5best2buy
The Recipe · No.692 · Banana Split

Banana Split, and where to source it

Banana Split — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Banana Split American 5best2buy.com

A banana split is about assembly and temperature, not cooking, so chill the dish and work fast before the ice cream softens. Use one ripe banana split lengthwise as the cradle and space three different scoops so each sauce has its own lane.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep10 min
Cook0 min
Makes1 split
CuisineAmerican
Cost$$
VegetarianGluten-free
Contains  dairy
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 1 split
Ice cream
Three scoops, classically vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
3 scoops
Dark chocolate
Melted with a little cream into a hot fudge sauce for one lane.
3 oz
Strawberry jam
Loosened with a splash of water into a fruit sauce for another lane.
3 tbsp
Heavy cream
Whipped to soft peaks to crown each scoop.
1/2 cup
Banana
One ripe banana split lengthwise as the base.
1 banana
Local / market
Maraschino cherry
One on top for the finish.
1 cherry
Local / market
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
No-cook
The Method
  1. Chill the dishPut the serving boat in the freezer so the ice cream holds its shape while you build.
  2. Make the saucesMelt the chocolate with a splash of cream into fudge, and thin the jam with water into a fruit sauce.
  3. Split the bananaPeel and split the banana lengthwise and lay the halves along the cold dish.
  4. Add the scoopsNestle three scoops between the banana halves, spaced apart.
  5. TopSpoon fudge over one scoop and fruit sauce over another, pipe whipped cream over all three, and finish with the cherry.
The Toolkit

Banana boat · Ice cream scoop · Small saucepan · Hand mixer · Piping bag

Straight Answers
Can you make Banana Split in an air fryer? — Not needed

No cooking needed here — this one comes together without heat, so the air fryer sits it out.

Can you freeze Banana Split? — Not ideal

Not really — the cream, custard, or emulsion turns grainy or splits once thawed. This one is best kept fresh in the fridge.

Can you make Banana Split ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.

Is Banana Split gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Banana Split vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More American recipes
Ice Cream SandwichChocolate-Covered StrawberriesPecan PralinesPeanut BrittleSoft PretzelsPretzel Bites
All American recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.692

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →