No bake banana split dessert is layered with a graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, fresh bananas, strawberries, pineapple and topped with whipped cream and a cherry on top. It’s a crowd-pleasing summer dessert!
No Bake Banana Split Cake
This dessert is a fun spin on the old fashioned banana split. It has all the same flavors, but is served in “cake” form rather than the classic sundae. It’s the perfect refreshing summer dessert for a crowd and is a great dish to bring to a BBQ.
This no bake banana split dessert is at the top of my summer no-bake dessert list. It’s an easy recipe that is part banana pudding and part strawberry icebox cake and best of all unlike the beloved sundae it is melt-free!
Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Graham cracker crust: The first layer of the no bake banana split cake is made with graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter.
- Cream cheese filling: The filling is made with softened cream cheese that is whipped together with sugar and pineapple.
- Strawberries and bananas: Next, sliced strawberries and bananas are placed on the the pineapple cream cheese filling.
- Homemade whipped cream: Made with heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. You can also use homemade Cool whip or store bought whipped topping.
- Banana split toppings: Chocolate syrup or hot fudge, chopped walnuts nuts and maraschino cherries get added to the top. Talk about a flavor party in your mouth!
How to Make Banana Split Dessert
- Crust. Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar then press the crust evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13″ baking dish. Chill in the fridge to set.
- Filling. Using a hand mixer, mix softened cream cheese, drained pineapple and sugar. Spread on crust.
- Layer. Then add a layer of fresh sliced bananas and strawberries.
- Topping. Homemade whipped cream is the final layer. Beat together the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Then spread the whipped cream evenly on top of the fresh fruit. Chill until ready to serve.
Tips for Success
- It’s very important to grease the dish. The crust will stick to the bottom if you don’t.
- Place your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer to chill before making the whipped cream. This helps the soft peaks form faster and gives it a fluffy consistency.
- Soft peaks will take about 5 minutes to form when making the whipped topping. You can tell they’ve formed when you turn off your mixer, pull the beaters straight up out of the whipping cream, and there will be peaks that form points that curl back into the bowl and begin to slowly sink back down into the bowl.
- If you plan to use banana slices to garnish top of the dessert, the pineapple juice from the crushed pineapple can be reserved and used to prevent bananas from browning.
- If some strawberries poke through the whipped cream layer, they can be covered up by the addition of garnishes.
- If you don’t plan on eating all of the banana split dessert recipe right away, stabilized whipped cream holds up better in storage.
- When serving, use a spatula or serving utensil that is the size of the piece you are serving to help hold the piece together.
Other old fashioned dessert recipes we love include this pineapple upside down cake recipe, pistachio dessert and banana cream pie!
More Easy No-Bake Desserts
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Banana Split Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter , melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese , softened (two 8 ounce packages)
- 8 ounce can crushed pineapple , drained
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 16 ounces strawberries , hulled and sliced
- 3 bananas , sliced
Topping
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional garnishes: chocolate syrup, chopped walnuts, maraschino cherries, additional sliced bananas and strawberries
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13" baking dish with butter or cooking spray and place a medium mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir 1 1 /2 cups graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar together. Add 1/2 cup melted butter and stir until combined. Press into the bottom of the baking dish. Place the dish in the refrigerator or freezer to help the crust set.
- Using a hand mixer, combine 16 ounces softened cream cheese, 8 ounces drained pineapple and 1/4 cup sugar. Remove the baking dish from the freezer and spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust.
- Place the banana slices evenly in a single layer on top of the cream cheese mixture. Add a strawberry slice on top of each banana slice.
- Make whipped cream. Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from the freezer. Beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Spread over the strawberry and banana layer.
- Chill until ready to serve.
- Garnish. Before serving, sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Drizzle with chocolate sauce. Then top each individual serving with a maraschino cherry. Additional banana slices and strawberry slices may also be used for garnishes. You may also choose to garnish each individual serving after it is plated.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, American, Desserts, Frozen Desserts, Fruit Desserts, No-Bake
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is delicious
Thanks for the revie Gelica!
Can I use cool whip instead of whipping cream?
Yes you can (if so feel free to omit the topping ingredients).
Ladies group loved it and asked for the recipe!
Because this recipe mixes the pineapple into the cream cheese it needs less sugar than other recipes. Yummy, yummy recipe!
This dessert was a crowd pleaser! I will definitely be making this one again and again!
Yay! That is great to hear! We always love this no-bake dessert for special occasions. Thank you for the 5 star review!
Is it freezable?
You could freeze it, however the textures will change. The fruit will taste best fresh.
Absolutely Delicious 😋
Continued Comment: I use Strawberry pie filling when berries are out of season DELICIOUS 😋 Also, if there’s any left (Rare) this is still wonderful 2 days out from making
That sounds so delicious! I’ll have to try using the strawberry filling some time :)
OMGOODNESS!! My entire Family agrees Hands Down this recipe is their very favorite I’ve ever brought to our Holiday tables They want it to be my new “signature” dessert! I’ve made it twice both times the nite before Perfect 10
I’m so so happy to hear that, Janet! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and review. Glad everyone loved it!
This is our favorite summer dessert! It always disappears quickly!
Iam going make this beautiful desert .it would nice if you could all so put it grams and Kilos please
All I can say is WOW!! This dessert is incredible! I love how thick & creamy it is. It’s my new favorite way to eat a banana split!