Banana Split Cake

Description: Willa Mae Morrow’s Banana Split Cake is a delightful no-bake dessert that captures the essence of a classic banana split in the form of a cake. This recipe layers creamy, sweet, and fruity elements, including bananas, pineapple, fruit cocktail, and cherries, atop a graham cracker crust. Topped with Cool Whip, cherries, and nuts, it’s a perfect dessert for gatherings, potlucks, or as a special treat.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Inactive Time: 2 hours (for chilling)

Servings: 12-16

Ingredients:

• 1 box graham crackers, crushed

• 2 lb. bananas

• 2 cans crushed pineapple, drained

• 1 can fruit cocktail, drained

• 1 jar cherries

• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 large container Cool Whip

• Nuts, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the crushed graham crackers until well combined.

2. Press the cream cheese and cracker mixture into the bottom of a large pan to form the crust. This will be the base of your cake.

3. Peel and slice the bananas. Layer the banana slices evenly over the crust.

4. Spread the drained crushed pineapple over the banana layer.

5. Next, add a layer of the drained fruit cocktail.

6. Cover the fruit layers with a generous layer of Cool Whip, smoothing it out evenly.

7. Slice the cherries and scatter them over the top of the Cool Whip.

8. Finally, sprinkle nuts over the cherries to garnish.

9. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to allow it to set and the flavors to meld.

10. Serve chilled, slicing into squares or rectangles.

Notes to Make it Better:

• For added flavor, mix a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the cream cheese and graham cracker crust.

• To prevent the bananas from browning, you can toss them in a little lemon juice before layering.

• For a chocolate twist, sprinkle chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips on top of the cake.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 300-350

• Fat: 15-18g

• Sodium: 150-200mg

• Carbohydrates: 40-45g

• Fiber: 2-3g

• Sugars: 25-30g

• Protein: 4-5g

Nutritional values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredient choices and serving sizes.