Banana Split Dessert is an outstanding vintage recipe. This festive, gorgeous dessert is like eating a banana split with a cheesecake layer instead of ice cream. It's filled with bananas, pineapple, toasted coconut, maraschino cherries and walnuts or pecans. Delightful for holidays and special occasions.
7-8largeripe bananassliced and dipped in lemon juice to prevent discoloration; I used 8 bananas
16oz. cancrushed pineappledrained
12oz. containerTruWhipor other non-dairy whipped topping
1cupcrushed walnutsor pecans
10oz. jarmaraschino cherriesdrained, rinsed and patted dry
1/2cupcoconuttoasted
Instructions
Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a small mixing bowl.
Press into 9x13” pan.
Combine powdered sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla and mix well with an electric mixer.
Pour over graham cracker crust.
Layer bananas, (8 bananas make about 2 layers of the bananas), then add drained, crushed pineapple over top.
Spread non-dairy whipped topping over top.
Sprinkle with walnuts or pecans and toasted coconut.
Rinse, drain and pat dry the cherries. (The cherries must be dry or they will leak into the whipped topping.)
Place maraschino cherries on top.
Refrigerate a few hours before serving.
Notes
NOTE: I recommend serving this dessert the same day you make it rather than the following day so the bananas stay fresh.NOTE: Preparation time does not include time necessary to refrigerate dessert before serving.NOTE: The original recipe called for mixing the powdered sugar layer for 20 minutes. I didn’t feel like this accomplished anything for the consistency of the layer, so I usually only mix for 5 minutes.NOTE: This vintage recipe does use uncooked eggs in the layers.