again.

A 23-year-old pharmacist apprentice named David Evans Strickler is credited with inventing the banana triple ice cream sundae in 1904. Back then, this was a high priced dessert costing 10 cents, or twice the price of other ice cream sundaes where Strickler worked at the Tassel Pharmacy, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The price didn't deter customers, and the treat became popular throughout the country.

The 100th anniversary of the city of Latrobe celebrated the invention of the banana split in 2004. That year the National Ice Cream Retailers Association (NICRA) dubbed this Pennsylvania city as the banana split birthplace.

A classic banana split it a combination of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream served with a banana cut length-wise and toppings like chocolate syrup and whipped cream. However, you can tweak the classic formula according to your tastes. Use your choice of ice cream flavors (as long as they go nicely together) and switch out the toppings to make the favorite dessert your own.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Banana Split Ingredients
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  2. Place the banana slices against sides of long, narrow, shallow dish.

    Place banana slices
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  3. Place the scoops of ice cream in a row between the banana slices.

    Ice scream scoops on bananas.
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  4. Squirt the chocolate syrup on the vanilla and strawberry ice cream.

    Chocolate syrup on a banana split.
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  5. Spoon the marshmallow creme over the chocolate ice cream.

    Marshmallow creme on a banana split.
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  6. Top each mound with the whipped cream. Sprinkle with nuts and top each with a cherry.

    Perfect banana split.
    The Spruce

Recipe Variations

  • Try swapping one or more ice cream flavor for another favorite, like pistachio, cookies and cream, or cherry ice cream.
  • Try different syrups like butterscotch, caramel, or strawberry sauce.
  • A variety of chopped, toasted nuts like peanuts, pecans, almonds, or pistachios are all delicious sprinkled on top.
  • Add other toppings like toasted coconut or sprinkles.

Tips

  • The long, narrow banana dishes can be found in your local grocery or home goods store. Tip: When having a big dinner party, you can also use glass banana split dishes for placing butter around the table.
  • If you're having a party or feeding a crowd, arrange all of the ingredients on a table or buffet in the other they are used, starting with the dishes and ending with spoons. Let everyone make their own banana split for a fun, interactive dessert.