Banana Split Freezer Dessert

This make-ahead Banana Split Freezer Dessert is a lovely spring and summer dessert for potlucks, parties, showers, or gatherings! It’s layered with ice cream, buttery-chocolate sauce, and whipped cream over a crunchy graham cracker crust. Pull from the freezer; slice and serve!

For summer or your favorite holiday (Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Fourth of July), this classic Banana Split Recipe is everyone’s favorite! Layered with Neopolitan ice cream, chocolate, bananas, nuts and whipped cream – it’s the ultimate banana split!

This Banana Split Freezer Dessert takes very little time to make ahead, freeze, and then pull from the freezer when you’re ready to serve. You only need to defrost for a few minutes before slicing!

What is a traditional banana split made of?

A traditional banana split is made with a peeled, sliced in half banana, three scoops of ice cream (typically vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry), and topped like chocolate syrup, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry for garnish.

A typical banana split dessert that is frozen features a graham cracker crust, layered with a cream cheese mousse, sliced bananas, and other toppings like pineapple, strawberries, whipped cream, nuts, chocolate sauce, and cherries. Our layered dessert is a little bit different. We love the simplicity with NO pineapple, cream cheese, or cherries.

Why I love this Banana Split Freezer Dessert:

• It’s the ultimate spring and summer dessert.
• It feeds a lot (16), so it’s great for birthdays, baby or wedding showers, or special occasions.
• You can make ahead, which is quite lovely for easy entertaining.
• Mix up the flavors of ice cream (but a true banana split is Neapolitan!)

Easy ingredients for Banana Split Dessert:

• Graham cracker crumbs: You can buy the crackers and crush, or buy pre-crushed.
• Butter (yum, butter!)
• Bananas – nice and firm (but not green).
• Neapolitan ice cream – yes, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.
• Nuts: Pecans or walnuts
• Chocolate chips
• Whipping cream + powdered sugar and vanilla (or 2 cups of Cool Whip)

How do you make Banana Split Freezer Dessert?

1. Make the graham cracker crust: In a small bowl, combine crumbs and melted butter. Press half into a baking pan.
2. Slice bananas width-wise, and layer over the crust.
3. Slice ice cream width-wise into ten slices; place over bananas. Spread edges of ice cream to cover banana slices, and form a smooth layer.
4. Sprinkle with nuts.
5. Cover and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
6. Melt chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan; stir until smooth.
7. Pour over ice cream; freeze until firm, another hour.
8. Whip cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form; add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix. TIP: OPTIONAL to use 2 cups Cool Whip (don’t add powdered sugar or vanilla.)
9. Spread over chocolate layer.
10. Top with reserved crumbs.
11. Store in freezer (will keep for several weeks). 
12. Remove from freezer about 10 minutes.
13. Slice and serve.

Tips and substitutions:

• Use any kind of ice cream (try Orange Creamsicle!)
• You can leave out the nuts; or use your favorite nuts.
• Make sure the ice cream is firm when slicing.
• Bananas need to be firm, but not green. You do not want to use mushy bananas (over-ripe).
• Garnish with blueberries and strawberries for Fourth of July.
• Optional to use Cool Whip (or make your own whipped cream).
• Keeps in the freezer up to a month.

Serving

This dessert is awesome for a party! You can make it ahead, pull out of the freezer, and serve within 10 minutes. For a delicious meal, we love fish kebabs, a Caprese Orzo Salad, corn on the cob, and this banana split recipe.

More freezer desserts to try:

Freezer desserts so easy for company!  You may like my Orange Creamsicle Freezer Dessert Recipe, or Frozen Caramel Toffee Ice Cream Dessert [RecipeGirl], or 5-ingredient Frozen Strawberry Royale Dessert, or my Lighter Frozen Blueberry Cobbler. This blueberry cobbler went crazy over on my Reluctant Entertainer Facebook page!

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Banana Split Freezer Dessert

This make-ahead Banana Split Freezer Dessert is a frozen dessert layered with ice cream, chocolate, whipped cream, and graham cracker crust.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

freeze: 4 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Yield: 16

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Ingredients

 

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• 3-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2/3 cup butter, melted
• 4 to 5 medium bananas, sliced
• ½ gallon Neapolitan ice cream
• 1 cup chopped pecans , or walnuts
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream, (or use 2 cups Cool Whip and don't add powdered sugar or vanilla)
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

• 15×10 jelly roll pan

Instructions

 

Make the graham cracker crust:

• In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Set aside ½ cup; press remaining crumbs into a 15x10x 1-in. pan.

Make the dessert:

• Slice bananas and layer over crust. Cut ice cream width-wise into ten slices; place over bananas. Spread edges of ice cream to cover banana slices, and form a smooth layer. Sprinkle with nuts. Cover and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• In a large saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter; stir until smooth. Pour over ice cream; freeze until firm, another hour.
• In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form; add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix. OPTIONAL to use 2 cups Cool Whip (don't add powdered sugar or vanilla.)
• Spread whipped cream over chocolate layer. Top with reserved crumbs. Freeze! (will keep for several weeks).
• Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy! Optional to top with a strawberry or fresh fruit.

Notes

reposted from June 2018

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Calories: 647kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 47g, Saturated Fat: 26g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 110mg, Sodium: 258mg, Potassium: 538mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 41g, Vitamin A: 1369IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 172mg, Iron: 2mg

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