The Ultimate Banana Split
Layers of fresh banana, ice cream, hot fudge, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles, and a cherry on top. It’s the ultimate summer dessert.
The heat this summer is relentless. We’ve been trying to escape it as much as possible, whether it’s to the fountain at the park or an afternoon hike through the mountains. A few Sundays ago we decided to take a drive through some mountain passes and ended up in a small town cafe, where we enjoyed an old-fashioned banana split out on the patio.
It was nostalgic and delicious. I can’t remember the last time I had one. Before we had even licked the bowl clean, I was plotting to make my own ultimate banana split.
Sure, I could have taken the easy way out— just purchased everything from the grocery store and assembled it at home. But where’s the fun in that? I did cheat and use store-bought ice cream though, because I didn’t want to do that many dishes.
“Ultimate” is definitely the right word to describe this treat, as it holds nothing back. Bananas topped with ice cream, topped with hot fudge and strawberry sauce, topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and nuts, and finally finished with a cherry. Whew! You’ll think you’ve died and gone to ice cream heaven.
Now that I’ve let the banana split back into my life, I don’t think it’s ever leaving.
The Ultimate Banana Split
Ingredients
For the banana splits:
- 2 bananas , sliced lengthwise
- 2 scoops chocolate ice cream
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 2 scoops strawberry ice cream
- Hot fudge sauce , recipe follows
- Strawberry sauce , recipe follows
- Whipped cream , recipe follows
- Chopped nuts
- Sprinkles
- Maraschino cherries
For the hot fudge:
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder , not dutch process (21 grams)
- ⅓ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (71 grams)
- ½ cup light corn syrup (115 ml)
- ⅔ cup heavy cream (160 ml)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate , chopped (170 grams)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , cubed (28 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the strawberry sauce:
- 1 pound strawberries , hulled (455 grams)
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
- 1 tablespoon grand marnier or other orange liqueur , optional
For the whipped cream:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (237 ml)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the fudge sauce:
- Combine the cocoa powder, brown sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, salt, and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
- Serve warm. Store leftovers in the fridge.
To make the strawberry sauce:
- Purée the strawberries and lemon juice. Pour into a small saucepan and add the sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the orange liqueur, if using.
- Serve warm or cold. Store leftovers in the fridge.
To make the whipped cream:
- Beat the heavy whipping cream until thickened. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat just to stiff peaks. Use immediately.
To assemble the banana splits:
- In either 2 small bowls or 1 larger bowl, lay down the sliced bananas. Cover with the scoops of ice cream. Drizzle with hot fudge and strawberry sauce. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with nuts and sprinkles. Place a maraschino cherry on top. Serve immediately.
Gorgeous Banana Split, Annalise! Love the photos, too. Nothing like sharing banana splits in the summertime, whilst enjoying the outdoor breeze. So nostalgic and always hits the spot! Thanks for sharing! xo
Thanks Stacy! I was so happy to stumble across one again after so many years without banana splits to make my summers complete. Never again!
UMMMMM. This looks like the banana split of mah dreamz! I want someone to give me one of these, when they ask me to marry him.
Haha! It would be hard to turn down a proposal with a banana split! 🙂
This really is the perfect sundae! Awesome recipe!
Oh Damn. I need to make this right now. I have never had a traditional ice cream spilt before! I have not lived until I make this.
You’ve never had a banana split? You totally need to remedy that! Such a classic summer treat.
Oh, banana split! It’s probably one of the first American desserts I had heard of back to the times when I started getting interested in cooking! Actually I’ve never tried it myself but I think the time has finally come!
xo, Elisa
Definitely an American classic everyone should experience! Let me know if you try it!
We so need to do this. We have a little voice always begging for banana splits and we have yet to do it!
Listen to that little voice, she’s a genius! 🙂
I have not had a banana split in years and this looks like it’s the time to break that dry spell!
It is definitely time! Banana splits are for grown ups too. 🙂
This sounds DIVINE! But I have to tell you I can not eat a banana split without pineapple topping, I love the way it mixes with the chocolate and the strawberry topping to me it’s not a banana split without it. I am saving your recipe and maybe will try to come up with my own home made pineapple topping to add to it. No store bought toppings for me, just not the same. I am so hooked on Sonic’s real ice cream Pineapple sundaes that store bought pineapple topping just doesn’t do the trick anymore. So thanks for posting, and will save until I can find a recipe for the pineapple topping.
How could I overlook the pineapple topping?! While I haven’t had it on top of all of the banana splits I’ve enjoyed, it really does add a certain something. Let me know if you find a good recipe for a homemade topping, I’d love to try it. And my apologies on the oversight!
On my god! This is amazing 🙂
just missing the carmel sauce