Learn how to make a classic banana split at home! This classic ice cream dessert is easy to make at home and turns any occasion into a fun celebration.

old fashioned banana split in a glass banana split ice cream dish

It’s starting out to be a summer of ice cream fun around here at Sweets & Thank You! First we started with Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce & Hot Fudge Sundaes, classics like cookie ice cream sandwiches, and now we’re ready to dive into an old-fashioned banana split recipe!

Making a homemade banana split is SUPER easy! If you can cut a banana and scoop ice cream, you’ll be able to make this delicious treat. And our post is here to walk you through everything you need to know, from how to cut the banana properly, to which flavors of ice cream go into a banana split, to banana split toppings and more.

Grab your ice cream scoop and let’s dive in! Here’s what you’ll need to get started on this classic dessert…

Simple Ingredients To Get Started

So what goes into a classic banana split? I’m glad you asked…

A Ripe Banana. It wouldn’t be a banana split without fresh bananas! I like a medium banana that’s yellow but NOT spotty yet. It should be firm enough to easily cut in half lengthwise, but ripe enough to still taste sweet. (Firm bananas are better than overly soft ones!)
Three Kinds Of Ice Cream. In a classic banana split, you’ll use three different flavors of ice cream–strawberry ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate ice cream. Then, each flavor of ice cream gets a different ice cream topping…
Strawberry Topping goes on top of the strawberry ice cream. We love our homemade strawberry topping with the berries diced small, mashed, or even pureed. SO GOOD!
Chocolate Sauce or Hot Fudge goes on top of the chocolate ice cream. If you want a thinner sauce (like Hershey’s syrup), I recommend our Chocolate Syrup recipe. If you’re craving that rich, thick, old-fashioned hot fudge, I can’t recommend our Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce enough!
Pineapple Topping goes on top of the vanilla ice cream. It’s a classic combo that adds a lovely, unexpected touch. (Not a pineapple person? You can swap for caramel sauce!)
Whipped Cream. Homemade whipped cream or spray whipped cream works! I like spray whipped cream for homemade banana splits–it’s just so easy to keep on hand!
Rainbow Sprinkles. Classic colorful sprinkles are my favorite because they’re so cheerful, and they give this delicious recipe a classic look. Make sure you buy gluten-free sprinkles, if needed!
Nuts. You can use finely chopped salted peanuts, or go for the classic wet walnuts. (Walnuts soaked in honey or syrup.) We have a walnut allergy at our house, so we used peanuts this time.
Maraschino Cherries. I love how cute and classic these look!

Pick The Right Dish

Back at soda fountains and today in ice cream shops, it’s common to see a banana split served in a banana split ice cream boat, an elongated oval dish that’s the perfect side for a medium banana & 3 scoops of ice cream.

Most families don’t have those floating around their houses these days, so you can feel free to serve your banana splits on dessert plates, small gratin dishes, or another shallow dish for a similar effect.

LOVE banana splits? Check out Etsy listings for vintage ice cream boats! (That’s where I found mine!)

How To Make A Banana Split, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

making a homemade banana split step by step

Split The Banana. To start, split the banana lengthwise (the long way). I find this is easiest if I set the banana down on a cutting board and use a knife to cut sideways, rather than trying to hold it in my hands. Place the split banana into your ice cream dish or on a plate.
Scoop The Ice Cream. Next, add a scoop of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream on top of the split banana.
Add Sauces. Top the strawberry ice cream with strawberry sauce, the vanilla ice cream with pineapple sauce, and the chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce or hot fudge.
Finish With Garnish. Add swirls of whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts, and maraschino cherries for garnish, or add your favorite toppings. (I like to add a swirl of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top of each scoop of ice cream for a classic look.) Enjoy right away!

pouring chocolate sauce over a banana split

Variations To Try

Now that you know how to make a classic banana split, you can play with fun variations! The best part about making desserts like this at home is that you can make it just the way YOU like it! These are some of our favorite toppings when we’re craving a little change of pace:

Caramel Sauce. I LOVE caramel sauce, especially when it’s homemade caramel sauce. Try adding an extra pinch of salt for a salted caramel twist.
Raspberry Sauce. This raspberry coulis is an AMAZING topping for ice cream. It’s fresh, bright, and vibrant. Yum!
Fresh Berries. Keep the fruity theme going by topping your banana split with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
Different Nuts. Swap out the classic peanuts or wet walnuts for toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans.
Toffee Bits. I love the crunch of toffee with cold, creamy ice cream.
Peanut Butter Sauce. Do I have to say more? Peanut butter ice cream topping is delicious!
Chopped Candies. What’s not more fun with candy? Try chopped peanut butter cups, crushed Butterfinger bars, Heath bars, or mini m&ms.

Or, mix things up by trying different flavors of ice cream! Feel free to swap out the classic strawberry, vanilla & chocolate for ice cream flavors like salted caramel, Rocky road, cookies & cream, cookie dough, peanut butter cup, and more! You can even use homemade ice cream if you fancy making this banana split recipe entirely from scratch!

classic banana split with three ice cream flavors and three kinds of topping

FAQ + Tricks For The Best Homemade Banana Split

Set Up A Banana Split Bar! If you’re serving banana splits for a crowd, or for kids, I recommend setting up a banana split dessert bar and letting everyone build their ultimate banana split with their favorite toppings. Set out the ice cream and toppings and let your guests do the rest! (You can cut the bananas into slices as a topping rather than split bananas, if you prefer, to make it easier.)

Try Chilling The Dish First. If you have time or you remember, try putting your ice cream dishes in the freezer for a few minutes to chill. It’ll help prevent the ice cream from melting as fast!

How do You Cut Bananas For Banana Splits? For a classic banana split, it works best to cut the banana lengthwise (the long way). Place the peeled banana on a cutting board and use a knife to cut sidewise, down the center, along the length of the banana. If your banana breaks, don’t worry! You can cut it into slices instead. (It’s easier to eat this way, too!)

Are Banana Splits Gluten-Free? This is a great recipe to serve a gluten-free crowd, because banana splits can easily be made gluten-free. The basic ingredients are all naturally gluten-free, but as always, if using store-bought items, double-check the labels to ensure they’re celiac safe. Especially check the ice cream and sprinkles!

Homemade Toppings To Try

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

Pineapple Topping (With Canned or Fresh Pineapple!)

thick strawberry sauce in a white saucepan

Easy Strawberry Topping

Recipe Card

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