Easy Banana Split Recipe: How to Make a Banana Split

A banana split is a traditional sundae typically consisting of a fresh banana sliced in half and topped with scoops of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream, and various sweet syrups and garnishes. Ice cream parlors serve this sweet treat in a long, shallow glass dish (called a banana boat) that showcases this dessert’s iconic composition.

The banana split originated in the United States in the early twentieth century, but the specific creator of the famed sundae is a matter of historical debate. Some believe it was the creation of pharmacist David Evans Strickler, who began selling a “banana triple ice cream sundae” for ten cents at the Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1904.

Although the National Ice Cream Retailers Association has officially declared Latrobe to be the birthplace of the split, some argue that restaurateur Ernest R. Hazard created the classic dessert in Wilmington, Ohio.

Hazard created a Neapolitan ice cream–topped banana sundae in 1907, as a way to increase business at his restaurant, The Cafe. This creation boasted toppings like chocolate sauce, crushed pineapple, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and maraschino cherries. Wilmington hosts an annual Banana Split Festival every spring to commemorate this famous dessert’s history in the town.

This fun, customizable confection will be the hit of any dinner party or birthday party. Use these tips to make the most of your traditional banana split.

1. 1. Experiment with different flavors. The classic trio of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry is the most traditional ice cream choice for a banana split, but you can sub in any of your favorite flavors. Try a combination of pistachio, cookies and cream, and butter pecan ice creams. Alternatively, top your sundae with non-dairy ice creams—like oat milk ice cream or almond milk ice cream—for a dairy-free option.
2. 2. Try different toppings. There are countless tasty toppings to choose from when dressing your banana split. Drizzle the sundae with hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, melted peanut butter, butterscotch syrup, or marshmallow cream. Sprinkle fruit, like canned pineapple, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, over top of the sundae. Add chopped nuts, like peanuts, pecans, and walnuts, for some crunch. Incorporate rainbow sprinkles, coconut flakes, cookie crumbles, brownie bites, and mini chocolate chips for texture.
3. 3. Get creative with the presentation. If you don’t have access to the long, shallow dishes traditionally used to serve banana splits, slice the fruit into smaller slices and serve the dessert in a standard bowl. Create a communal split in a large serving bowl for a party-sized sundae. Create a DIY sundae bar by laying out all of the ingredients buffet-style and allowing guests to build their own sundae.