Banana Split Dessert
Banana Split Dessert is a no-bake recipe with a graham cracker crust, a cream cheese pineapple layer, strawberries, bananas, and cream with cherries on top! This dessert is always a crowd favorite!
BANANA SPLIT DESSERT
Can I tell you that this dessert has been in the making for over two years? I was brainstorming a dessert for our family reunion two years ago and had tried several recipes. None of them ever tasted like what I imagined a banana split dessert to be.
It’s funny that when you cook enough you can envision what you want to make and make it happen!
It all starts with a graham cracker crust topped with a cream cheese/crushed pineapple mixture. This part I had to test several times to get to the right consistency.
Next, top with sliced bananas. I like to put them on the bottom because the less air contact they have the less they are likely to brown.
If you want to prepare this dessert ahead of time you can make the crust and cream cheese layer in advanced but I wouldn’t recommend doing the fruit more than a couple hours ahead of time.
Finally, top it with homemade whipped cream (if you use Cool Whip I don’t want to know about it 🙂), chocolate syrup, maraschino cherries, and nuts.
If you’re going for authenticity, well as authentic as you can get to a banana split without actual ice cream, you’ll be absolutely happy with this dessert.
To prevent the bananas from browning you can brush them with lemon or pineapple juice. If you are serving soon after making you shouldn’t have to worry about it.
OTHER CAKE RECIPES
- Banana Split icebox Cake
- Chunky Monkey Eclair Cake
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- Strawberry and Cream Cake
- Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Eclair Cake
- Pina Colada Poke Cake
Banana Split Dessert
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
Pineapple Cream Cheese Layer:
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 16 ounces strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 3 sliced bananas
- chocolate syrup
- nuts
- maraschino cherries, (around a 8 ounce can)
Whipped Cream:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press into the bottom of the pan firmly. Place in the fridge or freezer while preparing the filling to help it set.
- For the Pineapple Cream Cheese Layer: With a mixer, cream together the cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and sugar. Spread over graham cracker crust.
- Layer the strawberries and bananas on top. You may need less or more. The quantities are just approximate.
- For the Whipped Cream: In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Do not overwhip. Spread over bananas and strawberries.
- Chill until serving. Drizzle with nuts and chocolate syrup before serving or on each individual slice.
Made this for a family dessert night and it was the perfect no-bake dessert. It was a hit! Super easy recipe.
Yay!!!
Banana split calls for a can of crushed pineapple. I cant see anywhere if the pineapple is to be drained or if syrup is included in recipe. Thank you
Karen,
The recipe ingredients call for drained pineapple.
For the whipped cream: Should you stabilize the heavy cream?
I use the recipe as written and it’s fine
Can I use frozen strawberries (thawed) or is it better to use fresh strawberries ?
I always prefer fresh!
Could you use cool whip in place of the whipped cream? I’m Lactose Intolerant and can’t have the heavy whipping cream.
Of course!!
My daughter found this desert and made it a few years ago. It is sooooo good! I love your recipe as is, no changes. So yummy!
Yay! Happy to hear that!
Love this I must try
Thanks
May I substitute Splenda for the 2(1/4 cups) of sugar?
Do you have the sugar content or calorie count for this? I would love to make this for work, but a couple are diabetics.
Shoot. I don’t. I’m afraid if I calculated it, it would be off. It all depends on the brands you use.
Looks great! Can’t wait to try it.
Hope you do.
I made this but used chocolate chips instead of syrup. I used fresh pecans (toasted in skillet). Recipe says one & half cups graham cracker crumbs next time I make it 9×13 I will double for crust because it made thin crust using. Recommended amount. But we really enjoyed it & friends asked for recipe. Thank you.
Serving this for our Cinco deMayo dessert tomorrow. Can’t wait. Thank you for the tip about the banana tip.
Can this be successfully made without the crust? I am not a fan of graham crackers.
You can also just pour a can of 7-up over your bananas to keep them from turning brown. When finished split the pop with the kiddos.
Can you make this vegan and how?
Looks easy and so yum! Nice way to get my kids to eat fresh fruits… they are pulling me into the kitchen to make it right away!!!Â
I have been making this cake for years and everyone loves it. 2 things thing I do different is I add a layer of Banana Pudding and then sliced banana’s, put crushed pineapple on top of that, add cool whip then Choc. syrup.
Great idea!
I love your new site! And this recipe looks amazing! We’ll have to try it out for dessert tonight!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Thank you!
Christy, the bananas will not discolor if you slice them into a little water with lemon juice in it. Just enough to cover them Then you can take them out of there when you are ready to use them and they will be fine.
Thank you. I do that but they still tend to brown over a couple of days.