Banana Split Cheesecake

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This Banana Split Cheesecake is a banana cheesecake topped with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry whipped cream โ€œice creamโ€ scoops! Itโ€™s then topped with whipped cream swirls, sliced bananas, pineapple, nuts and chocolate sauce! Itโ€™s truly like eating a banana split in cheesecake form! SO darn fun!

banana split cheesecake from the side on metal serving tray

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    Delicious Banana Split Cheesecake

    This recipe could not have been more fun to make and it was even more fun to serve it to people! If you havenโ€™t seem them before, I have a couple variations of a banana cheesecake โ€“ my Banana Cream Cheesecake and my Banana Pudding Cheesecake. I LOVE banana cheesecake. So this addition to the list came naturally. But this one is really neat because not only does it taste amazing, but the presentation totally makes people ohhh and ahhh. One person thought Iโ€™d actually put scoops of ice cream on the cheesecake and another thought Iโ€™d just made it look like ice cream with coloring in it, but was shocked to realize upon eating it that the scoops were actually flavored as well. I love the fun reactions!

    And while the cheesecake has a beautiful presentation that may seem intimidating, itโ€™s really not hard to make. Itโ€™s basically a banana cheesecake thatโ€™s not unlike the others with whipped cream on top. The whipped cream just happens to be flavored with three flavors, then frozen in a container and scooped out with an ice cream scoop to look like ice cream. I know itโ€™s not โ€œsimpleโ€ necessarily, but itโ€™s also not some crazy technique. If you can scoop out a pretty scoop of ice cream and pipe some whipped cream on top, then you can decorate this cheesecake.

    Ingredients Needed

    The list of ingredients is a little long, but not complicated. Most are things you probably have and the rest should be available in a grocery store. I usually find banana extract and freeze dried strawberries in our grocery store, but I also often see them in Target and Walmart.

    • Vanilla Wafers: I use these vanilla wafers. Grind them into crumbs for the crust. I love the flavor of these for the crust, but you could also use graham cracker crumbs.
    • Butter: Melted in the crust. You could use salted or unsalted.
    • Sugar: Itโ€™s in the crust and the cheesecake for sweetness and flavor.
    • Cream Cheese: The base of the cheesecake. It needs to be room temperature or warmer so that you donโ€™t end up with a chunky cheesecake.
    • Flour: This helps give the cheesecake a creamier texture and helps to prevent any cracks.
    • Sour Cream: Adds flavor and creaminess.
    • Banana Extract: Helps amplify the banana flavor of the cheesecake. You can often find it in your grocery store, but also in Walmart and on Amazon.
    • Bananas: Youโ€™ll need a couple bananas for in the cheesecake and then more for decorating. Iโ€™d recommend ones that are nice and yellow, not brown. I prefer the color those give the cheesecake filling and when decorating it.
    • Eggs: Large eggs.
    • Heavy Whipping Cream: Forms the base of the whipped cream. You want to be sure to use heavy whipping cream or heavy cream, not just regular whipping cream. The higher fat content gives you a firmer whipped cream.
    • Powdered Sugar: This adds sweetness to the whipped cream, but most importantly it helps to stabilize it so that your โ€œice creamโ€ scoops donโ€™t actually melt like ice cream.
    • Cocoa Powder: For the chocolate whipped cream.
    • Vanilla Extract: For the vanilla whipped cream.
    • Freeze Dried Strawberries: For the strawberry whipped cream. You could use fresh strawberries, but that does require more work. Feel free to check out my strawberry whipped cream recipe for help with that. You can find them in several places, including Target and Amazon.
    • Pineapple, Cherries, Strawberries, Nuts, Chocolate Sauce: Technically these could be optional. You could use all of them or just the ones you like and you could even add others. These are for decorating the top and making it look like a banana split. Feel free to add your favorite toppings, just as you would a banana split.
    slice of banana split cheesecake on white plate with bite taken

    How to Make a Banana Split Cheesecake

    So letโ€™s break this Banana Split Cheesecake down into parts. Thereโ€™s the crust, the cheesecake filling and then the topping. The topping consists of frozen whipped cream that youโ€™ll want to make ahead and freeze, and then fresh whipped cream for the swirls on top. Hereโ€™s what to do:

    Crust

    1. Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat oven to 325ยฐF (163ยฐC). Line a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan with parchment paper in the bottom and grease the sides.
    2. Make Crust: Combine the crust ingredients in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan.
    3. Bake Crust: Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.
    4. Prep Pan for Water Bath: Cover the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil so that water from the water bath cannot get in (see how I prepare my pan for a water bath), then set prepared pan aside.

    Banana Cheesecake Filling

    1. Set Temperature: Reduce oven temperature to 300ยฐF (148ยฐC).
    2. Make Cheesecake Filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and flour on low speed until well completely combined and smooth. Be sure to use low speed to reduce the amount of air added to the batter, which can cause cracks. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    3. Add the sour cream and banana extract and mix on low speed until well combined.
    4.  Add the pureed bananas and mix on low speed until combined.
    5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly to combine after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined.
    6. Pour the cheesecake batter into the crust.
    7. Set up Water Bath: Place the springform pan inside another larger pan. Fill the outside pan with enough warm water to go about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. The water should not go above the top edge of the aluminum foil on the springform pan.
    8. Bake: Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes. The center should be set, but still jiggly.
    9. Being Cooling: Turn off the oven and leave the door closed for 30 minutes. The cheesecake will continue to cook, but slowly begin to cool as well.
    10.  Crack the door of the oven for 30 minutes to allow the cheesecake to continue to cool slowly. This process helps prevent cracking.
    11. Refrigerate Until Firm: Remove the cheesecake from the oven and water bath wrapping and refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight.
    banana split cheesecake on dark grey serving tray with fruit in the background

    Topping

    Because the whipped cream for the scoops needs to be frozen, youโ€™ll want to make that ahead. Since the cheesecake takes a while to cool and firm up in the fridge, I recommend making your whipped cream during that time and letting it freeze.

    1. Make the Whipped Creams: They are all quite similar, but use different flavorings. Make each one and place them in individual containers. To do that, add all of the ingredients (one flavor at a time) to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Youโ€™ll want to be able to get nice scoops out later, so I recommend a container thatโ€™s a little bit deep and has enough space for scooping. Also note that youโ€™ll have a little whipped cream left over after making the scoops. I personally feel itโ€™s better to have more so that you can achieve nicer scoops, but if you really donโ€™t like having things leftover, you can reduce each of the whipped creams by a third.
    2. Soften Whipped Creams: When the cheesecake is ready, grab your whipped creams. If they are completely frozen and firm (which they should be), let them sit on the counter for about 15-20 minutes to soften just a bit so that they are a little easier to scoop.
    3. Get Cheesecake Ready: Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan and place on a serving plate.
    4. Add Ice Cream โ€œScoopsโ€: Use an ice cream scoop to get scoops of โ€œice creamโ€ and place them around the top of the cheesecake, alternating the colors/flavors as desired. I started with one scoop in the middle of the cheesecake and then added another 7 scoops around the outside of that one. Youโ€™ll have plenty of โ€œice creamโ€, so feel free to pile it as high as you like.
    5. Make Whipped Cream: Make the vanilla whipped cream for the swirls on top. I make this separately, rather than using whatโ€™s left of the frozen vanilla whipped cream because you canโ€™t really re-whip whipped cream. Once thawed, it wonโ€™t pipe properly, so youโ€™ll need to make fresh whipped cream.
    6. Pipe Whipped Cream and Decorate: Pipe the whipped cream on top of the scoops and then add your favorite banana split toppings for decorations. Serve the cheesecake immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. The scoops last well, so you can keep this cheesecake for 4-5 days without a problem. If itโ€™s going to sit a while before serving though, you might want to add the final toppings, especially the sliced banana, just before serving so they look fresh and arenโ€™t browned.
    slice of banana split cheesecake on white plate and yellow napkin

    Tips for the Best Banana Split Cheesecake

    • A Good Scooper: Using a good ice cream scoop can help give those nice looking scoops. I use one that has a spring in it and think that gives the best looking scoops.
    • Let it Soften: Be sure to let your frozen whipped cream soften just a bit before scooping to make it easier to get well formed scoops.
    • Add Final Toppings Later: Add your final toppings, such as the sliced banana, right before serving so things look fresh and the banana doesnโ€™t brown.
    • Yellow Bananas: Use nice, yellow bananas in the cheesecake filling for a nice color that isnโ€™t too brown.
    Print
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    banana split cheesecake from the side on metal serving tray
    Recipe

    Banana Split Cheesecake

    • Author: Lindsay
    • Prep Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    • Cooling Time: 5 hours
    • Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 8 hours 55 minutes
    • Yield: 12-14 slices
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American

    Description

    This Banana Split Cheesecake is a banana cheesecake topped with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry whipped cream โ€œice creamโ€ scoops! Itโ€™s then topped with whipped cream swirls, sliced bananas, pineapple, nuts and chocolate sauce! Itโ€™s truly like eating a banana split in cheesecake form!


    Ingredients

    Crust

    • 2 1/4 cups (302g) vanilla wafer crumbs
    • 10 tbsp (140g) salted butter, melted
    • 3 tbsp (39g) sugar

    Cheesecake Filling

    • 24 ounces (678g) cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1 cup (207g) sugar
    • 3 tbsp (24g) all purpose flour
    • 1/4 cup (58g) sour cream, room temperature
    • 2 tsp banana extract
    • 1 cup (240ml) mashed banana (2 medium sized bananas)*
    • 4 large eggs, room temperature

    Chocolate Whipped Cream โ€œIce Creamโ€

    • 1 1/2 cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
    • 6 tbsp (43g) powdered sugar
    • 6 tbsp (43g) natural unsweetened cocoa
    • 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

    Vanilla Whipped Cream โ€œIce Creamโ€

    • 1 1/2 cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
    • 3/4 cup (86g) powdered sugar
    • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

    Strawberry Whipped Cream โ€œIce Creamโ€

    • 3/4 cup freeze dried strawberries (5โ€“6 tbsp powder)
    • 1 1/2 cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
    • 6 tbsp (43g) powdered sugar
    • Pink gel icing color, optional

    Vanilla Whipped Cream Swirls

    • 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
    • 6 tbsp (43g) powdered sugar
    • 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

    Additional

    • Pineapple
    • Strawberries
    • Cherries
    • Nuts
    • Bananas
    • Chocolate Sauce


    Instructions

    Crust

    1. Preheat oven to 325ยฐF (163ยฐC). Line a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan with parchment paper in the bottom and grease the sides.
    2. Combine the crust ingredients in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan.
    3. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.
    4. Cover the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil so that water from the water bath cannot get in (see how I prepare my pan for a water bath). Set prepared pan aside.

    Cheesecake

    1. Reduce oven temperature to 300ยฐF (148ยฐC).
    2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and flour on low speed until well completely combined and smooth. Be sure to use low speed to reduce the amount of air added to the batter, which can cause cracks. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    3. Add the sour cream and banana extract and mix on low speed until well combined.
    4.  Add the pureed bananas and mix on low speed until combined.
    5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly to combine after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined.
    6. Pour the cheesecake batter into the crust.
    7. Place the springform pan inside another larger pan. Fill the outside pan with enough warm water to go about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. The water should not go above the top edge of the aluminum foil on the springform pan.
    8. Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes. The center should be set, but still jiggly.
    9. Turn off the oven and leave the door closed for 30 minutes. The cheesecake will continue to cook, but slowly begin to cool as well.
    10.  Crack the door of the oven for 30 minutes to allow the cheesecake to continue to cool slowly. This process helps prevent cracking.
    11. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and water bath wrapping and refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight.

    Topping

    1. While the cheesecake is cooling in the fridge, make the whipped creams for the topping. Working on one flavor at a time, add all of the ingredients to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Donโ€™t over whip it or itโ€™ll get too thick and be harder to scoop later. Add each flavor to itโ€™s own individual container and then freeze it until firm. Note: Youโ€™ll want to be able to get nice scoops out later, so I recommend a container thatโ€™s a little bit deep and has enough space for scooping. Also note that youโ€™ll have a little whipped cream left over after making the scoops. I personally feel itโ€™s better to have more so that you can achieve nicer scoops, but if you really donโ€™t like having things leftover, you can reduce each of the whipped creams by a third.
    2. When the cheesecake is cooled and firm, grab the whipped cream flavors from the freezer and let them sit on the counter for about 15-20 minutes to soften just a bit so that they are a little easier to scoop.
    3. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan and place on a serving plate.
    4. Use an ice cream scoop to get scoops of โ€œice creamโ€ and place them around the top of the cheesecake, alternating the colors/flavors as desired. I started with one scoop in the middle of the cheesecake and then added another 7 scoops around the outside of that one. Youโ€™ll have plenty of โ€œice creamโ€, so feel free to pile it as high as you like.
    5. Make the vanilla whipped cream for the swirls on top. Add all the ingredients to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Note: I make this separately, rather than using whatโ€™s left of the frozen vanilla whipped cream because you canโ€™t really re-whip whipped cream. Once thawed, it wonโ€™t pipe properly, so youโ€™ll need to make fresh whipped cream.
    6. Pipe the whipped cream on top of the scoops and then add your favorite banana split toppings for decorations.
    7. Serve the cheesecake immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. The scoops last well, so you can keep this cheesecake for 4-5 days without a problem. If itโ€™s going to sit a while before serving though, you might want to add the final toppings, especially the sliced banana, just before serving so they look fresh and arenโ€™t browned. Store in the refrigerator.


    Notes

    I recommend using fresh, yellow bananas. Not ones that are ripe and brown. I prefer the color and flavor of the fresh bananas in this particular cheesecake.

    You should be able to find banana extract and freeze dried strawberries either in your grocery store, Target, Walmart or on Amazon. Here are a couple links for each.
    Freeze Dried Strawberries: Target and Amazon
    Banana Extract: Walmart and Amazon

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 slice
    • Calories: 641
    • Sugar: 43.3 g
    • Sodium: 294.6 mg
    • Fat: 45.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 53.9 g
    • Protein: 7.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 178.6 mg

    Categories

    More Great Banana Split Themed Recipes

    Banana Split Layer Cake
    Banana Split Icebox Cake
    Banana Split Ice Cream Cake Loaf

    Share a Comment

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    8 Comments
    1. Christin

      Could you use the waffle cone crust from the mini sundae cheesecakes on your site for this? If so, do you think it would need to be doubled or tripled?

      1. Lindsay

        Sure! If you double it, it should be enough for a crust along the bottom. If you want some going up the sides a bit, you may want to triple it.

    2. Angie

      This is one of my kids favorites! The banana flavor is perfect, not overpowering. Topped with all the flavorful whipped โ€œice creamโ€ really sets this cheesecake in a class of its own! Plus, you canโ€™t bet the presentation.

    Lindsay
    About Lindsay

    Iโ€™m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

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