Layered Banana Split Dessert
Creamy, fruity, and delightfully nostalgic — this Layered Banana Split Dessert delivers all the best parts of a classic banana split without the mess of scooping ice cream for every guest.
Servings: 12 servings
Equipment
- 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- Mixing Bowl
- Electric Mixer
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups Graham cracker crumbs Finely crushed
- 1/2 cup Butter Melted
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces Cream cheese At room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cold milk
- 16 ounces Cool Whip topping Divided
Fruit Layer
- 1 container Frozen sliced strawberries Thawed and drained (23-ounce)
- 1 can Crushed pineapple Drained (20-ounce)
Pudding Layer
- 2 boxes Banana cream instant pudding (3.4-ounce each)
- 3.5 cups Cold milk For pudding
Toppings
- Chocolate syrup For drizzling
- Maraschino cherries Optional, for garnish
- Chopped nuts Optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared dish to form an even crust. Refrigerate while you make the next layers.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar, cold milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes with an electric mixer. Gently fold in half of the Cool Whip until fully combined. Spread this cream cheese mixture evenly over the chilled graham crust.
- Evenly layer the drained strawberries and crushed pineapple over the cream cheese layer. Spread the fruit so it covers the surface in a single, even layer.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the banana cream instant pudding mixes with cold milk. Whisk for 2–3 minutes until the pudding is thick and smooth. Immediately spread the banana pudding over the fruit layer and allow it to sit for 5 minutes to firm up a bit.
- Spread the remaining Cool Whip evenly over the pudding layer. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the top in a decorative pattern and garnish with maraschino cherries and chopped nuts if desired.
- Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to let flavors meld and layers set. Slice into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
Make sure the cream cheese is fully at room temperature; cold cream cheese can create lumps. Thoroughly drain the frozen strawberries and canned pineapple to prevent a watery pudding layer.