Banana and Ice Cream with Sprinkles and Cherries

Introduction

You split 1 banana lengthwise, add three full scoops of ice-cream, and finish with whipped cream, topping, sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry. It’s a single-serving banana split-style dessert that takes about 5 minutes and works when you want something cold and assembled rather than cooked.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• Ice cream (of your choice)
• Ice cream topping (of your choice)
• Hundreds-and-thousands or sprinkles
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherries

Instructions

1. Peel the banana, cut it in half (length wise), and place it in the serving bowl.
2. Place three full scoops of ice-cream in-between the two pieces of banana.
3. Cover the whole thing with a generous serving of whipped cream.
4. Cover that with a generous serve of ice-cream topping of your choice.
5. Sprinkle some hundreds and thousands of sprinkles over the top of all of that.
6. Place a maraschino cherry on top.

Variations

• Change the Ice cream (of your choice) to chocolate, strawberry, or coffee for a stronger flavor profile; vanilla keeps the toppings more balanced, while richer flavors make the dessert feel heavier.
• Change the Ice cream topping (of your choice) from chocolate syrup to caramel or fruit sauce; chocolate gives you a classic banana split flavor, while fruit sauce keeps it brighter and less rich.
• Change the Hundreds-and-thousands or sprinkles to chopped nuts if you want crunch without extra sweetness; the texture becomes more nutty and less candy-like.
• Change the Whipped cream to a dairy-free whipped topping and use dairy-free ice cream for a non-dairy version; the structure stays similar, though the finish may be slightly less rich.

Tips for Success

• Use a banana that is ripe but still firm, so it holds its shape after you cut it in half length wise.
• Scoop the ice cream just before assembling, or it will melt too quickly once it sits between the banana halves.
• Put the serving bowl in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes if your kitchen is warm; it slows down melting while you add the whipped cream and topping.
• Add the hundreds-and-thousands or sprinkles after the topping so they stick instead of rolling off.
• Place the maraschino cherry on top right before serving so it stays visible and doesn’t sink into the whipped cream.

Storage and Reheating

The assembled dessert is best eaten immediately. If you must store it, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day, but expect the banana to brown and the ice cream to lose its texture.

Freezing the assembled dessert is not recommended; the banana turns soft and the whipped cream and topping separate. For better results, store the components separately: keep the ice cream in the freezer, and keep the topping, whipped cream, sprinkles, and maraschino cherries in their original containers as directed on their packaging.

Reheating does not apply. If the ice cream becomes too hard in the freezer, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.

FAQ

Can you make this ahead of time?

You can prep the banana and set out the toppings, but you should assemble it right before serving. Once built, the ice cream melts and the banana starts to brown.

What kind of bowl works best?

A shallow bowl or banana split dish works better than a deep cereal bowl. You want enough room to lay the banana halves flat and fit three scoops of ice-cream in-between them.

Can you use frozen banana?

You can, but it changes the texture a lot. Frozen banana is firmer at first and then turns softer and wetter as it thaws under the ice cream and toppings.

Can you make it dairy-free?

Yes, if you use dairy-free ice cream and a dairy-free whipped topping. Keep the same assembly, but choose toppings that also fit your dietary needs.