Banana Splits are one of the quintessential desserts of summer, and these easy trifles are one of my favorite way to do them up! True, there’s no ice cream, but without the cream they are perfectly portable and great for picnics and barbecues! I love making these in mason jars (large or small!) so that individual servings are ready to grab and go.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Vanilla cake mix: I’ll admit, I’m not much of a cake mix baker these days, but when I first published these in 2015 with a blog, a full time job, and a toddler, I took shortcuts where needed! Feel free to swap in a homemade vanilla cake that you love (or hey, even store bought!) Vanilla pudding: Taking a shortcut on the cake gives us more time to make homemade pudding, and it’s worth it! That being said, a vanilla pudding mix is an easy swap when needed. Fruit: there are a few different variations on the Banana Split, but I chose to use bananas, strawberries and pineapple for my added flavors here. Feel free to swap them out with another fruit (try raspberries in place of strawberries!), or add in some chocolate sauce for extra indulgence.
Can I make this in one large bowl?
Absolutely! Simply create your layers in a large glass trifle bowl or any large glass bowl will do. You can even layer it up in a 9×13″ pan for easy serving if you wish!
Can I make them ahead?
Because the bananas brown quickly (even when brushed with lemon or pineapple juice), I prefer not to make them more than a few hours in advance. There’s nothing wrong with eating brown bananas, so you can make it earlier, but they just won’t be as pretty. Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again. Register Now Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel — I love to see what you’re making!
