This make-ahead Frozen Banana Split Dessert recipe is perfect for springtime or summertime potlucks, parties, showers, or gatherings! WATCH THE VIDEO!

Frozen Banana Split Dessert on a pretty red platem garnished with a strawberry

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For summer or your favorite holiday (Father’s Day this weekend), I love this classic spring and summer No-Bake Banana Split Dessert Recipe!

You can make this recipe ahead and it keeps in the freezer for a couple of weeks! And friends, I want to tell you about my new book out this year, Big Boards for Families! You can preorder it now! 

Banana Split Dessert

This frozen dessert takes very little work to make ahead, freeze, and then pull from the freezer when you’re ready to serve.

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!

Banana Split Dessert on a plate showing the layers of ice cream

Ingredients for Banana Split Dessert

All you need are these ingredients:

  • Graham cracker crumbs
  • Butter (yum, butter!)
  • Bananas
  • Neapolitan ice cream
  • Pecans or walnuts
  • Chocolate chips
  • More butter!
  • Whipping cream + powdered sugar and vanilla (or 2 cups of Cool Whip)

Side shot of Banana Split Dessert, with whipped cream

Blessing of friendships

This past weekend, as I was cleaning through boxes in the garage, I came across photo albums from the early 1980’s. I quickly scanned a picture and texted it to my girlfriends. We had some fun banter going back and forth, but then it hit me … who can say, 38 years later, that you have all the cell numbers in your “contacts,” to text all the people in the photo? That is a sign of blessed friendships!

Our older friends see where we were, how we’ve grown, how far we’ve come. We open up, share, reminisce, reflect – we have stock. It’s like we bought stock years ago, and now we get to enjoy the dividends! I think of roommates, friendships—my life before my life now.

Do you ever reflect on the chapters of your life? Childhood, teen years, early adult years, married years, years with children … and now we’re moving to the next phase of our life.

serving of banana split dessert with strawberry on top

Frozen Banana Split Dessert Recipe

One of my greatest memories, living with 2 special sisters (at different times) as roommates, also in the 80’s, was their mom, Marlys, who was very dear to me. She always stayed in touch, sent me cards, and even hosted a baby shower for me. I’ll never forget this dessert that she made at our son Elliot’s baby shower, Banana Split Dessert.

Banana Split Dessert ingredients, with slices of ice cream and sliced bananas

I’m sure you’ve tasted this over the years, though maybe not. It’s a popular “potluck” dish that has been around for years in probably every town! And it’s a good one!

Banana Split Dessert - pouring the chocolate sauce over the ice cream and nuts

You make homemade chocolate sauce.

Optional to use Cool Whip (or make your own whipped cream).

Assemble and freeze.

Defrost and enjoy!

When it’s time for serving, defrost and enjoy.

But, oh, so delicious!

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Banana Split Dessert

Make-ahead Frozen Banana Split Dessert. Remove from freezer for 10 minutes; serve!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
freeze: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Yield: 12
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Ingredients
 

  • 3-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2/3 cup butter, melted
  • 4 to 5 medium bananas, sliced
  • 1/2 gallon Neapolitan ice cream
  • 1 cup chopped pecans , or walnuts
  • 1 cup 6 ounces 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

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine crumbs and melted butter. Set aside 1/2 cup; press remaining crumbs into a 15x10x 1-in. pan. Slice bananas width-wise, 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 over chocolate layer. Top with reserved crumbs. Store in freezer (will keep for several weeks).
  • Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

reposted from June 2018
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

a serving of frozen banana split dessert