What’s better than a banana split? A banana split ice cream pie! This delicious chilly treat tastes like a banana split with the bonus of a crumbly graham cracker crust. The flavors are complex, but the recipe is simple and scrumptious!
Banana Split Pie Recipe Ingredients
- Chocolate hard-shell ice cream topping: The ice cream topping plays a new role in this frozen banana split pie, serving as a topping for the crust underneath the ice cream.
- Graham cracker crust: The graham cracker crust holds the pie together while providing crunchy, crumbly, cookie-like bits for every bite.
- Bananas: Sliced bananas hide beneath the ice cream where they’ll stay fresh and cool.
- Lemon juice: The lemon juice helps the bananas keep their appeal (ahem, ah-PEEL), preventing them from turning brown.
- Pineapple ice cream topping: This isn’t a pineapple upside-down cake, but the pineapples in this banana split ice cream pie sit near the bottom, with the bananas.
- Softened strawberry ice cream: The strawberry ice cream gives cool, refreshing strawberry goodness in every bit.
- Whipped topping: The whipped topping adds a different texture and a cool creaminess to this frozen treat.
- Toasted chopped walnuts: Crunch, anyone? Toasted walnuts add a subtle nutty crunch to this banana split pie.
- Chocolate syrup: The chocolate syrup flavor combined with the ice cream and whipped topping for epic levels of banana-split flavor.
- Maraschino cherries with stems: What’s an ice cream dessert without the cherry on top?
Directions
Step 1: Add chocolate to the crust
Pour the chocolate hard-shell topping into the crust. Freeze the crust for five minutes to harden the chocolate.
Step 2: Prepare the bananas
Place the banana slices in a shallow bowl and toss them with lemon juice. Arrange the banana slices atop the chocolate layer on the graham cracker crust.
Step 3: Add the remaining layers
Layer the pineapple topping over the bananas, followed by the ice cream, whipped topping and walnuts.
Step 4: Freeze and serve
Cover the banana split pie with plastic wrap and freeze until it’s firm, for about three hours. Let the pie sit out of the freezer for 15 minutes before slicing. Drizzle the chocolate syrup on top and add a maraschino cherry on every slice.
Editor’s tip: For easier handling, let the pie thaw in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving, rather than 15 minutes on the counter if you have the time. This ensures the ice cream thaws more evenly.
Banana Split Pie Variations
- Swap ice cream flavors: If you feel like trying something other than strawberry ice cream, no problem! Use a simple vanilla ice cream, or vanilla cream with flavored swirls. Skip the overly decadent flavors with loads of add-ins or the banana split pie may be too sweet.
- Layer ice cream flavors: The typical banana split has chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream and you can do the same in pie form. Layer one of the three flavors of ice cream in the crust, freeze it for an hour, then add the second flavor and freeze it again before adding the third. Finish constructing the banana split pie and freeze the finished product for three hours before serving it.
- Change the ice cream type: While this is a banana split pie recipe, there’s no reason not to change things up. Swap the pineapple ice cream topping for a caramel topping, and switch the ice cream to butter pecan. Add chopped pecans and a caramel or chocolate sauce atop the pie for more decadence.
Can You Make Banana Split Pie Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make banana split pie up to a week ahead of time. Keep it tightly covered in plastic wrap once the pie is firmly frozen.
How to Store Banana Split Pie
Banana split pie tastes the best when kept covered, rather than exposed, in the freezer. Store it by placing plastic wrap over the top. If you have a pie pan with a lid, place wax paper atop the frozen whipped cream layer on the pie, then place the lid on the pie pan for storage. If storing a partial banana split pie, cover the exposed sides with wax paper or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
Banana Split Pie Tips
Why can’t I cleanly slice it?
Getting a good slice of any ice cream pie may come down to the knife itself. Heat the knife under warm or hot water, dry the blade, and then slice the pie. The edges should come out looking crisp and clean this way. Use a pie server to lift out each slice.
How do I keep the banana split pie firm for guests?
Left out on the counter, a banana split pie continues to melt, so it’s best kept in the freezer after you’ve sliced it and offered some to guests. In other words, put the pie back in the freezer (or a cooler filled with ice) while entertaining and remind guests to ask for a slice when they’re ready for cool deliciousness.
Do I have to use lemon juice?
While lemon juice isn’t necessary, it helps the bananas keep their hue longer instead of turning brown. Brown bananas make the banana split pie look slightly less than fresh.
