Description
Indulgent banana split delight brings classic ice cream parlor magic straight to your kitchen without turning on the oven. Cool layers of creamy goodness and fruity charm promise a refreshing treat you’ll savor with pure dessert bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (168 g) graham cracker crumbs
- 0.5 cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, melted
Mixing Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
- 4 bananas, sliced
- 1 can (20 ounces/567 g) crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 container (16 ounces/454 g) whipped topping
- 1 jar (16 ounces/454 g) maraschino cherries, drained
- 0.5 cup (75 g) chopped nuts
- 0.5 cup (85 g) chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Crush graham crackers into fine, uniform crumbs using a food processor or rolling pin, ensuring a consistent texture for the base layer.
- Combine melted butter with graham cracker crumbs, mixing thoroughly until the mixture resembles damp sand and can hold its shape when pressed.
- Transfer the buttery crumb mixture into a 9×13-inch pan, pressing firmly and evenly across the bottom to create a compact, solid foundation.
- Chill the graham cracker crust in the refrigerator for approximately 15 minutes to help it set and firm up before adding subsequent layers.
- Slice ripe bananas lengthwise into elegant, uniform strips that will cover the entire surface of the graham cracker base.
- Carefully arrange banana slices in a neat, overlapping pattern directly on top of the chilled crust, ensuring complete coverage.
- Spread a luxurious layer of softened cream cheese mixture evenly over the banana layer, using a spatula to create a smooth, consistent surface.
- Drizzle rich chocolate sauce in elegant, zigzag patterns across the cream cheese layer, creating visual interest and enhancing flavor complexity.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts generously over the chocolate sauce, providing delightful textural contrast and nutty undertones.
- Dollop whipped cream strategically across the dessert’s surface, creating attractive peaks and valleys.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries, strategically placing them to add vibrant color and classic banana split aesthetics.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 2-3 hours, allowing flavors to meld and the dessert to set completely before serving.
- When ready to serve, slice into precise squares and enjoy the cool, creamy, and indulgent no-bake banana split experience.
Notes
- Choose a smooth, creamy butter at room temperature for easier mixing with graham cracker crumbs.
- Press the graham cracker crust firmly and evenly into the pan to create a solid, stable base for your dessert.
- Consider toasting the graham cracker crumbs briefly in a skillet for a deeper, nuttier flavor that adds complexity to the base.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with gluten-free cookie crumbs or ground nuts like almonds or pecans.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 184
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 98 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg