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Classic Old-Fashioned Banana Split Ice Cream Cake Recipe Easy Step-by-Step Showstopper

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A nostalgic and crowd-pleasing dessert combining banana split and ice cream cake with layers of creamy ice cream, bananas, fudge, and crunchy nuts. Perfect for summer gatherings and easy to make with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 quart (950 ml) vanilla ice cream, softened slightly
  • 1 quart (950 ml) chocolate ice cream, softened (optional)
  • 3–4 ripe bananas, sliced lengthwise and crosswise
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chocolate fudge sauce
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted lightly
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) maraschino cherries, drained
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipped cream
  • 1 package (about 9 oz / 255 g) chocolate wafer cookies or crushed graham crackers
  • 1/4 cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Crush the chocolate wafer cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor or by pounding in a zip-top bag. Mix crumbs with melted butter until combined.
  2. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form a compact crust. Freeze while preparing other layers.
  3. Peel and slice bananas lengthwise, then crosswise into half-inch pieces. Set aside.
  4. Spread softened vanilla ice cream evenly over the crust. Smooth with a rubber spatula and freeze for 10 minutes.
  5. Arrange banana slices evenly over the vanilla ice cream. Drizzle chocolate fudge sauce in a ribbon across the bananas.
  6. If using, spread softened chocolate ice cream over the banana and fudge layer. Smooth and freeze for 15 minutes.
  7. Spread whipped cream over the top layer. Sprinkle chopped toasted nuts and scatter maraschino cherries evenly.
  8. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  9. Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving to soften slightly for easier slicing.

Notes

Soften ice cream just enough to spread without melting. Press crust firmly to avoid crumbly slices. Toast nuts quickly in a dry skillet for extra flavor. Use a serrated knife dipped in warm water for clean slicing. Freeze cake overnight for best texture. Warm fudge sauce slightly if too thick to drizzle.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana split, ice cream cake, summer dessert, easy dessert, nostalgic dessert, fudge sauce, walnuts, whipped cream

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