Classic Banana Split

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Easy

A banana halved lengthwise and topped with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, sauces, whipped cream, nuts and cherries. It is the classic American ice cream shop sundae. Makes 4 splits in about 20 minutes.

Prep 20 min

Cook —

Total 20 min

Yield 4 splits

Ingredients

Adjust yield

splits

4ripe bananas, firm, peeled, split lengthwise
1 ½ cups (360 ml)vanilla ice cream, 4 scoops
1 ½ cups (360 ml)chocolate ice cream, 4 scoops
1 ½ cups (360 ml)strawberry ice cream, 4 scoops
½ cup (120 ml)chocolate sauce
½ cup (120 ml)strawberry sauce, thick, finely chopped fruit
½ cup (120 ml)pineapple topping, finely crushed, drained
1 cup (240 ml)whipped cream
½ cup (60 g)chopped roasted peanuts or walnuts
4maraschino cherries

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Instructions

Chill four long dishes in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Lay two banana halves in each dish with the cut sides up.
Place one scoop each of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream in a row between the bananas.
Spoon the strawberry sauce over the vanilla scoop, the pineapple topping over the chocolate scoop and the chocolate sauce over the strawberry scoop.
Top each scoop with whipped cream and sprinkle with the chopped nuts.
Crown each with a cherry and serve immediately.

Tips

Use bananas that are ripe but firm.
Chill the dishes so the ice cream does not melt.
Warm the chocolate sauce slightly for easier spooning.
Good with cold milk.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make classic banana split?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep. The recipe makes 4 splits.

How should I store classic banana split?

Assemble just before serving. Leftover sauces keep refrigerated up to 1 week.

Can I make classic banana split ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1.5 cups vanilla ice cream, 4 scoops (360 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 4 servings this recipe makes.

671 Calories / serving

30.2g Fat

96.1g Carbs

10.2g Protein

69.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (4 servings): ~2684 cal · 121g fat · 384g carbs · 41g protein · 276g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.