Banana split is a delicious dish that is suitable to be enjoyed on any occasion. While there are various versions of the banana split, the traditional recipe uses bananas, three different flavors of ice cream, and a variety of delicious toppings. If you want to try something different, you can make a healthier banana split using frozen yogurt. You can also make a banana split parfait or enjoy a banana split milkshake!
Ingredients
Traditional Banana Split
- 1 banana, peeled and cut crosswise
- 1 scoop chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ice cream topping/strawberry syrup
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ice cream/pineapple syrup topping
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) chocolate syrup
- Whipped cream, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 g) chopped nuts
- 1 to 3 maraschino cherries with sprigs
1 serving
Healthy Banana Split
- 1 banana, peeled and cut crosswise
- cup (125 g) strawberry yogurt
- cup (30 g) black berries
- cup (30 g) raspberries
- cup (60 g) granola
- Small chocolate granules, for garnish
1 serving
Banana Split Parfait
- 60 grams of melted chocolate (medium sweet)
- 3 bananas, peeled and chopped
- 3 bananas, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup (225 g) diced pineapple
- 4 scoops strawberry ice cream
- 4 cherries, seeds removed
4 servings
Banana Split Milk Shake
- 2 cups (290 g) vanilla ice cream
- 1 banana, peeled and chopped
- cup (120 ml) milk
- teaspoon vanilla extract
- Hot fudge, maraschino cherries and whipped cream, for garnish
- Meses, for garnish (optional)
1 to 2 servings
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making a Traditional Banana Split
Step 1. Place the bananas in a narrow bowl lengthwise
Don't forget to peel the banana first, then cut it lengthwise into 2 parts. Arrange the bananas in a narrow bowl lengthwise, with the bent end facing up.
You can buy a bowl made especially for banana splits
Step 2. Add three scoops of ice cream in the middle, between the two banana slices
A scoop of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream is the most traditional choice. Another popular choice is 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Step 3. Pour the sauce and toppings over the ice cream
If you want to make a really traditional banana split, pour the chocolate sauce over the chocolate ice cream, the strawberry sauce over the strawberry ice cream, and the pineapple sauce over the vanilla ice cream. Or, you can pour chocolate sauce over all the ice cream.
- If you don't have strawberry syrup or topping, you can use 2 tablespoons (25 g) of diced strawberries.
- If you don't have pineapple topping or syrup, you can use 2 tablespoons (30 g) of pineapple chunks. If you don't like pineapple, try replacing it with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of caramel syrup.
Step 4. Add whipped cream spray
You can add whipped cream on top of each ice cream or spray it lengthwise. Products that are commonly sold in stores and equipped with nozzles are the easiest to use. You can also make your own whipped cream and spray it using a piping bag with a star-shaped tip.
Step 5. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top
If you don't have nuts or don't like them, you can replace them with chopped walnuts. Another delicious and colorful option is to use meses.
Step 6. As a final touch, you can add maraschino cherries on top
Place one cherry in the middle of the banana split. If you really like maraschino cherries, place one fruit on top of each whipped cream spray.
Method 2 of 4: Making Healthy Banana Splits
Step 1. Freeze the yogurt first
Measure the yogurt into a freezer-safe container, then freeze until solid. The yogurt should be soft enough that you can scoop it out, but not too hard like a rock.
- If you don't like strawberry yogurt, try vanilla yogurt.
- You don't have to freeze the yogurt. If you prefer liquid yogurt, click here to continue.
Step 2. Scoop out the yogurt and freeze it until it is solid
Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out two scoops of frozen yogurt. Place each scoop of yogurt in a muffin tin (in separate bowls). Place the muffin tin in the freezer and leave until you are ready to serve.
Step 3. Place the bananas in a serving bowl
Peel the banana first, then cut it lengthwise into two halves. Place the two banana slices in a long serving bowl with the ends facing up.
Step 4. Place the yogurt between the two banana slices
If the yogurt is frozen, remove it from the muffin tin first, then place it between the banana slices. If you're using regular yogurt, use a spoon to place the yogurt into a serving bowl, between two banana slices.
Step 5. As a finishing touch, you can add berries and granola
Blackberries and raspberries make delicious choices, but you can also try blueberries. Don't forget to add granola too. Granola is similar to chopped nuts that are usually sprinkled on top of a banana split.
If you're using vanilla yogurt, consider adding diced strawberries. The addition of strawberries will give the banana split a more traditional taste
Step 6. Sprinkle cocoa powder if desired
Dark chocolate or moderately sweet chocolate will taste great, but you can also use milk or white chocolate. To make banana splits healthier, there's no need to add chocolate at all.
Method 3 of 4: Making Banana Split Parfait
Step 1. Melt the chocolate
Place the slightly sweetened chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 30 second intervals until the chocolate melts. Stir the chocolate chips with a spoon or fork between heating intervals. Set aside this melted chocolate first.
- Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate chips in a double-boiler.
- If you want something more practical, you can buy a bottle of chocolate sauce and skip the melting process.
Step 2. Toss in the banana slices along with the chopped walnuts
Peel three bananas and cut them into 0.5 cm lengths. Add the sliced bananas along with the chopped walnuts. Set aside about 4 teaspoons of walnuts to garnish the parfait.
Step 3. Arrange the layers of pineapple, banana and ice cream in a parfait glass
Prepare four parfait glasses. Divide the diced pineapple evenly in each glass, then layer the walnut-coated banana on top. Place a scoop of ice cream into each glass.
- If you don't like strawberry ice cream, try chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Both are used in the traditional banana split.
- As a healthier option, use vanilla yogurt instead of ice cream.
Step 4. Garnish the parfait with melted chocolate, chopped walnuts, and cherries
Use a small spoon to scoop out the melted chocolate, and pour it over the parfait. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts over each parfait, and place one cherry on top as a finishing touch.
- For a traditional banana split feel, use maraschino cherries.
- If you want a more traditional banana split, add a spray of whipped cream first.
Method 4 of 4: Making Banana Split Milk Shake
Step 1. Put the ice cream, banana, milk and vanilla in a blender
If vanilla ice cream isn't your favourite, replace it with chocolate or strawberry ice cream. You can also add strawberry or chocolate syrup to enhance the vanilla ice cream flavor.
For a more varied taste, add a few pieces of strawberries
Step 2. Run the blender until all the ingredients are smooth
Every now and then, you'll need to turn off the blender for a moment, and push the still-coarse pieces down with a rubber spatula.
Step 3. Pour the milkshake into a tall serving glass
You can also pour it into two smaller glasses and get 2 servings.
Step 4. Garnish the whipped cream with whipped cream
Whipped cream in cans with nozzles is easiest to use. You can also make your own whipped cream and squirt it in a triangular bag with a star-shaped tip.
Step 5. As a finishing touch, you can add chocolate sauce and maraschino cherries
You can use plain chocolate sauce or hot fudge. If you want to get a more luxurious milkshake, add a sprinkle of colorful meses. For a more traditional dessert, you can use chopped nuts or walnuts.
Add long-stemmed spoons or colorful straws for serving
Tips
- Appearance becomes very important in serving banana split.
- You can eliminate the ingredients you don't like and replace them with something you like more.
- Try using ice cream with different flavors and other toppings.
- Try different combinations, such as chocolate syrup over strawberry ice cream and strawberry syrup over vanilla ice cream.
