Banana Split Cake

This recipe for Banana Split Cake is so easy to make! It’s a fun chilled dessert that’s piled with toppings like sliced bananas, strawberries, whipped cream, cherries, and sprinkles! It takes just 20 minutes to prep before chilling in the fridge!

This Banana Split Cake Recipe is an easy-to-make chilled dessert that’s loaded with classic flavors! Great for birthday parties, holidays, and to cool down during the hot months!

While the vintage recipe version of this dessert is made with raw eggs, this one is not! Instead, it’s made with easy and convenient ingredients to allow for a quick yet delicious dessert that can be made in no time! So it’s a little different than the original banana split dessert but just as yummy!

Banana Split Cake Ingredients

• Graham Cracker Crust:
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • Salted Butter
• Filling:
  • Cream Cheese
  • Salted Butter
  • Sour Cream
  • Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cool Whip
• Toppings:
  • Bananas
  • Strawberries
  • Crushed Pineapple
  • Cool Whip
  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Chopped Peanut
  • Rainbow Sprinkles
  • Maraschino Cherries

Four Delicious Layers!

This easy no-bake banana split cake recipe takes just 20 minutes to prep three delicious layers! Beginning with the crust that’s made with only three ingredients.

Topping the crust is a cheesecake-like layer that’s made with ingredients like Cool Whip, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and butter. When making this layer, it’s important that the butter and cream cheese are both softened to room temperature.

This way, the cheesecake-like layer comes out perfectly smooth and creamy without any lumps. Topping that sweet, creamy layer are the fun toppings!

All the classic banana split fruits like bananas, strawberries, and pineapple are found in the third layer of this dessert!

Then, the top layer of all the fun sauces and garnishes like Cool Whip, chocolate sauce, nuts, cherries, and sprinkles!

How To Make No Bake Banana Split Cake

1. Graham Cracker Crumbs – Making the crust calls for about three sleeves of crushed graham crackers. Crushing them works best in a food processor or in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin. Some stores even carry graham crackers crumbs that are already crushed!

2. Cheesecake – This creamy cheesecake layer is made by beating together cream cheese, salted butter, sour cream, fresh squeezed lemon juice, pure vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and Cool Whip until smooth! Then, it’s spread out over the top of the crust.

3. Fruit – When layering the fruit, I prefer to start with the bananas on the bottom. This is because they don’t seep as much, which slightly protects the cream cheese layer from the other fruits that do seep their juices.

4. Cool Whip and Chill Before Enjoying – Spread the remaining thawed cool whip over the top of the fruit layer, then chill before enjoying. This allows the cream cheese layer to firm up and for all the flavors to meld together nicely before serving.

5. Toppings Before Serving – Hold off on adding the rest of the toppings until just before serving, this will give the dessert the best appearance!

Tasty & Fun Variations To Try!

• Crust – This no-bake banana split cake can be made with an Oreo crust instead. A great choice for chocolate lovers!
• Fruit – Omit, swap out, or add in your favorite fruits! Fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries would all be tasty additions to this recipe. Canned pineapples can even be replaced with canned peaches.
• Nuts – I love topping this no-bake cake with peanuts, but you can truly use any nut you like. Crushed walnuts, pistachios, and peanuts would all be great choices.
• Syrups – Add a drizzle of strawberry syrup, caramel syrup, or even butterscotch syrup!
• Homemade Whipped Topping – Cool whip is used in this recipe for ease and convenience. However, homemade whipped topping would add excellent flavoring to this dessert!

How To Store No Bake Banana Split Cake

Leftovers of this dessert can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Any longer, and the crust may start to get soggy.

Also, keep in mind that the fruit juices will start to seep out, mixing with the cream cheese layer. The no-bake cake will still be absolutely delicious if this happens, though!

Make Ahead To Freeze and Enjoy Later!

This dessert can be made and frozen to enjoy later. If you make it to freeze, be sure to make this recipe in a freezer-safe pan. Once frozen, this cake can be stored in the freezer for up to one month.

More Banana Desserts:

• Easy Banana Cake – Finished with a tangy cream cheese frosting!
• Banana Pancakes – Made with pantry staples and ripe bananas!
• Pumpkin Banana Bread – Bakes up two delicious loaves!
• Chocolate Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins – Studded with pecans and chocolate chips!
• Banana Bread Cookies – A cookie you can eat for breakfast!